Ok, the holidays are over, and it’s time to get serious– about the ski season, and about giving myself the gifts that somehow did not end up under the tree. Luckily, last spring I was invited with my friend and ski instructor mentor Emily to help test women’s all-mountain skis for Ski Center in Gaithersburg– so we got to check out all the new offerings for 24/25. This made it hard to resist a new pair!
If you’re in the same boat and looking to buy new women’s all-mountain skis, I hope our test can help you decide between some of the latest models. Emily and I were pretty much aligned on our opinions, but of course everyone’s different so it’s always a good idea to demo if you can.
What is an all-mountain ski?
Before we get into the specifics, here are a few ski construction basics that might help you make a decision. An all-mountain ski is meant to do it all, from groomed trails to bumps and steeps. The construction of the ski helps it adapt to variable conditions. Typically, when you look at an all-mountain ski from the top, it has a tip and a tail that are wider than its waist. And when you look at it from the side it’s curved. That curve underfoot is called camber, and the curves that go up at the front and back are called rocker.
Each ski varies a little in these areas, affecting its performance and strengths. Here’s how the shape of your ski affects your ride:
Waist Width
In the simplest terms, the narrower the waist, the easier the ski is to get up on edge and turn on harder snow. The wider the waist, the easier it is to float above the snow if it’s powder, and the more stable it’ll be in heavy crud and cut-up conditions. This is why an all-mountain ski is often somewhere in the middle for waist width, usually between 80-95cm. That way you’re hitting a sweet spot between edge-ability and stability.
For us here in the mid-Atlantic and who travel to the Northeast, anything more than 95 underfoot is going to be harder to get up on edge and won’t grip as well on ice. Anything in the 80-95 range will still bust through crud and if you do luck out and get a powder day it’ll be fine for that too. So I don’t recommend going any wider, but again, it’s a personal decision.
Sidecut and Turn Radius
The ski’s sidecut refers to the difference in width between the widest part of the ski (tip and tail) and the narrowest part (waist). The sidecut, also known as the radius, is a key factor in how quickly a ski turns. The lower the radius number, the quicker the ski will turn. A higher radius number means the ski will be more stable at speed and when making larger turns.
Tip and Tail Rocker
Most all-mountain skis have tip rocker, which means the tip of the ski curves up further back toward your binding than a non-rocker ski. This moves the contact area between the snow and the ski back closer to your foot, making it easier to initiate a turn with less resistance at the tip. Tip rocker also helps your skis float over the snow in powder or cut-up crud.
Some all-mountain skis also have a little bit of tail rocker, which eases the turn finish and makes the skis more forgiving. Meanwhile, skis with full rocker (shaped like the bottom of a rocking chair) are usually meant for powder or ungroomed and backcountry conditions. The full rocker allows the skis to float and pivot without sinking, but are not meant for traditional c-shaped or precise carved turns.
Timberline Resort – a beautiful place for ski testing!
We did the testing at Timberline Resort in West Virginia, which by the way is currently 100% open and looks like it’s in great shape. If you haven’t been there, 10/10, highly recommend. It’s only a three-hour drive, and feels like you’re a world away from the DMV. It’s a cool family-friendly resort, and has a bit of a throwback vibe. The terrain is varied and extensive, with updated lifts including a six-pack.
Quick stats: Timberline’s got 1000 feet of vertical, their base elevation is a soaring 3268 ft., and the summit elevation is 4268 ft.– close to the elevation of the summit of Mount Mansfield in Vermont! They have 25 trails and 4 lifts, with 100 skiable acres. It is definitely worth the trip!
The snow was great for ski testing when we were there last spring. It had recently snowed several inches but that had melted and refrozen so it was a bit icy and hard-packed in the morning, and then softened up to full spring conditions by the end of the day. That meant we really got to put these skis through their paces.
Now let’s get to the good stuff– the ski test!
Here are our thoughts, in order of what we skied from start to finish- not preference. We took notes on the chairlift, some of which were unintelligible, but here’s what we felt each ski was good at and what its limitations might be:
K2 Mindbender 90 CW
Waist: 90cm.
Radius: 160cm length has an 11.9m radius
These skis are great for intermediate to advanced skiers. They are user-friendly, making them suitable for those who are progressing in their skills, while still providing the performance needed for more aggressive skiing when desired. I tested them while Emily tried the Mindbender Ti89. I found them to be easy to turn, with an even and soft-feeling flex, so they were fun and effortless to ski on, but honestly seemed like if you tried to get a more dynamic turn out of them it might be difficult due to their even (dare I say a bit mushy) flex. I’d say they’re great for skiers who are on the blues and looking to move into a full parallel turn. They’ll help you get there for sure! They’d also be great for advanced skiers who don’t care much about perfectly carved turns and just want to go anywhere on the mountain and have fun! MSRP $549.95
K2 Mindbender Ti89
Waist: 89cm.
Radius: 164cm length has a 13.1m radius
These are perfect skis for advanced to expert skiers, and offer the best of both worlds as they’re billed by K2 as their “all-mountain freeride ski with a carving pedigree.”
