Sometimes, we test upcoming gear for the season and say, “This rips. No way they don’t stay on the racks past January.” And yet, they just don’t seem to catch on. It’s hard to name a reason or explain some of these trends, so we won’t bother with that. Instead, we’ll tell you why we love them so much, especially since many of these skis are up for a hot deal before the new graphics or models come in. These are some of our favorites that we expected to sell right out at the beginning of the season, but we still have a few pairs left of.
Volkl Peregrine 82
Wait a sec, these shouldn’t be in this roundup! Volkl introduced the Peregrine series to reestablish their dominance in the frontside ripper category, and boy oh boy do these skis rip. The Peregrine 82 instantly became one of my favorites for groomer days. It’s stout yet lively and absolutely hauls, but it doesn’t feel bulky or 2x4ish. It pulls you into carves naturally without feeling twitchy when you ski it flat. So many people love carving-oriented all-mountain skis, and this is one of the best.
Kastle Paragon 101
It doesn’t really surprise me that Paragons moved a bit slowly this winter. Kastle is still searching for the next ski to build as much loyalty as the long-gone FX95 HP. In my book, the Paragon holds up its end of that deal. These skis are tanks, and I recommend them to anyone looking for a burly, aggressive freeride ski. I guess that’s a pretty small niche, but the number of matching models has fallen off dramatically as brands have made all their skis “more accessible.” The Paragons gobble up every type of snow in big-mountain terrain, and that makes attacking the fall line more fun than ever.
Black Crows Serpo
The Serpo has long been a staff favorite. Despite being in the ever-desirable all-mountain category, the Serpo doesn’t carry the same name recognition as skis like the Anomaly or Enforcer, despite having similar characteristics. The partial sheet of metal is an H shape, giving you power underfoot and along the edges, but leaving the mid-sections of the ski able to retain energy and an engaging flex.
The result is an extremely poppy ski that has impressive stability. You get tremendous rebound out of the ski that rivals some more playful models, but the stability of a ski with more metal in it. If you like the sound of a predictable, carve-y all-mountain ski, but want it to have a zest for the lighter side of things, the Serpo is worth checking out.
Salomon S/Lab QST Blank
The QSTs are undeniably best sellers. That said, the Blank doesn’t seem to be as popular. Sure, the waist width alone will keep most folks away at 112mm underfoot. For most people, this is a ski reserved for some of the best days of the year. Others who are fans of wider skis might ski this size every day. If you fall into the later category (or the first, for that matter), the Blank should be on your radar.
Built with the same intuitive and surfy tip shape as the rest of the QST line, the Blank gets on top of the snow quickly. But for between storms, the Blank is quicker and snappier than you’d expect for a ski this wide. Deep tip and tail rocker deliver responsive control in tight terrain. We love this ski for folks prioritizing a ski that can be as versatile as possible in this category.
K2 Mindbender 106C
With the new Mindbender series en route for next fall, that means the old Mindbender series is hitting great deals. One of our favorites continues to be slept on, the Mindbender 106C. It’s an easy choice as a first wider ski, since it balances ease of use and engagement with reliable riding. An Aspen core and carbon braid keep the ski light and flickable. Combined with a flax layer to help dampen the ski, and a shape that’s designed to be both surfy and stable, this ski winds up being able to handle whatever you throw at it. It’s the kind of ski that anyone can hop on and have a good time.
Elan Ripstick 94 W
As the ski I spent the most time on during my first season at Powder7, the Ripstick holds a special place in my heart. Lightweight and flickable, the Ripstick 94 W is the best at building confidence on the mountain. Intermediates and progressing skiers will rejoice in the quick snappy turning, and advanced riders will relish the lightweight performance that provides stability without burning out your legs. There’s tons of Ripsticks to choose from, with a waist width for everyone, but we think the 94 hits the perfect sweet spot for all-mountain riding.
Rossignol Arcade 84
If frontside carving is where you spend most of your time but you want to dabble around the mountain, the Arcade 84 should be at the top of your list. The Arcade took the slot of the Experience series, but hasn’t gained the same name recognition that collection had, yet. With how well these ski, we know they will. The 84 is best tuned for nimble and agile turns, while the 88 is a bit stiffer and excels at longer fall line turns. We love this ski for East Coast do-it-alls, or folks out West who love to practice the art of the carve.
