Ski designers are taking over this upcoming season after a big era of boot design was unveiled last year (have you heard of BOA?). It’s hard to take all the new skis for next year and boil it down to just seven skis we’re excited about, but consider this a sampling of what’s to come.
The overall theme this year? Ski technology and design are only getting better and better. This new era of skis balances skiability (i.e. doesn’t require a World Cup background to engage) with impressive performance (i.e. feels like you can trust the skis beneath you).
Before, you had to pick. Hard charging for stability at speed? You needed to have your foot on the gas at all times. Want something more playful for smearing some turns? You often had to sacrifice stability on firm snow. The skis these days let you play with turn shapes, play with style, and open up your creativity in new ways. A little something for everyone this year.
Salomon QST X
First the QST Blank, and now, the QST X. Salomon has a habit of keeping their wide skis somewhat abstract. Does it really matter what the size is? All you’re looking for at the end of the day is the X Factor on your powder day. The all-new Salomon QST X is the latest edition to the QST family, combining the lightweight wood core of the QST Echo 106 (released last season as a touring option) with an ultra-playful, powder-focused shape. The width clocks in at 116mm underfoot, just 4mm wider than the Blank. But the shape is a big departure, going with a much more symmetrical tip and tail shape and long radius. 25 meters to the Blank’s 17m.
The straight sidecut gives you power when you tilt the ski over to take long turns, but with a low camber and long rocker lines, the X feels swivel-y and pivot-y. That makes it fantastic in tight trees, mellow angles, all the way to open bowls where you might open your speed up a bit. Combine that with a soft flex, and this thing feels buttery in transitions and makes for a great freeride option if you’re not dealing with refrozen landings or frozen chunder. Check out the new Rossignol Sender Free 118 if heavier snow is in your forecast (as equally highly rated by our testers).
Line Pandora 99
Taking inspiration from the wildly popular women’s Pandora series of years past, Line decided to spread the good vibes around. For 24/25, Line overhauled the Pandora series with a full size run and new waist widths. We get a Pandora 85, 92, 99 (pictured above) and 106. The new skis use their Aspen Veneer core with full sidewalls for a light and poppy core, and some torsional stiffness. The shape is all new, with tapered tips and a rocker profile that fits somewhere between directional and twin tip. Lots of rocker, but not fully symmetrical.
The new Pandora 99 take the intuitive ride that we loved so much from the old Pandora, and gives it a little more “grr”. The platform underfoot feels more stiff and stable (giving you confidence when tilting this over on edge when conditions are firm), but the tip is fairly soft. It gives the ski an engaging flex pattern. It’s powerful on edge, but when linking turns and pushing through chop, the tip is really compliant. It doesn’t bounce around, it just doesn’t feel like you’re bashing a plank into a wall. Testers loved the rocker profile too, with enough rocker to be loose in tight terrain and encourage a playful style, with enough contact length on the snow to inspire confidence.
Blizzard Anomaly 94 / Blizzard Black Pearl 88
New for Blizzard this season: an overhaul of their directional all-mountain collection. While the freeride-oriented Rustler and Sheeva got an overhaul last season, Blizzard turns their attention to the chargers. Anomaly replaces the Bonafide, Brahma, and Cochise, and while the Black Pearl series is overhauled, the name remains the same. While fun can be had on all the new Anomaly skis and Black Pearls, we’re picking the mid-all-mountain sizes to highlight here.
The new skis use interesting new core constructions. The skis utilize a full sheet of metal, split in different layers for increased torsional flexibility. In the Anomaly, there’s an entire extra, full sheet of titanal for extra support (so two sheets, one full, and one split into two layers). The new skis also get more rocker and higher camber lines compared to the old versions. On snow, the new skis feel looser in tight terrain and at less steep edge angles, but just as confidence-inspiring when getting higher edge angles and skiing more aggressively. It doesn’t feel like power has been lost, you’re just able to pick your way through tight lines more easily. We loved how the Anomaly 94 and Black Pearl 88 balance frontside terrain and off-piste snow, making this a great choice if you want stability and good rebound in your narrow ski.
