Ski & Snowboard,
Gear Guides
Sep 11, 2026
Best Skis for 2026/27: What's New, What Stands Out and How to Choose
Last Updated: September 11, 2026
Every fall the ski wall gets rewritten. Some skis are new. Some keep the name and change the construction. Some come back unchanged because they already worked well last winter.
There is no best ski on that wall. There is a ski that fits the snow you ski, the mountain you ski it on, and the turns you want to make. This guide covers what Christy Sports is bringing in for 2026/27 and how to match it to your skiing.
What's in this guide
- Find the right ski for how you ski
- What's new in skis for 2026/27
- All-mountain skis for everyday resort days
- Women's skis: all-mountain, freeride and carving
- Freeride and powder skis for soft snow
- Carving and frontside skis for groomed snow
- New and notable skis for 2026/27
- Which ski is right for you?
- How to choose skis: width, length, rocker and turn radius
- Ski Buying FAQs: Width, Women's Skis, Powder and 2026/27 Picks
Nordica Enforcer 94
Find the Right Ski for How You Ski
One ski for most resort days. Start with all-mountain. The Nordica Enforcer 94, Salomon QST 100, Blizzard Rustler 9 and Völkl M7 Mantra live there.
Mostly groomers. Go to carving and frontside. On firm snow, a narrower ski usually helps your turns more than another wide one.
Trees, side hits and natural terrain. Go to playful, freeride skis. The Atomic Bent 100, Blizzard Canvas 100 and Rossignol Sender 100 are the easy places to start.
Storm days and soft snow. Stay in freeride, at the wider end: Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, Atomic Bent 110, Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 110 or Dynastar M-Free 108. The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 is the true deep-day ski.
Shopping for a women's ski. Go to the women's section. It covers all-mountain, freeride and carving, and it answers how men's and women's skis actually differ.
A young skier moving up. Read the Rossignol Soul Pro spotlight in the freeride section, then talk to one of our experts in-store.
What's New in Skis for 2026/27
Five stories matter this season. The first four are rebuilds and new lines. The fifth is the wider powder group now on the wall.
Blizzard Canvas is a new freestyle-leaning freeride line, and it is a lighter build than the metal chargers Blizzard is known for. Details are in the freeride section.
K2 rebuilt the Mindbender. The old split between a lively carbon version and a heavier metal one is gone. Every width now shares one construction with weighted inserts in the core for damping. Details are in the all-mountain section.
Stöckli built a Montero AR Pro. The shape did not change. The parts did. Details are in the carving section.
Rossignol simplified its freeride names. What was Sender Soul is now Soul. What was Sender Free is now Sender. Same skis, clearer names.
The powder wall got wider. Atomic Bent 110 and Bent Chetler 120, Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 110 and Dynastar M-Free 108 join the deep-day group. On the women's side, Blizzard Sheeva 10 and Black Crows Atris Birdie sit next to two unisex 106s we stock in shorter lengths: QST 106 and Nordica Unleashed 106 CA. Details are in the freeride and women's sections.
Two brands are new or newly interesting on our wall this season: Armada's Antimatter freeride line and the Kästle Sublime family, plus Van Deer-Red Bull Sports, which is new to Christy Sports. Those are in New and Notable.
Armada Antimatter 100
All-Mountain Skis for Everyday Resort Days
Most resort skiers end up between about 88 and 101 mm underfoot. That range holds an edge on hard snow and still works when it softens. Width alone does not decide how a ski behaves. Where the metal sits, how much rocker is in the tip and what turn the ski is cut for all matter as much.
Nordica Enforcer 94. Two sheets of metal with a soft layer in the middle, so the ski stays quiet when the snow gets choppy. Nordica calls that the Energy 2 Ti Pulse Core. The 94 is the trail-first Enforcer. It stays calm and precise when other skis start to chatter, and it suits a winter that is mostly groomers with some time off the side. Shop the Nordica Enforcer 94.
Nordica Enforcer 99. Same quiet metal build, 5 mm more waist. The extra width keeps it composed when the snow gets soft and cut up, without making it a powder specialist. Shop the Nordica Enforcer 99.
Enforcer 94 vs. Enforcer 99: Which One Fits Your Season?
Same build, same length runs. Neither is the harder ski to handle, and neither is only for stronger skiers.
- Choose the Nordica Enforcer 94 if most days are groomer days with some off-trail skiing when you feel like it.
- Choose the Nordica Enforcer 99 if you go looking for soft snow when it shows up.
- Size is not the deciding factor here. Snow is.
Salomon QST 100. The surfy one. Salomon publishes about 133-100-121 mm at 172 cm. Metal underfoot holds an edge on hard snow. The tip and tail stay free so the ski still pivots and smears. Shop the Salomon QST 100.
Salomon QST 94. Same idea, narrower waist. Quicker edge to edge on a groomer, still enough tip for soft snow. Shop the Salomon QST 94.
QST 100 vs. QST 94
These share a construction, including the same Titanal insert underfoot.
- Choose the Salomon QST 100 if you want a surfy all-mountain ski that still holds an edge.
- Choose the Salomon QST 94 if more of your time is on trails and you want the quicker ski.
Blizzard Anomaly 88. Blizzard’s directional all-mountain ski at 88 mm. Four shaped pieces of metal, not one heavy sheet, so it stays planted at speed without feeling dead. If you liked the older directional Blizzards, this is where that ski went. Shop the Blizzard Anomaly 88.
Völkl M7 Mantra. A precise all-mountain ski that does not lock you into one turn size. Metal in a frame that changes with length, and four different radii along the ski. Its 4 Radius Drive shape uses four different radii along the ski, roughly 20 meters in the tip, a long 40 through the shovel, a tight 15 underfoot and about 25 behind the binding. In practice the ski does not lock into one turn size, which is why it rewards a skier who changes turn shape a lot. Shop the Völkl M7 Mantra.
Völkl Mantra 88. The same planted Mantra feel, cut narrower for a season that stays mostly on trail. Shop the Völkl Mantra 88.
Elan Ripstick 96. The easy-to-start daily ski. Left and right are shaped differently: the inside edge grips, the outside edge lets go. Elan calls that Amphibio. The 96 is the middle of the men's range and the one that works as a daily ski. If you have been fighting your skis to start a turn, this is the family to stand on. Shop the Elan Ripstick 96.
K2 Mindbender 96 and 101. The rebuilt Mindbender. A strip of metal down the center, plus weighted inserts in the core that quiet chatter without making the ski feel heavy. K2 calls those inserts Dark Matter. The 96 is the wider all-rounder, published at 135-96-123 mm with a 20 meter radius at 183 cm, rated intermediate to expert. The 101 measures 130-101-122 mm with a 20.5 meter radius at 185 cm and is rated advanced to expert. Both want a skier who commits. Shop the K2 Mindbender 96 or the K2 Mindbender 101, or see all K2 skis at Christy Sports.
Mindbender 101 vs. QST 100: What Actually Separates Them
Both sit around 100 mm underfoot and both use Titanal. The metal is in different places and the skis feel nothing alike.
The K2 Mindbender 101 carries a Titanal I-Beam down the center plus damping inserts in the core. It holds a long line and stays quiet when you push it. It wants a skier who drives the ski.
The Salomon QST 100 carries its metal underfoot, edge to edge, and leaves the tip and tail free. It is quicker to pivot, easier to smear, and more forgiving when you are tired.
Same width. Different job.
Salomon QST 100
Women's Skis: All-Mountain, Freeride and Carving
Women have real choices across all three categories this season, not one all-mountain ski and one powder ski.
What's the Difference Between Men's and Women's Skis?
There is no single industry formula. What a women's ski means depends on the brand, and the differences fall into a few buckets.
- Length run. Some brands build the same ski and offer it in shorter lengths, which also shortens the turn radius. K2's women's Mindbenders use the men's dimensions and technology in different lengths: the 96 W runs 153 to 173 cm with a 16 meter radius at 168, where the men's 96 runs 168 to 183 cm with 20 meters at 183.
- Amount and shape of metal. Blizzard uses three women's-specific pieces of Titanal in the Black Pearl 88, against four in the unisex Anomaly. Nordica pairs the Santa Ana with a single sheet of terrain-specific metal, where the Enforcer gets two.
