Pro Guiding Service - Skis That Really Handle It

Skis. They're the most important and least important tool for skiing the whole mountain. Most important, because without boards you're not skiing. Least important, because you probably already own skis that will do the job. Doesn't much matter whether those skis have a slalom or contemporary GS cut, whether they are fat or shaped, whether they're long or short--if they're a high-end model made sometime during the past five years, you can have fun on them.

Of course if has been years since you've replaced your boards and they're performing more like overcooked spaghetti than skis, then maybe it's time to look at some of the new models that are most accommodating in skiing on and off piste. Here's my all-star list of the best picks for that pursuit.

HEAD CYBER 24X

With its Titanal top sheet; steep taper angle; and tip-waist-tail measurements (97, 61, 87mm) tech weanies who really understand skis will immediately peg this board as a high-performance carving machine.

In fact, the big boys skiing the World Cup GS courses use tailor-made boards with lay-ups and measurements that aren't much different than this production board.

Although most people peg the Cyber as a carving board, it skis all mountain remarkably well. The wide shovel and tail keep it floating nicely through powder, and the ski is so positive in its carve that it maintains its course (rather than pinballs about) when steered through crud. Meanwhile, if you follow the manufacturer's recommendation of skiing these sticks shorter than normal (downsize your length 5 to 10 cm), you'll find it easy to pivot the ski in those situations where rocks or trees will devour you if you carve turns.

While the Cyber is usually thought of as an on-piste rocket, performance skiers will enjoy thundering around the entire mountain on it.

K2 FOUR

As I skied around Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Washington this year, the K2 Four seemed far and away the most popular new ski on the slopes. Maybe my eyes were simply attuned to the patriotic red-white-and-blue graphics. More likely, buyers have caught wind of the fact that this is a great all-mountain board.

Most serious skiers take the hype about the Four's piezoelectric dampening with an avalanche of salt. Nonetheless, with its 98-65-87mm tip-waist-tail measurements, this wood-core ski strikes a nice shape for handling the piste while giving those who venture off-piste a board with enough surface area to deftly handle powder and crud.

Because its waist is 4mm wider than the Cyber, the K2 doesn't edge as powerfully. But the Four is more forgiving. That's a nice quality for those of us who aren't trying to earn ribbons on the race course and who, therefore, haven't learned to be extremely precise with our edges.

With its moderate shape (neither a slalom board nor a full-fledged parabolic) and its moderate width (neither a traditional ski nor a fat ski) you could accuse the Four of being a compromise that does nothing well. While it's true the Four does nothing the best, the big surprise is that it does everything well.

DYNASTAR BIG MAX 1

Dynastar's Big Max 1 imitates the Cyber in its measurements (97-62-86), but with its low-density wood core and absence of a metal top sheet, it is easily the lightest board among the many on the market flaunting moderate shape. Mounted with an alpine-touring binding (see the Binding Solution), this is a ski that carves handsomely on groomed slopes, floats nicely through untracked snow, tracks through crud, and climbs easily when it's time to don skins.

In fact, the Big Max is light enough that once the lifts close in spring you won't mind using leg power alone to earn your turns. Dynastar would be wise to market this ski as a top-of-the-line touring ski because its performance shames other skis sold in that niche.

Absence of weight, however, is not always a blessing. Because the Big Max lacks mass, it does deflect easier in really nasty snow conditions like frozen crud.

Also the ski is not as rigid torsionally as the previous listings. This is an advantage when you are on a collision course with something harder than flesh; you can easily pull out of a carve and pivot the ski to slough speed.

It's a disadvantage in firm snow (read: ice) because the ski washes out easier. Consequently, if winter coats your mountain with an abundance of Armorall each year, consider a stouter board with more torsional rigidity. Or consider the more sensible solution: Ski out West in those friendlier snows where the Big Max 1 excels.

DYNASTAR COUPE X9 and ROSSIGNOL VIPER X

Both these skis have tip-waist-tail measurements of about 90-63-79mm and in the varied conditions in which I've skied them (powder, crud, crusts, ice) they skied remarkably similarly--which is to say, superbly.

These skis, having less sidecut than the last three listings, are skied in traditional lengths. Because they lack dramatic sidecut, they don't initiate turns so abruptly. This allows you to whip them around in steeps or variable snow conditions without worry of skiing quite so technically.

Skiers who take these boards into funky terrain where they are often forced to recover, will appreciate this forgiveness. In these same domains, they may also appreciate having longer boards under foot because length improves fore-aft stability.

Not only do these skis cut the backcountry well, they rip on the groomers. If you're a speed junkie, their long radius carves and stability at speed will give you a buzz.

Which of the two do I prefer? Both are among the sweetest boards I've ridden. If I found either at a spring blow-out sale, I'd snap 'em up.

1999 Update: Despite the hype about new skis and the mid-fats, anyone of these boards would still make a good all-mountain ski.