Photo Courtesy: Salomon (Credit: Scott Markewitz)
We believe the only fair way to test women’s skis is to find top-notch female skiers to push each ski to its limits, under the same conditions, and tune out all the hype. So that’s what we did. Here’s a summary of our 2013-14 Women’s All Mountain Skis Test, directed by Megan Michelson.
4FRNT Madonna
The 4FRNT Madonna is an all-mountain twin tip for more playful-oriented female skiers. At 96 millimeters underfoot and with rocker in the tip and tail and camber underfoot, it’s perfectly suited for all types of terrain, be it groomers, the terrain park, or light powder. It’s a great choice for advanced to expert-level skiers looking for a versatile, all-mountain twin tip to add to their collection. And not that you’re supposed to judge a ski by its topsheet, but most testers loved the bold, black and white graphics, designed by Utah-based artist Casey Kawaguchi. Retail Price: $559. Gear Institute Rating: 78
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
Blizzard Black Pearl
Calling all adventurous skiers, Blizzard’s Black Pearl is for everyone from intermediates looking to up their game to experts searching for a carvy all-mountain ski. Back for another season, the popular Black Pearl from Blizzard, at 88 millimeters in the waist, is made with what they call Flipcore 3D Rocker—subtle rocker in the tip and tail but flat underfoot. A layer of bamboo in the construction also makes it lighterweight than others in the class. Retail Price: $750. Gear Institute Rating: 70
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
K2 SuperStitious 84
K2’s SuperStitious 84 is an all-mountain carving ski for intermediate to advanced skiers on the East Coast or West. It’s smooth, light and easy on both groomers and off-piste. It’s as forgiving and user-friendly as they come. There’s nothing superstitious about this ski—it’s simple, fun, and uncomplicated. It’s a perfect fit for ladies who spend most of their time on groomers but occasional venture into the back bowls. Retail Price: $816. Gear Institute Rating: 68
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
Atomic Affinity Storm
The widest ski in Atomic’s frontside-oriented Affinity collection, the Affinity Storm, which comes with a pre-installed binding system, is an intermediate to expert ski that’s made for groomers but handles all-mountain terrain, too. A great choice for intermediate to expert women who spend 60 percent of their time on hardpack and 40 percent off-piste. Retail Price: $775. Gear Institute Rating: 62
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
Salomon Quest 88
Salomon’s new Quest women’s line is designed for women looking to explore all of the mountain, hence the name. The Quest 88 Lux is the skinniest of that line, meaning it’s most suited for the groomer set who may dabble in softer snow, but only every once in a while. Testers preferred this model on groomers over the similarly-shaped but slightly wider Salomon Quest 96 Lumen. “It had a big sweet spot and was easy to love,” said one tester. Retail Price: $550. Gear Institute Rating: 61
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
Scott Luna
Scott’s Luna was designed for playful, mellow skiers who spend most of their time on groomed snow. At 84 millimeters underfoot, it’s capable of heading off-piste, but most suited for the frontside. East Coasters will love Scott’s Luna for schussing hardpack in Vermont. Retail Price: $750. Gear Institute Rating: 60
To read the full report, check out our Women’s All Mountain Ski Test.
