Nordica’s Wild Belle was one of our top choices last season and remains an excellent ski. Its lightweight Wi-Core, sweet sidecut, and CamRock tip rocker make it exceptionally easy to ski, especially in off-piste hardpack conditions. Its responsiveness and quickness earned top marks from the testers.

New, sometimes wider skis, in this category did rate better than the Wild Belle in deeper snow. And also in longer, crud busting turns. Fantastic for the majority of lift-served conditions you are likely to encounter, it may not be your best on deeper days.