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Rossignol Sender Ti ($900)

For generations consumers have been taught to believe that expert skis are for experts only. Rossignol’s new Sender Ti proves that’s no longer true. It’s 106 millimeters wide underfoot—wide enough to handle deep snow days—and thanks to a wood core backed with a sheet of aluminum alloy, it has the power, dampening, and stability you’d expect from a western-mountain ski. At the same time, the Sender Ti offers a lightweight feel, easy turning, and a lively ride. The ski’s most notable new tech is a pair of unique core stringers crafted from plastics and a rubbery viscoelastic, which allow the ski to bend and rebound like a memory-foam mattress. The mix of materials makes for a smooth ride and adds a bit of pop.��

Another key performance element is the ski’s flex, which designers finely tuned in each length—not so stiff that it requires lots of muscling, but far from noodle soft. “No matter how fast or slow you’re moving, you stop thinking about the ski and focus on your line,” said one tester. We call this accessible power—the ability of a ski to perform with minimal user input. The industry has been chasing that concept lately, with much success. (See last year’s Gear of the Year–­winning Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, and the Bliz­zard Sheeva 10 on page 18.) Ample but not excessive tip and tail rocker and a stretched-out sidecut (the 187-­centimeter length has a 21-meter turn radius) work with the flex, so the Sender Ti rips as much or as little as you want. 138/106/128