You might enjoy these skis if… Pillows, pillows and more pillows, that’s pretty much all you care about. That and which tricks will serve as the perfect exclamation points on your descents down those marshmallow-laden powder fields. More often than not, you’ll go with a smooth 180 or 540, riding away backwards and brushing off your shoulder, because even Chris Benchetler would have been proud of that performance. The girthy waist width and forgiving flex of your skis allows you to surf the deepest of snow, ready to pop, press and pivot on a dime at any time.
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1. Armada JJ 2.0
Overall Score: 9.22
“When a tester says, ‘Put a ring on it,’ regarding a pair of skis—you put a damn ring on it. And that’s exactly what we did with the JJ 2.0, awarding it the top spot in our 115-plus-mm freestyle category…” Click for full review and scores.
2. Faction Candide 4.0
Overall Score: 9.07
“Anytime the words ‘Candide Thovex’ appear on our website, traffic ramps up like rush hour in downtown LA. Why? Because he slays pow in a Rambo-like fashion. And he does so with the Candide 4.0…” Click for full review and scores.
3. Head Cyclic 115
Overall Score: 9.00
“The ski’s massive 148-mm-wide shovel initiates turns flawlessly, lessening the effort needed to knife around like Head pros JT Holmes and James Heim. Tips and tails are rockered out for surfin’ pow and hovering over the rough stuff, while 60 percent of the ski remains cambered for those not-so-soft days…” Click for full review and scores.
4. Atomic Backland Bent Chetler
Overall Score: 8.98
“Chris Benchetler’s pro model ski has been a FREESKIER favorite seven years running. The Bent Chetler impressed our testers (once again) with its smeary maneuverability, a trait achieved through hefty tip and tail rocker…” Click for full review and scores.
5. Black Crows Nocta
Overall Score: 8.75
“Whether you’re a pro or a Joe, bending a ski in soft powder isn’t an easy thing to do. That’s why Black Crows came out with the all-new Nocta. Its beautifully pre-bent with full-reverse camber to make you look and feel better than ever whilst shredding the gnar…” Click for full review and scores.
6. K2 Pettitor
Overall Score: 8.42
“Much like the pow-surfin’, cliff-jumpin’ jokester Sean Pettit, the Pettitor is an absolute legend in the skiing community. We’re psyched to see this pro model back for another year….” Click for full review and scores.
7. Lib Tech UFO 115
Overall Score: 8.12
“Despite our prayers, the snow isn’t always going to be perfect out there. That’s why Lib Tech incorporated Magne-Traction technology into the UFO 115. The ski’s edges are serrated like steak knives to slice through rough conditions like juicy prime rib…” Click for full review and scores.
8. Icelantic Nomad 125
Overall Score: 7.75
“When innovators of powder skis were getting their first prototypes going, we imagine that they were striving toward a ski a lot like the Nomad 125. Whether she’s lacing carves on groomers or smearing through pow elsewhere, this is one very fun ski from Icelantic…” Click for full review and scores.
9. Liberty Schuster Pro
Overall Score: 7.69
“Joe Schuster is a total madman who absolutely sends it in the backcountry on his pro model, the Schuster Pro. Bamboo and carbon—a fairly unique combo—make up the core, providing a smooth, stable flex pattern…” Click for full review and scores.
10. Revision Subtraction
Overall Score: 7.34
“Revision has made waves in the park-shredding community, and as such, many skiers view the company as ‘park only.’ Yet the brand has proven that notion to be totally irrelevant with the impressive Subtraction model…” Click for full review and scores.
