An absolute powder-loving machine with an ethereal sense of control in the fall-line, Dynastar’s Cham W107 is quite simply the kind of ski you dream of riding on new snow days. The large (137mm) crud busting tip, wide waist (107mm) and slightly tapered tail (122) do wonders for the ease of turn initiation, quick edge-to-edge action, and ease of turn exit on this ski–especially any time you get more than 5″ overnight, or are lucky enough to be out on a day when new snow continues to fall.

Not surprisingly for this category, hard snow performance is not a plus, and stability got lower rankings among ex-racer types who like to treat open bowls like an off-piste World Cup downhill.