Each new winter brings with it a fresh crop of skis equipped with the latest in technology and engineering. We tested the latest releases for 2020, and came away with some new favorites.
The Rocky Mountain Daily Driver
V枚lkl Mantra 102 ($850)
A marvel of a ski, the 聽has a frame of titanium alloy just beneath the topsheet, adding edging power where you need it most, while carbon tips reduce the overall weight. That layup holds on when you鈥檙e tipping the ski on hardpack at any speed, but is surfy and playful when you head in search of soft snow. 鈥淵ou can butter them into and out of turns all day long,鈥 said one tester. 140/102/123聽
The Dependable Dark Horse
Rossignol Black Ops 98 ($800)
Our testers loved this hard-charging ski, which until this season was only available to shop employees and Rossignol athletes. 聽is as simple as ski construction gets, with a vertically laminated wood core backed by metal. Beyond that, we don鈥檛 know much鈥擱ossi redacted the specs. It performed best at high speeds. 鈥淚t pivots and carves on trail and off, but this is a strong expert鈥檚 ski,鈥 said a tester. 131/98/121
The Shredder鈥檚 Best Friend
Line Vision 98 ($800)
聽is evidence that the lines between backcountry and resort skis have forever been blurred. At 1,515 grams, it鈥檚 light enough for long ski tours if you mount it with an AT binding. But that same weight savings is a hit among park and pipe skiers who love to pop off features. Credit for the svelte feel goes to the aramid, carbon, and fiberglass construction. At our test, the Vision was the lightest and slashiest all-mountain plank. 131/98/119
The Multifaceted Powder Stick
Nordica Enforcer 104 Free ($850)
This newest 聽is one of the most versatile skis we鈥檝e ever run. When purchasing an all-mountain powder performer, skiers must often choose between burly planks that excel on firm snow and slashy sticks suited to dry powder. That鈥檚 not the case here. At our test in Steamboat, Colorado, the Enforcer was easy to pivot in powder turns. And it鈥檚 still a stout Austrian ski鈥攚e comfortably took it to blasting speed on- and off-piste. 135/104/124
The Plank for Everyone
Head Kore 93 W ($750)
If the Rossignol is for a select few, the 聽is the ski for the masses. That鈥檚 courtesy of lots of Koroyd (the lightweight honeycomb copolymer you鈥檝e seen in ski helmets) to make it easy to handle. And ample flex means that any skier can settle into turns. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super maneuverable,鈥 said another tester, 鈥渂ut it stays glued to the snow at high speed, with a silky feel that eats vibration.鈥 130/91/113