For 2011-12, there are over 900 new ski designs, Rossignol alone has over 40 skis in their product line from race skis to front side carvers, to ladies skis, twin tip park skis, all mountain skis, powder skis, backcountry skis, telemark skis, and rockers. Wide, reverse camber( aka: rocker) skis are all the rage with more ghetto graphics, and rocker technology tweeks more traditional shaped skis for easier turn initiation and better float in snow. Also, see our latest reviews of the best skis for 2013.
Here are our best skis for 2011-12:
Best Women's skis for 2011
Volkl Aurora is the ultimate expert eastern women’s ski,
it’s powerful and precise, loves to carve when tipped on its side, but also
feels fast when you just want to fly. I witnessed several men sampling the
Aurora, with smiles.
Volkl Fuego is a fun, more lighted hearted version of
Volkl’s Aurora, a bit easier to flex with a tighter turning radius. The
Volkl Aura and Volkl Kenja are fatter
under foot but still lively and fun to turn, they’d be perfect in a little
pow.
Head Mya 8 really turned my head and turned on a dime. Head’s flow
ride system (instead of rocker) carves smoothly on groomed snow with enough
softness in the tip to float through heavy snow or powder. No wonder Julia
Mancuso skis a Head. The Head Mya6 is more forgiving, while
the Mya8 stands up to the top women’s boards by Volkl.
Dynastar Elite is not just another pretty girl’s ski, the Elite was
fast underfoot, and just wanted to rip big steady arcs. The Elite is for the
technical expert woman, the rep called it K2s Burnin Love
killer – a dig on K2 - the company that initiated the women’s ski movement a
decade ago.
Blizzard Viva 8.1 or 7.6 is the little black dress of
women’s skis. It’s nimble and quick to engage in a turn, steady in high
speed turns despite its lightness, and well - I flew by men on these
beautiful boards. The Viva is a softer and suppler version of the
Blizzard’s Magnum for men.
Blizzard Black Pearl is wider underfoot (88mm), loves to
plow through pow and crud but holds a worthy edge, a refreshing change from
most reverse camber planks colored pink for girls that seem to skid. If the
forecast was pow, I’d grab my black pearls and go.
Fischer RC 4 Fischer’s unisex performance carver was like a
Henckel knife on hard pack, all grip no slip. I loved ripping quick edge to edge turns on these pseudo race skis. If you simply love to carve, this
Fischer is the stick for you. The Fischer KOA 98 and KOA 88
are more fun and floatable with rocker technology, twin tips and freeskier
graphics, but still fierce on hard pack - a girl's BFF "best freeski
friend."
Elan Amphibia has a distinctive left and right ski with
modified rocker on each tip to adapt to your uphill and downhill edges in a
turn. These Elans carved circles around some of the competitors, so the
technology works– but I prefer to swap my ski edges.
Best Men's Skis for 2011-12
Rossignol Experience 98 is the quiver killer, an all mountain
carver with a slight rocker tip and tail that floats over pow and crud but
still carves with serious sidecut. There is no speed limit on the 98.
Rossi’s 88 offers a narrower Experience with less metal but
still that sweet rocker - so a bit more quick.
Volkl RTM 84 means “ride the mountain.” Replacing the popular Volkl AC50 is
this all around ski that tenaciously grabs the ice, but is wide enough to
power through mixed snow. Perhaps a bit too heavy and stiff to be the
ultimate powder ski, the RTM is ideal for aggressive, all mountain skiers.
Dynastar Legend 95 and 85 both ski incredibly well, a traditionally crafted
ski from France that carved as well as any according to Greg. Both are grippy and great in heavier snow, particularly the wider 94 version, but the
Dynastar Legend 85 may be a better choice for East coast skiing.
Head Titan is an impressive all around ski, carved well on hard pack, easy
side to side yet wide enough to handle varied snow and terrain. The Titan
likes to go fast, just ask Bode Miller & Ted Ligety who are both skiing on
Head.
Blizzard Magnum 8.7 is an assertive turner in all snow conditions
particularly for an eastern skier, strong enough to grip the ice, still
turns like a champ in packed powder and thicker crud.
Volkl Code takes the place of the Tigershark, as a solid cruiser that loves
to turn, the only
thing quicker and more aggressive would be a race ski, but
this is the ticket for the recreational skier who wants to rip cord.
Salomon BBR was the most unique looking ski – resembling a surf board or waterski . The BBR design is the latest from the XWing originator. It is
supposed to be the one quiver ski with its arrow head tips and tapered
waist, it certainly is a head turner. Greg skied it, and while it did carve
well, he found it more gimmicky than effective but others love it.
2013 Top Skis Reviewed
2012 Best Skis Review
2012 Best Ski Boots Review
2010 Top 10 Ski Reviews
Top Ski and Snowboard Gifts