Emily found this to be true. “At 89 underfoot it certainly tipped easily, but also felt stable and dynamic,” she said. “The only thing I noticed is that it was a bit harder to make a short radius turn with these. Not to the point where it’s a problem, just noticed that larger more swoopy turns felt like its sweet spot.” These skis will perform for advanced intermediates to experts in all conditions, from icy groomers to steeps and trees, bumps, and even side-country adventures. MSRP $699.00
Bonus points – the base of the Mindbender Ti89 is tie-dye!
Dynastar E Cross
Waist: 78cm.
Radius: 164cm length has a 12m radius
With a narrow 78cm waist and lightweight feel, this ski was forgiving and easy to turn– perfect for beginners and intermediates who want a ski to grow with them. Emily said “The E Cross is a great one for women looking for a ski that will encourage them to push their limits and create opportunities to improve. I like this option for someone who wants to feel confident in more places on the mountain.” MSRP $499.99
Dynastar M Pro
Waist: 85cm.
Radius: 158cm length has a 12m radius
These were among my favorites. They felt stable, fast, and nimble. I found them to be great for a precise carved turn as you can be mindful about where your feet are and stay on top of your balance, keeping your center of mass over your base of support. (If you’ve been in the Whitetail Women’s Day clinics with Emily and me, you know what I’m talking about! If not, sign up for a clinic this year!) This ski is best for advanced intermediate to expert skiers because it takes some attention to keep it turning nicely.
The snow was getting heavy at this point, and it really put the skis to the test. Emily added about the M Pros, “These are true all mountain skis. The tip shape allows them to float over the top of any condition, but they are a carving ski too. The length and the rocker help you have enough stability to allow you to go through the crud; they can just plow through.” MSRP $699.99
Nordica Santa Ana
Waist: 87 and 92cm.
Radius: In a 155 length, the 87 has a 15.5m radius
The Santa Anas felt playful and versatile, and were at home on any terrain. We thought they were very forgiving, so they can boost your confidence and be fun in all conditions. Plus they are gorgeous, so that’s an added bonus!
Emily and I tried both the 87 and the 92. We felt that they both took a bit more skill and concentration to get up on edge than the similar Mindbenders, but still turned nicely and felt like they would be stable at speed and in variable conditions. Emily said, “The only thing I’d be aware of is they’re not for someone who’s looking to increase their ability to be precise – but they’re certainly a good one to help you grow in general, plus I love that the graphics are fun and pretty.”
MSRP $699.99
The Nordica rep sets up skis for another test
Blizzard Black Pearl
Waist: 82, 84, and 88cm.
Radius: In a 164 length, the 88 has a 14m radius
The Black Pearl is legendary for being a favorite women’s all-mountain ski. Reviews repeatedly say “predicatable, forgiving, dependable.” So would the new for 24/25, redesigned, and updated Black Pearl measure up?
We tried the 84 and the 88 to find out. The rep told us that the new version has a “new core design which enhances stability and power transfer while maintaining a lightweight feel, resulting in improved performance on various terrains.”
Emily owns the earlier version of the 88, and I had tried them a few years back. She loves hers. But honestly, the ones I tried in the older version, I really didn’t love. They felt mushy and too lightweight for me. So I was curious to see how the new design, which includes a “titanal layer” (I think that means a second sheet of metal, which for me always translates into a less mushy, more snappy ski), would change the feel.
Sure enough, I loved these skis! They felt responsive, easy to turn, and forgiving, but also dynamic and ready to support you in any condition or terrain. I could carve a nice arc, but could also smear the bumps on the side of the trail or make short snappy turns through the spring mush. Perfect for helping anyone, from advanced beginner to expert, keep improving and growing as a skier. They were the closest ones to the Stokli Nelas (our favorites) at a lower price point. Highly recommend! I’d say 88 is great for true all-mountain skiing on varied terrain, or choose the 84 if you plan to stick to groomers. MSRP $699.99
Stokli Nela
Waist: 84 and 88cm.
Radius: In a 160cm length, the 88 has a 15m radius
The Stokli Nela was our hands-down favorite for just plain fun. You can get it to carve, but it also floats. By the time we tested them, the snow was super mushy to the point of being sticky, and the Nela just floated and turned effortlessly above it all.
Depending on your goals, the Nela would be a great choice for intermediates looking to grow, as well as for experts looking to make precise turns on groomers while still being able to enjoy all conditions and terrain across the mountain.
We tested them on steeps, in cut-up crud and mushy bumps on the side of the trail, and in mashed potato snow near the base. They were happy in all of it, easily adapting to our turn shape and whether we carved or smeared to handle the conditions. By the time we reached the bottom, we were all smiles and may have even let out a little “Yeehaw!”
When I asked Emily what she thought, all she had to say was, “Perfection.” Moral of the story: Emily and I both bought the Stokli Nela 88’s! MSRP $1,199.00 (Worth it.)
In the end, we liked all of the skis we tried. They are all great for their different purposes, and hopefully our review can help you weed out the nuances between the different skis so you can choose the one that suits your goals. Happy shopping!
Let’s see how far we can take this tonight – https://rb.gy/es66fc?errordaw