- Core and flex. Blizzard builds the Black Pearl and Sheeva to its W.S.D. design standard, part of its Women to Women program, with a women's-specific TrueBlend core. Read more on how Blizzard’s Women2Women program shaped the Black Pearl 88.
- Mounting position and binding system. Many women's skis ship as system skis, with a plate and binding matched to the ski, which changes how it bends underfoot.
- Nothing at all. Salomon specifies the QST as unisex and lets length differences do the work.
The practical takeaway: a women's ski is not automatically softer or lighter, and a unisex ski is not automatically wrong. Standing on two or three in the same category tells you more than any spec sheet.
Women's All-Mountain Skis
Blizzard Black Pearl 88. The ski more women stay on all day than any other on our wall. Some skis feel impressive for ten turns and then wear you out, because they are stiff, heavy or demand exact technique. The Pearl is the other kind of good ski: easy to turn, calm underfoot, and capable enough that strong skiers keep choosing it. Blizzard publishes 125-88-107 mm, radii from 11 to 16.5 meters across a 146 to 176 cm run, and rates it from beginner through expert. If you are not sure where to start, start here. Shop the Blizzard Black Pearl 88.
Nordica Santa Ana 92. The more powerful choice. One sheet of metal and a soft layer in the core, so it holds better than the Pearl in chopped-up snow. Next to the Pearl it asks a little more of you and gives back more grip and more composure in chopped-up snow. Shop the Nordica Santa Ana 92.
Elan Ripstick 88 W and 94 W. Same easy turn start as the men’s Ripstick. The 88 W stays closer to the trail and is easier to steer at slower speeds. The 94 W has more range when the snow is soft. Both are among the strongest women's options we are bringing in. Shop the Elan Ripstick 88 W and Ripstick 94 W.
K2 Mindbender 88 W and 96 W. Same quiet, driven feel as the men’s Mindbenders, in shorter lengths. The 88 W (146 to 164 cm) is the firm-snow ski. The 96 W (153 to 173 cm, 16 meter radius at 168) covers most of the winter and is rated intermediate to expert. Shop the K2 Mindbender 88 W or the K2 Mindbender 96 W.
Blizzard Sheeva 10
Women's Freeride and Powder Skis
Blizzard Sheeva 9. The women’s match for the Rustler idea: 96 mm, happy to smear or hold. Built with women’s-specific metal and core. The radius changes a lot through the size run, 16 meters at 174 cm and 12 meters at 150 cm, so a shorter Sheeva is a noticeably quicker ski rather than just a shorter one. A strong everyday choice when you want soft-snow range without a wide powder ski. Shop the Blizzard Sheeva 9.
Blizzard Sheeva 10. The wider Sheeva for skiers who want more float. 102 mm underfoot, women’s-specific metal and TrueBlend core, rockered tip and tail with camber underfoot. About 133-102-122 mm at 168 cm, with a 15.5 meter radius. Lengths run 156 to 180. Rated advanced to expert. Same smear-or-hold feel as the Sheeva 9, with more surface for soft snow and bigger terrain. Shop the Blizzard Sheeva 10.
Black Crows Atris Birdie. A women’s big-mountain ski built for soft snow without becoming a powder-only tool. 105 mm underfoot, poplar and fiberglass core, double rocker with traditional camber underfoot, and a firm, consistent flex. Lengths run 160.2 to 178.4 cm, with about a 20 meter radius. Rated advanced to expert. Loose and easy to pivot in powder, but with enough backbone and edge contact to stay composed when the snow gets tracked out or the terrain opens up. Shop the Black Crows Atris Birdie.
Salomon QST 106. Unisex, and the shorter lengths are why it works for many women. 106 mm, wood core, metal underfoot for grip, cork in the tip to quiet chatter. Lengths start at 157 cm. Rated advanced to expert. If you already like the QST idea, this is the wider, softer-snow version of that ski. Shop the Salomon QST 106.
Nordica Unleashed 106 CA. Also unisex, with sizes from 152 cm. 106 mm, wood-and-carbon build, no full metal sheet, so it stays lighter and easier to steer than Nordica’s metal Unleashed 106. That is the version that fits more women and lighter skiers. Playful in soft snow, still useful when you ski back to the lift. Shop the Nordica Unleashed 106 CA.
The Sheeva 10, Atris Birdie, QST 106, and Unleashed 106 CA are the powder-leaning options here. They are not dedicated 120 mm storm skis. They are the wider freeride skis to look at when a Sheeva 9 or Ripstick 94 W is not enough float.
Women's Carving and Frontside Skis
The carving section below explains why a narrower ski can beat a wide all-mountain ski on a firm morning. These are the women's skis in that category.
Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA. A system ski for beginners and progressing intermediates. No metal sandwich, so the ski bends and starts the turn for you. Everything about it is aimed at letting the ski bend and start the turn for you. Shop the Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA with TP2 Comp 10 bindings.
Head Total Joy. A lighter women’s system ski that carves on groomers and still handles the snow beside the trail. Built lighter than a race-room carver, so it holds a clean arc on corduroy without punishing you when you leave it. See the Head Total Joy with SLR 10 bindings.
Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition. Elan’s women’s carver. Published radius runs 12 meters at 152 cm, 13 at 160 and 14 at 168. That is short, and it feels short: the turn starts as soon as you tip the ski. Shop the Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition.
Nordica Unleashed 106
Freeride and Powder Skis for Soft Snow
These skis are shaped to release and slide sideways, not only to lock into a carve. Most of the first group still works as an everyday resort ski in a snowy winter. The wider skis below that are the ones you buy because it stormed.
Playful freeride for mixed and soft snow
Atomic Bent 100. Loose, easy, and hard to outgrow. A shaped tip and tail add float and keep the ski from feeling hooky. At 158 cm it measures 124.5-100-115 mm with a 16.5 meter radius. Atomic’s published skill level spans beginner to expert, which is unusual at 100 mm underfoot and a fair part of why so many skiers end up on it. Shop the Atomic Bent 100.
Blizzard Rustler 9 and Rustler 10. Same playful freeride idea in two widths. The 9 is quicker on a firm morning. The 10 floats better when it snows. Blizzard publishes 128-96-117.5 mm for the 9 and 132.5-102-121.5 mm for the 10, both built with FluxForm Freeride Ti metal over a TrueBlend Free wood core of beech, poplar and paulownia. The metal is shaped to each model, tapered at the tip for float and wider at the tail for support. Shop the Blizzard Rustler 9 or the Blizzard Rustler 10.
Blizzard Canvas 100 and Canvas 108. Blizzard’s new playful twin-tip line. Lighter than the metal chargers the brand is known for, and easier to smear and ski switch. Both use a poplar and paulownia wood core in a fiberglass and carbon sandwich, with a full rocker tip, light camber underfoot and a rockered tail. The 100 is the everyday width at 129.5-100-117.5 mm. The 108 adds float at 137.5-108-125.5 mm. If you ski switch, hunt side hits or just want a ski that releases early, this is the new option on the wall. Shop the Blizzard Canvas 100 or the Blizzard Canvas 108.
Rossignol Sender 100. The easiest ski in this group to break loose on purpose. Light tip and tail, so it swings and drifts. Shop the Rossignol Sender 100.
Rossignol Soul 102. The adult daily-driver Rossignol. It has shorter turn than the width suggests, which is why it works as one ski for the whole season. Shop the Rossignol Soul 102.
Storm days and deeper snow
Atomic Bent 110. The powder Bent that still works when the storm is over. 110 mm underfoot, a light wood core, and a shaped tip that helps it float without feeling bulky. Rated advanced to expert. Take this over the Bent 100 when you want more float, and over the Chetler 120 when you want one ski for more than the deepest days. Shop the Atomic Bent 110.
Atomic Bent Chetler 120. Chris Benchetler’s 120 mm signature ski for the days it really snows. Extra-wide tip and tail help it plane in deep snow, and a light wood core keeps it from feeling like a barge. Rated advanced to expert. Not an everyday resort ski. The one for storm days. Shop the Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
K2 Reckoner 110. A playful 110 mm twin-tip for powder, side hits, and skiing switch. The tip and tail rise early so it floats and turns easily, and the wood-and-carbon build gives it pop without metal stiffness. Rated advanced to expert. Choose it over the Canvas 100 or Bent 100 when you want that same fun feel with more float. Next to the Bent 110, this is the switch-friendly powder twin. Shop the K2 Reckoner 110.
