Salomon has extensively revamped their freeskiing or big mountain lineups for ’09 with the Lord being the narrowest in their collection. This is an all new ski that uses a full wood core, new shape and a very, very modest tip and tail rocker. Although it does have a twin tip, this is not a model that is really destined to see much use in the terrain park. . We classify the Lord as a 50/50 all moun...

Sierra Says: The Apache Hawk is a great tool for advancing beginners to progress to the next level. This ski is a great tool for somebody to get out of the rental lines and have something fun to learn on. With a full mod system the Hawk innovates all of the technology from K2's higher end ski and allow you to feel what performance is all about. New skiers will admire the performance and val...

Sierra says: It is very difficult for a ski to stay at the top of the sales charts for a very long time. Yet, the K2 Apache Recon has managed to do just that. Each time I ski the Apache Recon, I am reminded of why this is. This is simply a high end ski that almost anyone can enjoy. The magic that makes this possible is a fairly soft flex to make the ski easy to turn, but it is combined with the pa...

Sierra says: Adult durability, performance, graphics & construction scaled down for smaller skiers. The Line Invader Mini provides all the performance necessary for kiddos to ride the whole mountain, including the terrain park with all aggressiveness.

Sierra says: This is an entirely new model and width for K2 and fills the spot between the Recon and the Outlaw. The Apache Xplorer adds 6mm of width over the Recon and is somewhat stiffer. The Xplorer does not make the popular Recon obsolete by any means; it is really for a different skier. The Xplorer is an ideal choice for the skier who is at a higher level of aggressiveness or has more of an a...

Sierra says: New in 07-08, the Mythic Rider returns unchanged except for graphics. See my reviews and updates from last year for additional on snow reviews of this model. I classify the Mythic as a 50/50 ski: meaning 50% on trail and 50% off trail. This ski category is the most popular among our customers that categorize themselves and "go anywhere, ski anything" skiers. Keep in mind of...

Sierra says: If its good enough for Sarah Burke its good enough for you. The Roxy Broomstix is a hard hitting mid fat ski that will hit rail, jumps and the pipe, then when you ready to hit the backcountry the Broomstix will kill it there too. With a waist width of 86mm the Broomstix has definitely got a sweet spot for a one ski quiver. ***Bindings Not Included***

Sierra says: Last season the Joyrider was one of Sierra Skis most popular womens skis. The Joyrider is a 70/30 ski with a waist width of 74mm. There is a common misconception about Roxy, that they are ski for teenagers this is simply not true. The Joyrider is a perfect example of how Roxy knows what to do to build a great ski, in 2008 it was ski of the year. With a great balance between high speed...

The Salomon Dumont was built specifically for Simon Dumont tough riding style. With a full wood core, vertical sidewalls and edge armour the Dumont was built for hard riding. This ski was completely redesigned with that in mind this season to build a ski that was no only able to kill it in the park but also rip when you were out riding all over the mountain. With an 86mm waist the Dumont also give...

Sierra says: This is a brand new model for 09 that takes the build of last years very successful Dynastar Exclusive Active and gives it a wider platform for greater stability and balance in rough snow. This ski will suit a wide range of skiers all the way up the advanced level. In testing, this new model felt very nimble and more stable than I would expect from this price point. This is a light sk...

Sierra says: Adult durability, performance, graphics & construction scaled down for smaller skiers. The Celebrity Mini provides all the performance necessary for kiddos to ride the whole mountain, including the terrain park with all aggressiveness.

The Roxy Helter Skelter is no doubt for a women that rides aggressively and like a stiff ski. With a waist width of 92mm the Helter Skelter will take you anywhere on the mountain no questions asked. You can rid waist deep powder, rip on groomer or take a trip through the park and the Helter Skelter will not let you down. With spring blade technology this ski has incredible energy for jumps and com...