Rossignol Sender Soul 102 / Rossignol Rallybird Soul 102
The Rossignol naming system could be a little confusing. But, the addition of “soul” to the Sender and Rallybird series is significant—they’re harkening back to the famous Soul 7 shape. You know, the one the guy on the lift tells you they are “the best ski ever” and made them a better skier. The highly tapered and low weight of the tip allowed for easier turn initiation and mobility in tight terrain. For this year, Rossi blends that shape with their modern tech to create a ski that is maneuverable, energetic, and damp. Diagofiber and their “Damp Tech” do some heavy lifting to make these skis ride far smoother than they should with how nimble the ski is.
If you’re used to the Rossi Sender/Rallybird series in the wider models with titanal, these will feel more playful and loose in tight terrain. This ski is perfect for folks looking for an all-mountain ski on the wider side of things, with a versatile shape that doesn’t lean too playful or too charge-y, but is maneuverable and agile.
Armada ARV 106 / ARW 106
As far as wide freeride skis go, the ARV series is a longstanding favorite. Instead of a soft, buttery flex like you might expect for a freestyle-inspired ski, the old ARV 106 flexed fairly stiff. Rockered at the tip and tail and with a progressive mount point, the ARV swiveled easily, but the stiff platform could feel unforgiving or hard to press into in certain situations.
New for 24/25, Armada keeps the name, but tweaks a few critical things. First, the color is a very fast purple, so you’ll ski faster. Second, w3dgewall sidewalls. W3dgewall is their aptly named sidewall tech that shapes the sidewall like a wedge. The wedge is pressed into the core, allowing for a stronger bond. This creates better durability, but the ski is also stronger with less weight and has better power transfer. That means easier spins and presses, on the snow or in the air. We also think this version carves significantly stronger. Third, the flex feels softer through the tip. Running into chop, the tip is more compliant. And it’s not so soft the tip chatters, it just feels like a more progressive and round flex as you move toward the midfoot of the ski.
Black Crows Corvus
The Black Crows Corvus has a long history—it was the first ski the Chamonix company built. As a result, it’s become a bit of a cult classic. So when they announced a brand new mold and construction, waves were felt across the ski ecosystem. Turns out, Black Crows knows what they’re doing, and we’ve become big fans of the new ski.
There’s no doubt about it, the new ski is certainly “easier” to ski than the old one (which featured two sheets of metal and a reverse camber shape with a flat tail). Some fans have proclaimed the ski has lost its originality, but to us, this ski still feels plenty distinct from other skis in the freeride category. It’s flickable, smeary, and feels like it has a low center of gravity that wants to pivot through terrain. But, now that there’s more splay and some camber, the ski feels more versatile. It’s not the most energetic, but you can add more pop when you launch off of features. You can throw a carve or two down on a groomer lap. Overall, it feels more in line with a bigger Atris. You know, one of the most popular freeride skis of all time?
Icelantic Maiden 102 / Icelantic Nomad 106
It’s been years since the iconic Icelantic Maiden and Nomad series were changed. For the 24/25 season, Icelantic launches a new era of their freeride series. The centerpieces are the Maiden 102 for ladies, and the Nomad 106. These skis get an entirely new shape and construction. Increased camber underfoot and new carbon stringers in the core add pop and liveliness. A more symmetrical tip and tail shape and redesigned construction at the ends lower swing weight and make the ski more playful.
Where the old Maiden and Nomad were playful, it was more in a smeary way. The new ski is snappy, responsive, and intuitive. It feels lighter on the feet, and easier to get over on edge. To us, the ski will be more enjoyable for intermediates still getting the hang of getting their skis around big bumps or making quick turns in trees. At the same time, it’s still the surfy, maneuverable, and predictable ski that more advanced skiers will get a lot out of. Top it off with sweet Western-themed graphics, and it feels like the Nomad and Maiden have found fresh life while staying true to their roots.
[We haven’t gotten these skis in stock yet, check back soon!]