Rossignol Sender 110. The storm-day Rossignol. Wider, with metal underfoot, so it stays calm in big terrain. Shop the Rossignol Sender 110.
Salomon QST Blank. The wide QST for big powder days. At 112 mm it floats in deep snow and stays calm when you ski fast and straight. Cork in the tip quiets chatter without making the ski feel heavy or metal-stiff. Unisex, rated advanced to expert. If the QST 100 is your everyday ski, this is the storm-day version: more float, a longer turn, and less pivot. Shop the Salomon QST Blank.
Dynastar M-Free 108. A playful 108 mm powder ski that still works on a regular soft-snow day. It floats when it storms, turns easily in trees, and stays lively because there is no metal in the build. Shorter lengths turn quicker. Longer lengths want a bigger turn. Rated advanced to expert. Shop the Dynastar M-Free 108.
The Blizzard Canvas 108 and Blizzard Rustler 10 also belong here if you already liked those shapes in the group above and want the wider version.
Blizzard Rustler 10 skis
Rossignol Soul Pro with XP10 Bindings: The Ski That Gets a Young Skier Onto the Whole Mountain
The Soul Pro is not a smaller Soul 102. It is a separate ski, a progression system ski that comes mounted with an XP10 binding, and it exists to solve a specific problem: a young or lighter skier has outgrown short junior skis and now wants to follow the family off the groomers instead of waiting at the bottom.
That skier does not need a stiff adult freeride ski. A ski built for an adult’s weight will not bend for them, and a ski that will not bend will not turn. The Soul Pro is shaped and built to be pushed around by a smaller skier while still floating in soft snow, and the mounted binding means it arrives ready to ski.
Who it is for: a growing skier moving up from junior gear, or a lighter adult who wants a soft-snow ski that does not fight back.
Where it fits: it is the on-ramp to the Soul family, one step below the Soul 102.
See kids and youth skis or find a store and ask our team to size it against the skier, not their birthday.
How to Choose a Freeride or Powder Ski
- The Atomic Bent 100 or Blizzard Canvas 100 if you want a playful daily ski that is easy to release.
- The Blizzard Rustler 9 or Rustler 10 if you want that same everyday range with metal underfoot and a more planted feel.
- The Rossignol Sender 100 if you want the easiest ski here to pivot and drift.
- The Rossignol Soul 102 if you want one Rossignol for the whole season.
- The Atomic Bent 110 if you want Bent playfulness with enough width for most powder days.
- The K2 Reckoner 110 if you want a twin-tip powder ski you can ski switch and take into features.
- The Dynastar M-Free 108 if you want a 108 that smears and still finishes a turn.
- The Salomon QST Blank when you want 112 mm of float and a ski that stays quiet pointed downhill.
- The Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, or Atomic Bent Chetler 120 when you are shopping specifically for the deepest days.
Rossignol Sender 100
Carving and Frontside Skis for Groomed Snow
If you spend most of your day on groomed snow, why would a narrower ski serve you better than another 100 mm all-mountain ski?
Four reasons, and they compound.
Edge to edge. A narrower waist puts the edge closer to your foot, so the ski tips onto edge faster and with less effort. On firm snow that is the difference between steering the ski and waiting for it.
Turn shape. Carving skis are cut to shorter radii. A ski that wants to turn will finish the arc for you, which is what makes a groomer run feel like a series of turns rather than a series of corrections.
Edge hold. More metal and a stiffer torsional build let the edge stay locked when the snow is hard. A wide, soft-tipped ski washes out in the same conditions.
Damping. Speed on hard snow creates vibration. Race-derived construction absorbs it, so the ski stays quiet and you stay comfortable enough to keep skiing that way.
The tradeoff is real: these skis do less for you in deep snow. If a third or more of your season is corduroy at Loveland, Eldora or Winter Park, that is a trade worth making.
Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI. Race-ski hold without the full race-ski workout. Two sheets of metal, 82 mm, sold with a binding. It keeps enough width to stay useful once the corduroy gets pushed around. Shop the Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI with TPX 12 bindings.
Stöckli Montero AR. Smooth and quiet at speed. Built for medium and long turns on firm groomers, not for snapping short slalom turns. It stays quiet underfoot at speed and holds its line instead of darting, which is exactly what you want when the groomers are firm and you are going fast. Shop the Stöckli Montero AR.
Völkl Peregrine 82. A precise carver that can change turn size. Tighter underfoot to start the turn, longer at the ends so it stays stable in a long arc. Shop the Völkl Peregrine 82 with Lowride 13 FR bindings.
Head Supershape e-Titan. The widest, longest-turning Supershape. Built-in damping cuts chatter at speed so bigger arcs stay quiet. Head damps the Supershape line with its Energy Management Circuit, which converts vibration into energy rather than passing it to your feet. It suits a skier who wants bigger arcs and more range on variable groomers than the shorter-radius Supershapes allow. Shop the Head Supershape e-Titan with PR 11 GW bindings.
Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition. Easy turn start with a little more width than a true frontside ski, so it still works beside the trail. Shop the Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition.
Black Crows Mirus Cor. An 87 mm waist, one short radius of about 13 meters, and a swallowtail. Black Crows says to ski it short. It carves quick and snappy and still has enough freestyle in it to play on the sides of the trail, which makes it the least serious ski in this group in the best way. Shop the Black Crows Mirus Cor.
Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80. A race-built ski with a bit more tip for mixed groomers. Fast and quiet, and it does not get nervous when the corduroy breaks up. Shop the Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80.
Stöckli Montero AR Pro. Same 84 mm shape and radii as the AR, rebuilt with an aluminum topsheet, racing sidewalls and a race base. It is a step up for a strong skier who already likes the AR and wants more power at speed, not a different ski. See the Stöckli Montero AR Pro.
Women's carvers are in the women's section above: the Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA, Head Total Joy and Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition.
Stockli Montero AR Pro
New and Notable Skis for 2026/27
These have a distinct 2026/27 story. Notable means there is something to understand, not that they beat anything above.
Armada Antimatter: A New Freeride Line With a Different Idea About Metal
New this fall. Metal that quiets the ski underfoot but leaves the tip and tail free to smear, so it does not feel dead. Rather than a full sheet, Armada uses tailored, tapered Titanal that damps vibration and adds torsional stiffness while leaving the tip and tail free to flex. That is a deliberate attempt to keep a metal ski from feeling dead, and it is why the Antimatter smears more readily than its construction suggests. Ben Richards skied the Antimatter 114 to win the opening stop of the 2026 Freeride World Tour at Baqueira Beret.
See Armada at Christy Sports or ask in store.
Van Deer-Red Bull Sports: New at Christy Sports
Marcel Hirscher’s Austrian brand, new on our wall. H-Power for firm snow. Freeride for soft.
The H-Power 78 and H-Power 89 come as systems with a mounted Marker binding, and the 89 pairs a beech and poplar core with two sheets of Titanal and race edges. The Freeride 98 is the daily soft-snow ski at 138-98-120 mm, with a beech and poplar core, double Titanal, carbon and tip rocker. The Freeride 108 is the deep-day version at 148-108-130 mm. If you want a precise ski that is not another Enforcer or Mantra, start here. Shop the Van Deer H-Power 78, Van Deer H-Power 89, Van Deer Freeride 98 or Van Deer Freeride 108.
Kästle Sublime: The Kästle Edge, Easier to Ski
New for 26/27. Kästle edge hold with an easier flex than the MX, including in the women’s models, which still get two sheets of metal. Against the MX series, the Sublime uses an all-mountain rocker and a hook-free tail, which is what makes it release in bumps and feel less demanding at everyday speed while keeping the edge hold people buy Kästle for.
Christy Sports is bringing the Sublime in for 26/27. It may not be online yet. See Kästle at Christy Sports or visit a store.
Faction Dancer: Metal or No Metal, Your Choice
Same shapes two ways: no metal if you want lively and easy, metal if you want quieter and more planted. The Dancer 89 TI and Dancer 99 TI add dual-span Titanal over the same core, which makes them quieter and more planted at speed. The 89 is the firmer-day width and the 99 covers mixed snow. See Faction at Christy Sports or visit a store.
Völkl Revolt 101: A Völkl Without the Metal
Völkl lists a 133-101-115 mm sidecut, a multilayer wood core and tip and tail rocker, and lists no titanal in the Revolt 101. That is the point of the ski. It is for someone who grew up on precise Völkls and now wants something twin-leaning they can take into the park or onto natural features without giving up the brand's build quality. Shop the Völkl Revolt 101.
Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI
Which Ski Is Right for You?
Starting points, not rankings. Length, construction, your size, your ability and your home mountain all move the answer, and a Christy Sports fitter can narrow it further.
You mostly ski groomers and want to carve better. The Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI, Stöckli Montero AR, Völkl Peregrine 82, Head Supershape e-Titan or Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80. Narrower waists, shorter turns, built for firm mornings on a Front Range day trip to Loveland, Eldora or Winter Park.
You want one ski for most resort days. The Nordica Enforcer 94 for a calm metal ski and a longer turn. The Salomon QST 100 for a quicker, surfier one. The Blizzard Anomaly 88 for something narrower and more directional. The Völkl M7 Mantra if you ski hard and change turn shape often. The Elan Ripstick 96 if you want the easiest turn initiation here.
You want a playful ski for trees, side hits and natural terrain. The Atomic Bent 100, Blizzard Canvas 100, Rossignol Sender 100 or Völkl Revolt 101.
You ski hard and want a longer, more stable turn. The K2 Mindbender 96 or 101, or the Völkl M7 Mantra. Get the length right, because too long turns both of these into more ski than you asked for.
You plan your season around powder days. The Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, Salomon QST Blank, Atomic Bent 110, K2 Reckoner 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, or Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
You are a progressing intermediate. Some skis here are rated advanced to expert, including the K2 Mindbender 101. The Atomic Bent 100 and Blizzard Black Pearl 88 are rated across a wider range and are easier to ski all day. A fitter can keep you in the category you want and move you to a friendlier flex rather than a ski you are still growing into.
You are shopping for a women's ski. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 for everyday all-mountain. The Nordica Santa Ana 92 for more power. The Elan Ripstick 88 W if you want easy turn initiation closer to the trail, or the Ripstick 94 W if you want that same easy start with more soft-snow range. The Blizzard Sheeva 9 for everyday freeride. The Sheeva 10, Salomon QST 106, or Nordica Unleashed 106 CA if you want more width; the last two are unisex skis we stock in shorter lengths. The Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition, Head Total Joy, or Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA if most of the season is on groomers.
You want something different. Van Deer for Hirscher's Austrian engineering. The Kästle Sublime for that edge hold with an easier flex than an MX. The Armada Antimatter 92 Ti or 100 Ti for a metal freeride ski that still smears. The Faction Dancer 89 or 99, with or without the TI layup, if you want to choose your own metal.
Dynastar M-Free 108
How to Choose Skis: Width, Length, Rocker and Turn Radius
Start with where you ski. Firm groomers point you narrower. Trees and bumps point you toward a ski that pivots. Soft snow points you toward more width and more tip rocker. Most resort weeks include more than one of those, which is why so many daily skis sit between 88 and 101 mm.
Waist width changes two things: how fast the ski rolls from edge to edge, and how much it floats. An 88 and a 108 can both be called all-mountain and still solve different days.
Turn radius often matters more than waist width. A 13 meter radius wants to turn. A 20 meter radius wants to run. Read the number at the length you would actually buy, because it changes through the size run. A published radius is a clue, not a score. Brands do not measure it the same way. Compare it at your length, then trust how the ski feels.
Rocker and camber work together. More tip rocker makes a ski easier to start and helps it float. More camber underfoot helps it hold on hard snow. Do not shop either number alone.
Ask what the metal is doing. A beam down the center, an insert underfoot, shaped pieces and a full sheet are not the same ski. The Salomon QST 100 and K2 Mindbender 101 both have Titanal and behave nothing alike.
Weight matters, but not on its own. Heavier is not automatically more stable and lighter is not automatically weaker. Weight only means something alongside length, shape and construction.
Length is the last call, not the first. Start with height, then adjust for weight, ability, construction, rocker profile and terrain.
Boot fit matters more than the ski. A well-chosen ski still depends on a properly fitted boot. Find a Christy Sports or Sturtevant's location for expert boot fitting and equipment help.
Blizzard Canvas 100
Ski Buying FAQs: Width, Women's Skis, Powder and 2026/27 Picks
What ski width is best for Colorado, Utah, Montana or Washington resort skiing? Between about 88 and 101 mm underfoot covers most resort skiing in all four states. That is a middle ground, not a rule. A skier who spends most mornings carving firm snow may want something narrower, and someone chasing deep days will want more width. Construction, radius and rocker matter as much as the waist number.
What is the difference between a carving ski and an all-mountain ski? A carving ski is narrower underfoot, cut to a shorter turn radius, built with camber and less rocker, and usually carries more metal. All of that favors grip on firm snow. An all-mountain ski trades some of that grip for float and forgiveness off the trail. If most of your season is on groomed snow, a carving ski will do more for your skiing than a wider ski will.
Is a 100 mm ski too wide for an everyday ski? No, not for most resort skiers. Salomon positions the QST 100 as an everyday resort ski and K2 positions the Mindbender 101 as a one-ski quiver. Width is one factor next to construction, radius and rocker, and a 100 mm ski with metal underfoot can hold an edge better than a narrower ski without any.
Do I need women's-specific skis? Not necessarily, it depends on the brand and your personal preference. Blizzard builds the Black Pearl and Sheeva to a women's-specific design standard with a women's core and less metal than its unisex skis. K2 uses the same technology in its women's Mindbenders and changes the length runs. Salomon publishes the QST as unisex. Standing on two or three in the same category is the fastest way to find what you prefer.
Do I need a separate powder ski? Only if you ski powder often. Many skis in the 96 to 110 mm range, including the Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 100, Rossignol Soul 102 and Atomic Bent 110, handle resort snow and soft snow well enough that most skiers never need a second pair. Skiers who chase storm days may still want more width: Canvas 108, Sender 110, QST Blank, Reckoner 110, M-Free 108 or Bent Chetler 120.
What is the Rossignol Soul Pro? The Rossignol Soul Pro is a progression system ski that comes mounted with an XP10 binding. It is not a smaller version of the adult Soul 102. It is built for a young or lighter skier who has outgrown short junior skis and wants to ski the whole mountain, including soft snow, on something that will actually bend for them. Ask our team to size it against the skier's weight and ability rather than their age.
When should a junior move toward an adult or progression ski? It depends on height, weight, ability and how fast they are progressing, not on age. The signal is usually behavioral: they are following you into terrain their skis cannot handle, or they are skiing faster than their skis want to go. A progression ski like the Soul Pro is often the right middle step before an adult ski. A fitter can tell you whether they are ready or whether one more season on junior gear is the better call.
What should an intermediate skier look for? A friendlier flex within the category you want, rather than the widest or most reinforced ski on the wall. Check the ability rating the manufacturer publishes. K2 rates the Mindbender 101 advanced to expert, while Atomic's published skill level for the Bent 100 spans beginner to expert. Our in-store experts can match your ability to the right construction and width.
Can I try skis before I buy? Yes. Try Before You Buy is available on adult skis at slopeside stores, including Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Telluride, Vail, Deer Valley, and Big Sky. It costs $100 per day, you can swap skis during the day for that same flat rate, and up to two days of fees can be applied toward a new pair of skis in the same season. Skis are first come, first served and cannot be reserved in advance. See the full Try Before You Buy terms.
Should I rent or buy this season? It depends on how often you ski, how much you value the same setup every day, and whether you already know what type of ski fits you. Renting works for occasional skiers, travelers, growing kids and anyone who wants flexibility. Buying gives regular skiers consistency and a setup dialed to their preferences. Our Complete Guide to Ski and Snowboard Rentals walks through the whole decision, including advice for first-time renters and for families weighing a season rental.
How often should I tune my skis? Christy Sports recommends tuning skis and snowboards every five or six times out for the best performance and safety. Early-season and manmade snow strips wax faster, so wax more often in those conditions. Here is what is included in our ski and snowboard tuning services.
Shop Skis and Get Expert Help
Shop all skis · Shop women's skis · Shop kids skis · Try skis before you buy · Find a store
Come in for expert boot fitting, a tune-up or a gear conversation before your first day out. Bring what you have been skiing and what you wish it did better. That is usually enough for us to put you on two or three skis worth standing on.