Sierra says: The Dynastar Big Trouble has been around for a few years and is just recently starting to get a significant following as an All Mountain ski. I attribute this to the full twin shape, the graphics and marketing which originally drove the ski toward the park/pipe community. This is not a symmetrical ski but does have a full twin tail height and long tip and tail splay which would seem t...

Sierra says: The Fischer Addict returned for the 2009 season virtually unchanged except for a cosmetic upgrade. The Addict is a full wood core which makes this ski very responsive and durable. Along with the solid construction that Fischer is well known for this ski is fully symmetrical which makes it a perfect choice for skiing switch and skiing park. The Addict is not only a park ski though wit...

For ’09, Rossi has taken their backcountry-freeski line and given each model a different and distinct graphic with each model styled by a different artist. The general theme is the "seven deadly sins" The S4 is the very popular Scratch Ghetto with a new graphic. The S4 was built up with the input of famed freeskier Candide Thovex and is a great park/all mountain crossover. On groomers, ...

Palmer Says: The effortless, easy handling FLF shape plus race-style construction know no limits when it comes to ripping these bad boys down the mountain. The core's titanium and Prepreg Sandwich construction give the P02 the strength of a high-end race ski that goes as fast and hard as you want to take it. Titanium is distinguished by its maximum torsional rigidity, optimal stability and un...

Palmer says: The effortless, easy handling FLF shape plus race-style construction know no limits when it comes to ripping these bad boys down the mountain. The core's titanium and Prepreg Sandwich construction give the P02 the strength of a high-end race ski that goes as fast and hard as you want to take it. Titanium is distinguished by its maximum torsional rigidity, optimal stability and un...

Sierra Says: The Jade returns unchanged from 2008. With its wood core and waist width of 83mm this ski is killer for those women favoring off-piste skiing. The Jade offers stellar edge grip on the groomers and is highly dependable at greater speeds.The Jade has been found to perform incredibly well in up to 10 inches of powder because of its wide waist. This ski is recommended to expert female sk...

Boys are not the only kids skiing parks and dropping into the half pipe these days. Like many other action sports, girls are found right alongside the boys skiing the exact same terrain and park features. The Missy ski is designed specifically for the girls who need a twin tip too. The Missy is built with the same construction, materials and flex as the Juvy, but comes with a more feminine graphic...

Sierra Says: The 101 is biggest of the Watea series from Fischer. This ski has a similar feel to all the others in the series but of course, damp and stable yet full of energy. Despite the wide waist and the 192 length, this is not a difficult ski at all. The reason for that is because of the 101's balanced feel. There is a lot to be said for a long platform that has a straighter shape in sof...

Palmer says: Featuring FLF shape design with limited edition art by Nat and Mickey Woolley, the new Palmer P04's represent what big mountain skiing is today. Designed for backcountry and deep powder conditions, the P04's twin-like FLF shape provides maximum flotation plus quick maneuverability in tighter situations. Coming in two lengths with at least 95 mm under foot, the running surfac...

Ideal for the new skier, the First Luv provides the needed forgiveness and stability for that beginning experience on the ski hill. By combining our women's specific Bioflex core and Mod technology, the skier gains stability and ease in initiating a turn. The First Luv guarantees increased confidence on the slope and more runs in their future.

Sierra says: The Atomic Crimson is the widest of the Nomad group and is one of the flagships. It fits into our 50/50 terrain category. The Crimson is a light, nimble ski that is very quick turning for it's width. Skiing the Crimson in a variety of conditions shows how versatile this ski really is. The legendary Atomic edge grip is more evident than in the Daddy series and the somewhat stiffer...

I have tested the Fischer Vision Vapor twice and my cohort Katherine once and we are both amazed by the Vapor. This is one of the best balanced women's skis on the market. It is easy to make a ski stable and grippy....heck you just make it a plank. However, those skis can often feel....uhhhh.....welll....planky. The Vapor doesn't feel that way at all. It is nimble enough, grippy enough, ...