Skis of the year? Child’s play. Here are Powder7 staffers’ picks for Best Skis of the Decade.
As ski nerds, we couldn’t let the end of a full decade of sliding on snow pass without taking a look in the rearview.
Ski technology has come a long way in the last ten years, but that doesn’t mean all of our favorite skis during that time are current-year models. Some legendary boards shock-and-awed the skiing world for just a season or two. Others built dynasties. And while all skis slide downhill, not all of them cement legacies in ski gear lore.
Here are a few models that have done just that.
Justin’s Pick: Volkl Gotama
“These old Goats could do everything—float and carve, surf and stomp—and were the first 108mm-wide fatty that I can remember people on the East Coast using as an everyday ski. That’s what made the Gotama a legend.”
Sam W’s Pick: Armada JJ
“When JP Auclair co-founded Armada and helped design the JJ with Julien Regnier, he laid a foundation for all powder skis to come. As the first 5 dimension ski with camber and rocker, the JJ revolutionized powder skis forever. The JJ has helped me stay afloat in powder so deep I shred (oops, *shed*, sorry) real-life tears. For that I thank JP and Julien.”
Allegra’s Pick: Kastle FX95 HP
“A ski made for the metal loving, crud busting, and 6″ pow shredding skier who knows, in her heart, that she is indeed the best skier on the mountain.”
Amy’s Pick: Nordica Sidecountry Series
“I know the ‘sidecountry’ terminology has fallen out of favor, BUT I do see this as one of the first widely marketed skis that catered to people who wanted a ski that actually was fun to ski downhill AND was light.”
Jordan’s Pick: Head Collective 105
Zack’s Pick: Moment PB&J
“Skis anything from ice to a foot of fresh, made in America, and absolutely bombproof – boom.”
Matt’s Pick: Rossignol S3
“In the snow you want to be skiing, it was impossible not to love these things. Plenty of skis today are light, surfy, and playful…but the S3 was one of the true OGs. It laid the foundation for the S-series skis, like the Soul 7 and Sky 7, which have dominated for years. They may have only been 98mm underfoot, but I’ll always remember a two-foot day at Silverton on the S3 as one of my best-evers.”
Mia’s Pick: Black Crows Camox Birdie
“The Camox Birdie is like that annoying friend who is just naturally good at everything—without even trying.”
Lauren’s Pick: Elan Ripstick 94W
“The Ripstick crushes any part of the mountain. I can turn it on a dime in the trees, zip through the moguls, carve down the corduroy and float above the powder.”
Kelly’s Pick: Blizzard Black Pearl
“Year after year, it wins awards as the best women’s ski because it’s good at everything.”
Blake’s Pick: Nordica Enforcer Series
“The 93 and the 100, and now the 104 and all the others…it’s tough to beat those skis.”
Gearing up for a new decade of skiing? Peep the latest and greatest from all the brands we carry.