Ski & Snowboard,
Gear Guides
Sep 11, 2026
Best Skis for 2026/27: What's New, What Stands Out and How to Choose
Last Updated: September 11, 2026
Every fall the ski wall gets rewritten. Some skis are new. Some keep the name and change the construction. Some come back unchanged because they already worked well last winter.
There is no best ski on that wall. There is a ski that fits the snow you ski, the mountain you ski it on, and the turns you want to make. This guide covers what Christy Sports is bringing in for 2026/27 and how to match it to your skiing.
What's in this guide
- Find the right ski for how you ski
- What's new in skis for 2026/27
- All-mountain skis for everyday resort days
- Women's skis: all-mountain, freeride and carving
- Freeride and powder skis for soft snow
- Carving and frontside skis for groomed snow
- New and notable skis for 2026/27
- Which ski is right for you?
- How to choose skis: width, length, rocker and turn radius
- Ski Buying FAQs: Width, Women's Skis, Powder and 2026/27 Picks
Nordica Enforcer 94
Find the Right Ski for How You Ski
One ski for most resort days. Start with all-mountain. The Nordica Enforcer 94, Salomon QST 100, Blizzard Rustler 9 and Völkl M7 Mantra live there.
Mostly groomers. Go to carving and frontside. On firm snow, a narrower ski usually helps your turns more than another wide one.
Trees, side hits and natural terrain. Go to playful, freeride skis. The Atomic Bent 100, Blizzard Canvas 100 and Rossignol Sender 100 are the easy places to start.
Storm days and soft snow. Stay in freeride, at the wider end: Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, Atomic Bent 110, Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 110 or Dynastar M-Free 108. The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 is the true deep-day ski.
Shopping for a women's ski. Go to the women's section. It covers all-mountain, freeride and carving, and it answers how men's and women's skis actually differ.
A young skier moving up. Read the Rossignol Soul Pro spotlight in the freeride section, then talk to one of our experts in-store.
What's New in Skis for 2026/27
Five stories matter this season. The first four are rebuilds and new lines. The fifth is the wider powder group now on the wall.
Blizzard Canvas is a new freestyle-leaning freeride line, and it is a lighter build than the metal chargers Blizzard is known for. Details are in the freeride section.
K2 rebuilt the Mindbender. The old split between a lively carbon version and a heavier metal one is gone. Every width now shares one construction with weighted inserts in the core for damping. Details are in the all-mountain section.
Stöckli built a Montero AR Pro. The shape did not change. The parts did. Details are in the carving section.
Rossignol simplified its freeride names. What was Sender Soul is now Soul. What was Sender Free is now Sender. Same skis, clearer names.
The powder wall got wider. Atomic Bent 110 and Bent Chetler 120, Salomon QST Blank, K2 Reckoner 110 and Dynastar M-Free 108 join the deep-day group. On the women's side, Blizzard Sheeva 10 and Black Crows Atris Birdie sit next to two unisex 106s we stock in shorter lengths: QST 106 and Nordica Unleashed 106 CA. Details are in the freeride and women's sections.
Two brands are new or newly interesting on our wall this season: Armada's Antimatter freeride line and the Kästle Sublime family, plus Van Deer-Red Bull Sports, which is new to Christy Sports. Those are in New and Notable.
Armada Antimatter 100
All-Mountain Skis for Everyday Resort Days
Most resort skiers end up between about 88 and 101 mm underfoot. That range holds an edge on hard snow and still works when it softens. Width alone does not decide how a ski behaves. Where the metal sits, how much rocker is in the tip and what turn the ski is cut for all matter as much.
Nordica Enforcer 94. Two sheets of metal with a soft layer in the middle, so the ski stays quiet when the snow gets choppy. Nordica calls that the Energy 2 Ti Pulse Core. The 94 is the trail-first Enforcer. It stays calm and precise when other skis start to chatter, and it suits a winter that is mostly groomers with some time off the side. Shop the Nordica Enforcer 94.
Nordica Enforcer 99. Same quiet metal build, 5 mm more waist. The extra width keeps it composed when the snow gets soft and cut up, without making it a powder specialist. Shop the Nordica Enforcer 99.
Enforcer 94 vs. Enforcer 99: Which One Fits Your Season?
Same build, same length runs. Neither is the harder ski to handle, and neither is only for stronger skiers.
- Choose the Nordica Enforcer 94 if most days are groomer days with some off-trail skiing when you feel like it.
- Choose the Nordica Enforcer 99 if you go looking for soft snow when it shows up.
- Size is not the deciding factor here. Snow is.
Salomon QST 100. The surfy one. Salomon publishes about 133-100-121 mm at 172 cm. Metal underfoot holds an edge on hard snow. The tip and tail stay free so the ski still pivots and smears. Shop the Salomon QST 100.
Salomon QST 94. Same idea, narrower waist. Quicker edge to edge on a groomer, still enough tip for soft snow. Shop the Salomon QST 94.
QST 100 vs. QST 94
These share a construction, including the same Titanal insert underfoot.
- Choose the Salomon QST 100 if you want a surfy all-mountain ski that still holds an edge.
- Choose the Salomon QST 94 if more of your time is on trails and you want the quicker ski.
Blizzard Anomaly 88. Blizzard’s directional all-mountain ski at 88 mm. Four shaped pieces of metal, not one heavy sheet, so it stays planted at speed without feeling dead. If you liked the older directional Blizzards, this is where that ski went. Shop the Blizzard Anomaly 88.
Völkl M7 Mantra. A precise all-mountain ski that does not lock you into one turn size. Metal in a frame that changes with length, and four different radii along the ski. Its 4 Radius Drive shape uses four different radii along the ski, roughly 20 meters in the tip, a long 40 through the shovel, a tight 15 underfoot and about 25 behind the binding. In practice the ski does not lock into one turn size, which is why it rewards a skier who changes turn shape a lot. Shop the Völkl M7 Mantra.
Völkl Mantra 88. The same planted Mantra feel, cut narrower for a season that stays mostly on trail. Shop the Völkl Mantra 88.
Elan Ripstick 96. The easy-to-start daily ski. Left and right are shaped differently: the inside edge grips, the outside edge lets go. Elan calls that Amphibio. The 96 is the middle of the men's range and the one that works as a daily ski. If you have been fighting your skis to start a turn, this is the family to stand on. Shop the Elan Ripstick 96.
K2 Mindbender 96 and 101. The rebuilt Mindbender. A strip of metal down the center, plus weighted inserts in the core that quiet chatter without making the ski feel heavy. K2 calls those inserts Dark Matter. The 96 is the wider all-rounder, published at 135-96-123 mm with a 20 meter radius at 183 cm, rated intermediate to expert. The 101 measures 130-101-122 mm with a 20.5 meter radius at 185 cm and is rated advanced to expert. Both want a skier who commits. Shop the K2 Mindbender 96 or the K2 Mindbender 101, or see all K2 skis at Christy Sports.
Mindbender 101 vs. QST 100: What Actually Separates Them
Both sit around 100 mm underfoot and both use Titanal. The metal is in different places and the skis feel nothing alike.
The K2 Mindbender 101 carries a Titanal I-Beam down the center plus damping inserts in the core. It holds a long line and stays quiet when you push it. It wants a skier who drives the ski.
The Salomon QST 100 carries its metal underfoot, edge to edge, and leaves the tip and tail free. It is quicker to pivot, easier to smear, and more forgiving when you are tired.
Same width. Different job.
Salomon QST 100
Women's Skis: All-Mountain, Freeride and Carving
Women have real choices across all three categories this season, not one all-mountain ski and one powder ski.
What's the Difference Between Men's and Women's Skis?
There is no single industry formula. What a women's ski means depends on the brand, and the differences fall into a few buckets.
- Length run. Some brands build the same ski and offer it in shorter lengths, which also shortens the turn radius. K2's women's Mindbenders use the men's dimensions and technology in different lengths: the 96 W runs 153 to 173 cm with a 16 meter radius at 168, where the men's 96 runs 168 to 183 cm with 20 meters at 183.
- Amount and shape of metal. Blizzard uses three women's-specific pieces of Titanal in the Black Pearl 88, against four in the unisex Anomaly. Nordica pairs the Santa Ana with a single sheet of terrain-specific metal, where the Enforcer gets two.
- Core and flex. Blizzard builds the Black Pearl and Sheeva to its W.S.D. design standard, part of its Women to Women program, with a women's-specific TrueBlend core. Read more on how Blizzard’s Women2Women program shaped the Black Pearl 88.
