Fischer Watea 78 Skis

Sierra says: The Fischer Watea 78 has a new graphic for this year but it is otherwise unchanged. Many of our 70/30 skis are biased more towards hard snow and groomers but the 78 is a bit biased the other way. This is a great nimble, easy going ski that is among the best in category in bumps. The first day that I tested the 78 was in late January at Mammoth where there was an assortment of firm groomers that softened a bit in the sun, and also a few patches of wintry leftovers hidden in shady spots. In these conditions, the Watea was stellar. It was quick, easy and fun on the groomers with good grip for the conditions and it was very easy to change turn shapes. The 174 that I was on had some limitations at higher speeds and I would personally prefer a 181 for my 5"-10" and 195lbs. The little patches of wintry stuff were steep and pretty cut up and the soft flex of the Watea 78 snaked through the rough stuff easily but the light weight of the ski would allow it to be knocked around a little. I tested the 78 again a bit later on a cold windy day with no recent snow and very hard snow. In these conditions the 78 was easy, fun and manageable but not super grippy (hence my comment about a soft snow bias). This is a great ski for a 70/30 type of skier that is looking for improved performance in moguls or light powder. This is a great ski for an intermediate to advanced skier.