by Greg Hillson

We went out onto the mountain and tested over 20 skis to bring you the best of the 07/08 season.  We skied them in varying conditions to gain a better understanding of their range of performance .  While most people enjoy fresh snow or perfectly groomed runs, reality is that most days on the hill will be more challenging.  You our readers, whether novice or advanced, want functional equipment that you can rock anywhere anytime, in style.  Our professional testers have hit these skis hard and selected the best of the best.  We have taken the guess work out and have selected the skis you need to have to be Equipped on the mountain. 

Big Mountain Ski

Rossignol B 100 Quad

This ski does it all. While most ski manufacturers claim to have a ski that will float through powder, charge through crud and hold an edge, few skis instill the confidence and precise handling the B 100 Quad offers. With 100mm under foot this ski offer plenty of float while still being quick edge to edge (for a big mt. Ski). We tested the 184 in all conditions, from bottomless Utah fluff to manky sun baked leftovers, this ski responded. At speed the B 100 is stable and damp, feeling longer than its 184 length. In tight trees, the ski requires constant skier input and finesse, but rewards with snappy response, and solid edge hold in less than desirable snow conditions. Overall this is a great ski for the advanced skier who wants a big ski to handle varied conditions.

All Mountain Ski

K2 Apache Recon

The K2 Recon makes skiing fun and easy. Easy to turn, wide enough to handle deep snow and enough sidecut to slice the groomers this is a great all around ski. Short radius turns are easy with a ski that is as energetic as the Recon. Open it up and enjoy large radius turns while feeling in complete control. The Recon is a great ski for both coasts. This is the ultimate one ski quiver, a ski you truly can not go wrong purchasing.

Race/Recreational Ski

Atomic SL 9

It was difficult to classify this ski.  Traditionally this would be considered a Slalom ski but it does much more.  We tested the 163 cm and it does excel at short fall line turns, however, when we opened up the throttle to make GS turns and we were surprised by it's prowess.  It is easy to set an edge and you can take it pretty much anywhere.  Your not going to ski it in crud, but if you didn't already know that you've got bigger problems than the ski you are on.  The bottom line is the SL 9 is a fun versitile high performance ski that is perfect for skiers that are looking to go fast and slice precise turns all over the mountain.  Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.