- Mounting position and binding system. Many women's skis ship as system skis, with a plate and binding matched to the ski, which changes how it bends underfoot.
- Nothing at all. Salomon specifies the QST as unisex and lets length differences do the work.
The practical takeaway: a women's ski is not automatically softer or lighter, and a unisex ski is not automatically wrong. Standing on two or three in the same category tells you more than any spec sheet.
Women's All-Mountain Skis
Blizzard Black Pearl 88. The ski more women stay on all day than any other on our wall. Some skis feel impressive for ten turns and then wear you out, because they are stiff, heavy or demand exact technique. The Pearl is the other kind of good ski: easy to turn, calm underfoot, and capable enough that strong skiers keep choosing it. Blizzard publishes 125-88-107 mm, radii from 11 to 16.5 meters across a 146 to 176 cm run, and rates it from beginner through expert. If you are not sure where to start, start here. Shop the Blizzard Black Pearl 88.
Nordica Santa Ana 92. The more powerful choice. One sheet of metal and a soft layer in the core, so it holds better than the Pearl in chopped-up snow. Next to the Pearl it asks a little more of you and gives back more grip and more composure in chopped-up snow. Shop the Nordica Santa Ana 92.
Elan Ripstick 88 W and 94 W. Same easy turn start as the men’s Ripstick. The 88 W stays closer to the trail and is easier to steer at slower speeds. The 94 W has more range when the snow is soft. Both are among the strongest women's options we are bringing in. Shop the Elan Ripstick 88 W and Ripstick 94 W.
K2 Mindbender 88 W and 96 W. Same quiet, driven feel as the men’s Mindbenders, in shorter lengths. The 88 W (146 to 164 cm) is the firm-snow ski. The 96 W (153 to 173 cm, 16 meter radius at 168) covers most of the winter and is rated intermediate to expert. Shop the K2 Mindbender 88 W or the K2 Mindbender 96 W.
Blizzard Sheeva 10
Women's Freeride and Powder Skis
Blizzard Sheeva 9. The women’s match for the Rustler idea: 96 mm, happy to smear or hold. Built with women’s-specific metal and core. The radius changes a lot through the size run, 16 meters at 174 cm and 12 meters at 150 cm, so a shorter Sheeva is a noticeably quicker ski rather than just a shorter one. A strong everyday choice when you want soft-snow range without a wide powder ski. Shop the Blizzard Sheeva 9.
Blizzard Sheeva 10. The wider Sheeva for skiers who want more float. 102 mm underfoot, women’s-specific metal and TrueBlend core, rockered tip and tail with camber underfoot. About 133-102-122 mm at 168 cm, with a 15.5 meter radius. Lengths run 156 to 180. Rated advanced to expert. Same smear-or-hold feel as the Sheeva 9, with more surface for soft snow and bigger terrain. Shop the Blizzard Sheeva 10.
Black Crows Atris Birdie. A women’s big-mountain ski built for soft snow without becoming a powder-only tool. 105 mm underfoot, poplar and fiberglass core, double rocker with traditional camber underfoot, and a firm, consistent flex. Lengths run 160.2 to 178.4 cm, with about a 20 meter radius. Rated advanced to expert. Loose and easy to pivot in powder, but with enough backbone and edge contact to stay composed when the snow gets tracked out or the terrain opens up. Shop the Black Crows Atris Birdie.
Salomon QST 106. Unisex, and the shorter lengths are why it works for many women. 106 mm, wood core, metal underfoot for grip, cork in the tip to quiet chatter. Lengths start at 157 cm. Rated advanced to expert. If you already like the QST idea, this is the wider, softer-snow version of that ski. Shop the Salomon QST 106.
Nordica Unleashed 106 CA. Also unisex, with sizes from 152 cm. 106 mm, wood-and-carbon build, no full metal sheet, so it stays lighter and easier to steer than Nordica’s metal Unleashed 106. That is the version that fits more women and lighter skiers. Playful in soft snow, still useful when you ski back to the lift. Shop the Nordica Unleashed 106 CA.
The Sheeva 10, Atris Birdie, QST 106, and Unleashed 106 CA are the powder-leaning options here. They are not dedicated 120 mm storm skis. They are the wider freeride skis to look at when a Sheeva 9 or Ripstick 94 W is not enough float.
Women's Carving and Frontside Skis
The carving section below explains why a narrower ski can beat a wide all-mountain ski on a firm morning. These are the women's skis in that category.
Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA. A system ski for beginners and progressing intermediates. No metal sandwich, so the ski bends and starts the turn for you. Everything about it is aimed at letting the ski bend and start the turn for you. Shop the Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA with TP2 Comp 10 bindings.
Head Total Joy. A lighter women’s system ski that carves on groomers and still handles the snow beside the trail. Built lighter than a race-room carver, so it holds a clean arc on corduroy without punishing you when you leave it. See the Head Total Joy with SLR 10 bindings.
Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition. Elan’s women’s carver. Published radius runs 12 meters at 152 cm, 13 at 160 and 14 at 168. That is short, and it feels short: the turn starts as soon as you tip the ski. Shop the Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition.
Nordica Unleashed 106
Freeride and Powder Skis for Soft Snow
These skis are shaped to release and slide sideways, not only to lock into a carve. Most of the first group still works as an everyday resort ski in a snowy winter. The wider skis below that are the ones you buy because it stormed.
Playful freeride for mixed and soft snow
Atomic Bent 100. Loose, easy, and hard to outgrow. A shaped tip and tail add float and keep the ski from feeling hooky. At 158 cm it measures 124.5-100-115 mm with a 16.5 meter radius. Atomic’s published skill level spans beginner to expert, which is unusual at 100 mm underfoot and a fair part of why so many skiers end up on it. Shop the Atomic Bent 100.
Blizzard Rustler 9 and Rustler 10. Same playful freeride idea in two widths. The 9 is quicker on a firm morning. The 10 floats better when it snows. Blizzard publishes 128-96-117.5 mm for the 9 and 132.5-102-121.5 mm for the 10, both built with FluxForm Freeride Ti metal over a TrueBlend Free wood core of beech, poplar and paulownia. The metal is shaped to each model, tapered at the tip for float and wider at the tail for support. Shop the Blizzard Rustler 9 or the Blizzard Rustler 10.
Blizzard Canvas 100 and Canvas 108. Blizzard’s new playful twin-tip line. Lighter than the metal chargers the brand is known for, and easier to smear and ski switch. Both use a poplar and paulownia wood core in a fiberglass and carbon sandwich, with a full rocker tip, light camber underfoot and a rockered tail. The 100 is the everyday width at 129.5-100-117.5 mm. The 108 adds float at 137.5-108-125.5 mm. If you ski switch, hunt side hits or just want a ski that releases early, this is the new option on the wall. Shop the Blizzard Canvas 100 or the Blizzard Canvas 108.
Rossignol Sender 100. The easiest ski in this group to break loose on purpose. Light tip and tail, so it swings and drifts. Shop the Rossignol Sender 100.
Rossignol Soul 102. The adult daily-driver Rossignol. It has shorter turn than the width suggests, which is why it works as one ski for the whole season. Shop the Rossignol Soul 102.
Storm days and deeper snow
Atomic Bent 110. The powder Bent that still works when the storm is over. 110 mm underfoot, a light wood core, and a shaped tip that helps it float without feeling bulky. Rated advanced to expert. Take this over the Bent 100 when you want more float, and over the Chetler 120 when you want one ski for more than the deepest days. Shop the Atomic Bent 110.
Atomic Bent Chetler 120. Chris Benchetler’s 120 mm signature ski for the days it really snows. Extra-wide tip and tail help it plane in deep snow, and a light wood core keeps it from feeling like a barge. Rated advanced to expert. Not an everyday resort ski. The one for storm days. Shop the Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
K2 Reckoner 110. A playful 110 mm twin-tip for powder, side hits, and skiing switch. The tip and tail rise early so it floats and turns easily, and the wood-and-carbon build gives it pop without metal stiffness. Rated advanced to expert. Choose it over the Canvas 100 or Bent 100 when you want that same fun feel with more float. Next to the Bent 110, this is the switch-friendly powder twin. Shop the K2 Reckoner 110.
