These Top Luxury Skis for All Mountain Skiers have been skied, reviewed and
chosen as the best by our team of experts - who are ski editors, former ski
professionals- instructors and ski marketers. With the opportunity to test the
new skis at Stratton and Okemo annually at an on snow demo, these are their top
skis, the best of the boards.
Rossignol Experience 98 is the ultimate quiver killer, this mountain ski carves
like a boss but with a slight rocker tip and tail, it blasts through powder or
spring slush. One of the best skis we have enjoyed in decades. A winner!
Rossignol's Experience 88 gets the same raves from our Luxury Ski
Trips reviewers, the narrower 88 mm under foot has less metal so it’s a bit
lighter and quicker, but still crushes the competition. Happy to see Rossignol
making quality affordable skis again, complete with Le Coq logo, after years of
making sleepy roosters.
Volkl RTM series, or Ride the Mountain, are fully rockered and an easy adaptable
84 under foot. This ski is like the popular carver's dream- Volkl AC50, only a
bit wider and better off piste in deeper snow without giving up performance on
hard pack.
Nordica Five Arrow, from - yes the boot maker, makes our top
ski list for the first time for its frontside carver and speed ski. This is the flagship of
Nordica's extensive fleet, along with the Hell and Back all mountain series. For
a free ride ski, the Nordica Patron is getting big thumbs up among side country
skiers. Enjoy them with a shot of tequila - given the name and the wild
graffiti-style graphics with blue skulls and bullets.
Blizzard Bonafide is an all mountain version of the
Blizzard Magnum 8.7. This 98 waist
ski comes in bright red with the Blizzard Bull on the tip - snorting and ready to rip.
The Bonafide is a strong turner, with the right amount of rocker to plow through
pow, crud and bumps. Blizzard is making some bullish skis.
Atomic’s Automatic is a popular powder ski with a western size 117 mm waist and
fully rockered tip and tail. While it is not quite automatic as its name
implies, powder skiers are giving this fatty an enthusiastic thumbs up. Some
like it even better than the big seller Atomic Blog.
Best Women's Skis
Rossignol Experience 88, as previously picked as a great men's
ski, is wonderful for women who like to carve,
rip through powder and bumps and can handle a beefy ski - this man candy is
great for ladies too. But there are no pretty flowers, pink swirls or girly
graphics. Man up if you choose to cruise on this ski gals!
Blizzard Viva 8.1 continues to impress the ladies on our luxury ski team, while
keeping right up with the men. The Little Black Dress of skis is fast and quick but
maintains her elegance and edge, especially under Eastern hard pack and groomed
packed powder. While not entirely dreamy in deep powder, this front side carver
is perfect for groomers and a little dust on crust.
The HEAD MYA 6 likes to go fast but with finesse – you will feel confident as US
Ski Team female on this pretty but precise ski. No wonder Julia Mancuso likes to
free ski on these, Head’s patented flow ride (their rendition of rocker) system
is smooth on hard snow and soft.
Rossignol Temptation is a great gals ski. It’s responsive and fun, but holds an
edge on firm snow too. With 82mm width, it’s a front side ski, but floats well
enough in softer deeper snow. Of course our lady tester, Heather Burke,
preferred the performance of the Rossi 88 (and bought a pair), a man's ski, but the floral pattern
of the Temptation is very tempting and highly recommended for a strong
intermediate lady.
Volkl Aura is ideal for girls that like to be off trail, in the powder. This all
mountain ski tapers with a wide tip and narrow tail, and it is constructed with
a light wood core, so it won’t weigh you down like other big mountain boards. We
must give a shout out to the Volkl Kenja -front side friends in the Essenza series – we
love the Volkl Allura and the girlish pink Volkl Charisma for carving
pretty arcs on our way to après
ski! Reminds us of one of our favorite original ladies Volkl skis - the
Volk Fuego!
Blizzard Black Pearl, introduced in 2012, is sturdy under foot for strong skiing
women at 88mm, to conquer everything from powder to cord to crud with grace – hence
the pearl necklace reference. The Black Pearl is bold and beautiful, best suited
for softer conditions – but a great all around ski nonetheless. The graphic is
old meets elegant, beautiful wood grain with fanciful blue lace.