Rossignol Sender 110. The storm-day Rossignol. Wider, with metal underfoot, so it stays calm in big terrain. Shop the Rossignol Sender 110.
Salomon QST Blank. The wide QST for big powder days. At 112 mm it floats in deep snow and stays calm when you ski fast and straight. Cork in the tip quiets chatter without making the ski feel heavy or metal-stiff. Unisex, rated advanced to expert. If the QST 100 is your everyday ski, this is the storm-day version: more float, a longer turn, and less pivot. Shop the Salomon QST Blank.
Dynastar M-Free 108. A playful 108 mm powder ski that still works on a regular soft-snow day. It floats when it storms, turns easily in trees, and stays lively because there is no metal in the build. Shorter lengths turn quicker. Longer lengths want a bigger turn. Rated advanced to expert. Shop the Dynastar M-Free 108.
The Blizzard Canvas 108 and Blizzard Rustler 10 also belong here if you already liked those shapes in the group above and want the wider version.
Blizzard Rustler 10 skis
Rossignol Soul Pro with XP10 Bindings: The Ski That Gets a Young Skier Onto the Whole Mountain
The Soul Pro is not a smaller Soul 102. It is a separate ski, a progression system ski that comes mounted with an XP10 binding, and it exists to solve a specific problem: a young or lighter skier has outgrown short junior skis and now wants to follow the family off the groomers instead of waiting at the bottom.
That skier does not need a stiff adult freeride ski. A ski built for an adult’s weight will not bend for them, and a ski that will not bend will not turn. The Soul Pro is shaped and built to be pushed around by a smaller skier while still floating in soft snow, and the mounted binding means it arrives ready to ski.
Who it is for: a growing skier moving up from junior gear, or a lighter adult who wants a soft-snow ski that does not fight back.
Where it fits: it is the on-ramp to the Soul family, one step below the Soul 102.
See kids and youth skis or find a store and ask our team to size it against the skier, not their birthday.
How to Choose a Freeride or Powder Ski
- The Atomic Bent 100 or Blizzard Canvas 100 if you want a playful daily ski that is easy to release.
- The Blizzard Rustler 9 or Rustler 10 if you want that same everyday range with metal underfoot and a more planted feel.
- The Rossignol Sender 100 if you want the easiest ski here to pivot and drift.
- The Rossignol Soul 102 if you want one Rossignol for the whole season.
- The Atomic Bent 110 if you want Bent playfulness with enough width for most powder days.
- The K2 Reckoner 110 if you want a twin-tip powder ski you can ski switch and take into features.
- The Dynastar M-Free 108 if you want a 108 that smears and still finishes a turn.
- The Salomon QST Blank when you want 112 mm of float and a ski that stays quiet pointed downhill.
- The Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, or Atomic Bent Chetler 120 when you are shopping specifically for the deepest days.
Rossignol Sender 100
Carving and Frontside Skis for Groomed Snow
If you spend most of your day on groomed snow, why would a narrower ski serve you better than another 100 mm all-mountain ski?
Four reasons, and they compound.
Edge to edge. A narrower waist puts the edge closer to your foot, so the ski tips onto edge faster and with less effort. On firm snow that is the difference between steering the ski and waiting for it.
Turn shape. Carving skis are cut to shorter radii. A ski that wants to turn will finish the arc for you, which is what makes a groomer run feel like a series of turns rather than a series of corrections.
Edge hold. More metal and a stiffer torsional build let the edge stay locked when the snow is hard. A wide, soft-tipped ski washes out in the same conditions.
Damping. Speed on hard snow creates vibration. Race-derived construction absorbs it, so the ski stays quiet and you stay comfortable enough to keep skiing that way.
The tradeoff is real: these skis do less for you in deep snow. If a third or more of your season is corduroy at Loveland, Eldora or Winter Park, that is a trade worth making.
Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI. Race-ski hold without the full race-ski workout. Two sheets of metal, 82 mm, sold with a binding. It keeps enough width to stay useful once the corduroy gets pushed around. Shop the Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI with TPX 12 bindings.
Stöckli Montero AR. Smooth and quiet at speed. Built for medium and long turns on firm groomers, not for snapping short slalom turns. It stays quiet underfoot at speed and holds its line instead of darting, which is exactly what you want when the groomers are firm and you are going fast. Shop the Stöckli Montero AR.
Völkl Peregrine 82. A precise carver that can change turn size. Tighter underfoot to start the turn, longer at the ends so it stays stable in a long arc. Shop the Völkl Peregrine 82 with Lowride 13 FR bindings.
Head Supershape e-Titan. The widest, longest-turning Supershape. Built-in damping cuts chatter at speed so bigger arcs stay quiet. Head damps the Supershape line with its Energy Management Circuit, which converts vibration into energy rather than passing it to your feet. It suits a skier who wants bigger arcs and more range on variable groomers than the shorter-radius Supershapes allow. Shop the Head Supershape e-Titan with PR 11 GW bindings.
Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition. Easy turn start with a little more width than a true frontside ski, so it still works beside the trail. Shop the Elan Wingman 86 Black Edition.
Black Crows Mirus Cor. An 87 mm waist, one short radius of about 13 meters, and a swallowtail. Black Crows says to ski it short. It carves quick and snappy and still has enough freestyle in it to play on the sides of the trail, which makes it the least serious ski in this group in the best way. Shop the Black Crows Mirus Cor.
Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80. A race-built ski with a bit more tip for mixed groomers. Fast and quiet, and it does not get nervous when the corduroy breaks up. Shop the Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80.
Stöckli Montero AR Pro. Same 84 mm shape and radii as the AR, rebuilt with an aluminum topsheet, racing sidewalls and a race base. It is a step up for a strong skier who already likes the AR and wants more power at speed, not a different ski. See the Stöckli Montero AR Pro.
Women's carvers are in the women's section above: the Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA, Head Total Joy and Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition.
Stockli Montero AR Pro
New and Notable Skis for 2026/27
These have a distinct 2026/27 story. Notable means there is something to understand, not that they beat anything above.
Armada Antimatter: A New Freeride Line With a Different Idea About Metal
New this fall. Metal that quiets the ski underfoot but leaves the tip and tail free to smear, so it does not feel dead. Rather than a full sheet, Armada uses tailored, tapered Titanal that damps vibration and adds torsional stiffness while leaving the tip and tail free to flex. That is a deliberate attempt to keep a metal ski from feeling dead, and it is why the Antimatter smears more readily than its construction suggests. Ben Richards skied the Antimatter 114 to win the opening stop of the 2026 Freeride World Tour at Baqueira Beret.
See Armada at Christy Sports or ask in store.
Van Deer-Red Bull Sports: New at Christy Sports
Marcel Hirscher’s Austrian brand, new on our wall. H-Power for firm snow. Freeride for soft.
The H-Power 78 and H-Power 89 come as systems with a mounted Marker binding, and the 89 pairs a beech and poplar core with two sheets of Titanal and race edges. The Freeride 98 is the daily soft-snow ski at 138-98-120 mm, with a beech and poplar core, double Titanal, carbon and tip rocker. The Freeride 108 is the deep-day version at 148-108-130 mm. If you want a precise ski that is not another Enforcer or Mantra, start here. Shop the Van Deer H-Power 78, Van Deer H-Power 89, Van Deer Freeride 98 or Van Deer Freeride 108.
Kästle Sublime: The Kästle Edge, Easier to Ski
New for 26/27. Kästle edge hold with an easier flex than the MX, including in the women’s models, which still get two sheets of metal. Against the MX series, the Sublime uses an all-mountain rocker and a hook-free tail, which is what makes it release in bumps and feel less demanding at everyday speed while keeping the edge hold people buy Kästle for.
Christy Sports is bringing the Sublime in for 26/27. It may not be online yet. See Kästle at Christy Sports or visit a store.
Faction Dancer: Metal or No Metal, Your Choice
Same shapes two ways: no metal if you want lively and easy, metal if you want quieter and more planted. The Dancer 89 TI and Dancer 99 TI add dual-span Titanal over the same core, which makes them quieter and more planted at speed. The 89 is the firmer-day width and the 99 covers mixed snow. See Faction at Christy Sports or visit a store.
Völkl Revolt 101: A Völkl Without the Metal
Völkl lists a 133-101-115 mm sidecut, a multilayer wood core and tip and tail rocker, and lists no titanal in the Revolt 101. That is the point of the ski. It is for someone who grew up on precise Völkls and now wants something twin-leaning they can take into the park or onto natural features without giving up the brand's build quality. Shop the Völkl Revolt 101.
Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI
Which Ski Is Right for You?
Starting points, not rankings. Length, construction, your size, your ability and your home mountain all move the answer, and a Christy Sports fitter can narrow it further.
You mostly ski groomers and want to carve better. The Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTI, Stöckli Montero AR, Völkl Peregrine 82, Head Supershape e-Titan or Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC 80. Narrower waists, shorter turns, built for firm mornings on a Front Range day trip to Loveland, Eldora or Winter Park.
You want one ski for most resort days. The Nordica Enforcer 94 for a calm metal ski and a longer turn. The Salomon QST 100 for a quicker, surfier one. The Blizzard Anomaly 88 for something narrower and more directional. The Völkl M7 Mantra if you ski hard and change turn shape often. The Elan Ripstick 96 if you want the easiest turn initiation here.
You want a playful ski for trees, side hits and natural terrain. The Atomic Bent 100, Blizzard Canvas 100, Rossignol Sender 100 or Völkl Revolt 101.
You ski hard and want a longer, more stable turn. The K2 Mindbender 96 or 101, or the Völkl M7 Mantra. Get the length right, because too long turns both of these into more ski than you asked for.
You plan your season around powder days. The Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 108, Rossignol Sender 110, Salomon QST Blank, Atomic Bent 110, K2 Reckoner 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, or Atomic Bent Chetler 120.
You are a progressing intermediate. Some skis here are rated advanced to expert, including the K2 Mindbender 101. The Atomic Bent 100 and Blizzard Black Pearl 88 are rated across a wider range and are easier to ski all day. A fitter can keep you in the category you want and move you to a friendlier flex rather than a ski you are still growing into.
You are shopping for a women's ski. The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 for everyday all-mountain. The Nordica Santa Ana 92 for more power. The Elan Ripstick 88 W if you want easy turn initiation closer to the trail, or the Ripstick 94 W if you want that same easy start with more soft-snow range. The Blizzard Sheeva 9 for everyday freeride. The Sheeva 10, Salomon QST 106, or Nordica Unleashed 106 CA if you want more width; the last two are unisex skis we stock in shorter lengths. The Elan Wildcat 83 Black Edition, Head Total Joy, or Nordica Wild Belle 78 CA if most of the season is on groomers.
You want something different. Van Deer for Hirscher's Austrian engineering. The Kästle Sublime for that edge hold with an easier flex than an MX. The Armada Antimatter 92 Ti or 100 Ti for a metal freeride ski that still smears. The Faction Dancer 89 or 99, with or without the TI layup, if you want to choose your own metal.
Dynastar M-Free 108
How to Choose Skis: Width, Length, Rocker and Turn Radius
Start with where you ski. Firm groomers point you narrower. Trees and bumps point you toward a ski that pivots. Soft snow points you toward more width and more tip rocker. Most resort weeks include more than one of those, which is why so many daily skis sit between 88 and 101 mm.
Waist width changes two things: how fast the ski rolls from edge to edge, and how much it floats. An 88 and a 108 can both be called all-mountain and still solve different days.
Turn radius often matters more than waist width. A 13 meter radius wants to turn. A 20 meter radius wants to run. Read the number at the length you would actually buy, because it changes through the size run. A published radius is a clue, not a score. Brands do not measure it the same way. Compare it at your length, then trust how the ski feels.
Rocker and camber work together. More tip rocker makes a ski easier to start and helps it float. More camber underfoot helps it hold on hard snow. Do not shop either number alone.
Ask what the metal is doing. A beam down the center, an insert underfoot, shaped pieces and a full sheet are not the same ski. The Salomon QST 100 and K2 Mindbender 101 both have Titanal and behave nothing alike.
Weight matters, but not on its own. Heavier is not automatically more stable and lighter is not automatically weaker. Weight only means something alongside length, shape and construction.
Length is the last call, not the first. Start with height, then adjust for weight, ability, construction, rocker profile and terrain.
Boot fit matters more than the ski. A well-chosen ski still depends on a properly fitted boot. Find a Christy Sports or Sturtevant's location for expert boot fitting and equipment help.
Blizzard Canvas 100
Ski Buying FAQs: Width, Women's Skis, Powder and 2026/27 Picks
What ski width is best for Colorado, Utah, Montana or Washington resort skiing? Between about 88 and 101 mm underfoot covers most resort skiing in all four states. That is a middle ground, not a rule. A skier who spends most mornings carving firm snow may want something narrower, and someone chasing deep days will want more width. Construction, radius and rocker matter as much as the waist number.
What is the difference between a carving ski and an all-mountain ski? A carving ski is narrower underfoot, cut to a shorter turn radius, built with camber and less rocker, and usually carries more metal. All of that favors grip on firm snow. An all-mountain ski trades some of that grip for float and forgiveness off the trail. If most of your season is on groomed snow, a carving ski will do more for your skiing than a wider ski will.
Is a 100 mm ski too wide for an everyday ski? No, not for most resort skiers. Salomon positions the QST 100 as an everyday resort ski and K2 positions the Mindbender 101 as a one-ski quiver. Width is one factor next to construction, radius and rocker, and a 100 mm ski with metal underfoot can hold an edge better than a narrower ski without any.
Do I need women's-specific skis? Not necessarily, it depends on the brand and your personal preference. Blizzard builds the Black Pearl and Sheeva to a women's-specific design standard with a women's core and less metal than its unisex skis. K2 uses the same technology in its women's Mindbenders and changes the length runs. Salomon publishes the QST as unisex. Standing on two or three in the same category is the fastest way to find what you prefer.
Do I need a separate powder ski? Only if you ski powder often. Many skis in the 96 to 110 mm range, including the Blizzard Rustler 10, Blizzard Canvas 100, Rossignol Soul 102 and Atomic Bent 110, handle resort snow and soft snow well enough that most skiers never need a second pair. Skiers who chase storm days may still want more width: Canvas 108, Sender 110, QST Blank, Reckoner 110, M-Free 108 or Bent Chetler 120.
What is the Rossignol Soul Pro? The Rossignol Soul Pro is a progression system ski that comes mounted with an XP10 binding. It is not a smaller version of the adult Soul 102. It is built for a young or lighter skier who has outgrown short junior skis and wants to ski the whole mountain, including soft snow, on something that will actually bend for them. Ask our team to size it against the skier's weight and ability rather than their age.
When should a junior move toward an adult or progression ski? It depends on height, weight, ability and how fast they are progressing, not on age. The signal is usually behavioral: they are following you into terrain their skis cannot handle, or they are skiing faster than their skis want to go. A progression ski like the Soul Pro is often the right middle step before an adult ski. A fitter can tell you whether they are ready or whether one more season on junior gear is the better call.
What should an intermediate skier look for? A friendlier flex within the category you want, rather than the widest or most reinforced ski on the wall. Check the ability rating the manufacturer publishes. K2 rates the Mindbender 101 advanced to expert, while Atomic's published skill level for the Bent 100 spans beginner to expert. Our in-store experts can match your ability to the right construction and width.
Can I try skis before I buy? Yes. Try Before You Buy is available on adult skis at slopeside stores, including Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Telluride, Vail, Deer Valley, and Big Sky. It costs $100 per day, you can swap skis during the day for that same flat rate, and up to two days of fees can be applied toward a new pair of skis in the same season. Skis are first come, first served and cannot be reserved in advance. See the full Try Before You Buy terms.
Should I rent or buy this season? It depends on how often you ski, how much you value the same setup every day, and whether you already know what type of ski fits you. Renting works for occasional skiers, travelers, growing kids and anyone who wants flexibility. Buying gives regular skiers consistency and a setup dialed to their preferences. Our Complete Guide to Ski and Snowboard Rentals walks through the whole decision, including advice for first-time renters and for families weighing a season rental.
How often should I tune my skis? Christy Sports recommends tuning skis and snowboards every five or six times out for the best performance and safety. Early-season and manmade snow strips wax faster, so wax more often in those conditions. Here is what is included in our ski and snowboard tuning services.
Shop Skis and Get Expert Help
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Come in for expert boot fitting, a tune-up or a gear conversation before your first day out. Bring what you have been skiing and what you wish it did better. That is usually enough for us to put you on two or three skis worth standing on.
