Not every ski is deserving of the coveted FREESKIER Editor’s Pick stamp of approval, which means the ones that do rock the label have risen to the top amongst the sea of gear for a plethora of reasons. From innovative design concepts to rock-solid construction and head-turning artist and athlete collaborations, these skis are the cream of the proverbial crop for 2025.
4FRNT Switch
Lengths 163, 170, 177, 184 cm
DIM 127-99-123 mm
Radius 19 m @ 177 cm
A fan-favorite in the all-mountain ski category, the Switch caters to jib-focused skiers that the park just cannot contain. Featuring a twin shape with tip and tail rocker, the Switch is an agile tool for quick schmears in the trees and, of course, riding backwards. The Switch also boasts a substantial effective edge with an aspen and maple core that’s reinforced by four carbon stringers, making it robust and responsive.
Armada ARW 112
Lengths 165, 175, 185 cm
DIM 135-112-128 mm
Radius 19 m @ 175 cm
Armada’s ARW series is arguably one of the most playful lines of skis to grace the freestyle market. Whether you’re plundering the freshly fallen goods or ripping turns between storms, the ARW 112 will keep you wigglin’ and gigglin’. With generous tip and tail rocker, the ARW 112 begs you to pop, surf, float, slarve and butter to your heart’s content. Conversely, a full edge wrap gives the ARW 112 a set of teeth that will happily sink into fast and firm carves as well as refrozen chunder, with little chatter.
Armada Declivity X 108
Lengths 176, 184, 191 cm
DIM 130-108-121 mm
Radius 24 m @ 184 cm
Sometimes, even a winning formula deserves an update. That’s what happened when the genius brains at Armada designed the Declivity X 108. A far cry from the type of skis Armada is most-known for, this burly plank had our testers hunting for fast, big turns on the deepest days in Vail’s Back Bowls.
Atomic Bent 100
Lengths 158, 165, 172, 179, 186 cm
DIM 127.5-100-118 mm
Radius 18 m @ 172 cm
Designed with input from Atomic’s top freeski athletes and adorned with the art of Chris Benchetler himself, the newly redesigned Bent 100 is the epitome of style and performance. The updated version of this popular ski was made to handle the demands of aggressive shredders who ski faster and go bigger—just ask the legendary Bobby Brown.
Atomic Maven 103 CTI
Lengths 150, 156, 164, 172 cm
DIM 132-102-125 mm
Radius 16 m @ 172 cm
We all need a hero resort ski in our quiver, and ladies who have a deep appreciation for the turn should consider promoting the new Atomic Maven 103 CTI to legendary status. New for 2024-25, this is the plank of choice for professional skier Amie Engerbretson, and for good reason. The new Maven 103 CTI is highly versatile, with noticeably more tip and tail rocker for easier turn initiation and quicker release in both soft and firm snow.
Black Diamond Impulse 104
Lengths 172, 179, 186 cm
DIM 136-104-123 mm
Radius 18 m @ 179 cm
This ain’t your grandpa’s Black Diamond. The new Impulse Ti 104 core has been completely redesigned, breathing new life into this all-mountain powerhouse. The revamped core is a full poplar layup with a sheet of Titanal that extends from tip to tail. Poplar is an exceptionally stiff wood, providing solid torsional rigidity and power for enhanced edge hold.
Blizzard Anomaly 94
Lengths 164, 170, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 132.5-94-114.5 mm
Radius 20 m @ 188 cm
The brand new Blizzard Anomaly 94 is a directional weapon that emphasizes stability and power above all else. If you’re the type of ripper who craves speed and makes fewer turns than the rest of your crew, this beast may be right up your alley. Its exhilarating on-piste performance is complemented by its above-average off-piste prowess, making it a standout choice in its category for those who value power more than playfulness.
Dynastar M-Pro W 92
Lengths 146, 154, 162, 170, 178 cm
DIM 126-92-116 mm
Radius 15 m @ 162 cm
Feeling as much at-home on frontside groomers as it is in the off-piste chunder, the M-Pro W 92 masterfully achieves the balance between forgiveness and performance. This means you can drive the ski as hard and fast as you can muster, but it won’t punish you for getting a little lazy when your legs or your friends just want to take it down a notch.
Dynastar M-Free 112
Lengths 183, 189 cm
DIM 139-112-133 mm
Radius 22 m @ 189 cm
The all-new M-Free 112 takes the helm as the widest ski in Dynastar’s four-model, progressive freeride M-Free line. Although its dimensions allow it to operate as a dedicated deep-snow ski, its agility and maneuverability make it so much more than a one-trick powder pony. The M-Free 112’s playful profile sports moderate camber underfoot and generous tip and tail rocker with minimal taper. This allows the rocker to provide float in the pow while maintaining substantial edge contact when it’s fully engaged on firm snow.
Elan Playmaker 111
Lengths 172, 180, 188 cm
DIM 142-111-132 mm
Radius 19 m @ 180 cm
The Elan Playmaker 111 is here, and it’s ready to turn those powder dreams into reality. This beast is the new big brother in the Playmaker line, and it’s champing at the bit to let your freeride inclinations flourish on the deepest of days. The Playmaker 111 features a Tubelite wood core and two carbon rods running underfoot. These aren’t your average carbon inserts—they’re providing impressive stability and rebound underfoot while keeping the tips and tails playful.
Faction Studio 2
Lengths 166, 173, 178, 183, 188 cm
DIM 131-99-124 mm
Radius 20 m @ 183 cm
The origin of a good idea is hard to quantify. It usually comes from a crossroads between two previous points that have yet to be fully investigated. That’s what happened at Faction when the team created the Studio series. Updated for the 2024-25 season, this unisex series blends attributes from park and freeride skis to give you the ultimate balance of both worlds.
Fischer Nightstick 97
Lengths 163, 170, 177, 184 cm
DIM 132-97-122 mm
Radius 17 m @ 177 cm
Fischer continues to make waves in the freeski world with the Nightstick series. They’ve worked closely with Kendall Goodman and the rest of their robust athlete team to craft this ski. Built for the jib-loving skier who prefers to roam the mountain, the Nightstick 97 is perfect for big airs off natural features and quick turns through tight terrain.
Head Oblivion 102
Lengths 173, 181, 189 cm
DIM 135-102-125 mm
Radius 22.8 m @ 181 cm
The Oblivion line has been completely reborn for the 2024-25 ski season—a collaborative effort from Head’s top designers, engineers and athletes. Professional skier Cole Richardson’s fingerprints are all over this design, as well as his 116 Oblivion Pro Model. The Oblivion 102 instantly became a favorite of our testers for its ease-of-use and stability at high speed.
Icelantic Nomad 106
Lengths 171, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 141-106-132 mm
Radius 19 m @ 182 cm
Icelantic completely revamped the Nomad collection this year and it’s the most significant redesign of a line that the brand has ever done. For 2024-25, the Nomad 106 features a slightly more symmetrical tip and tail, with deep rocker for effortless float in powder and more intuitive switch skiing. The longer effective edge is complemented by 4 mm of camber underfoot, which means this 106-mm plank can throw down a nasty carve for its girth.
J Skis The Escalator
Lengths 162, 169, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 132-102-122 mm
Radius 20 m @ 188 cm
Constructed with lightweight aspen wood and carbon stringers, The Escalator is great for skiers who can’t decide between a lightweight climber and a downhill ripper. The ski feels like an extension of your body as you rip between trees, surf through powder and dissect the moguls.
K2 Reckoner KF
Lengths 172, 177, 184, 191 cm
DIM 137-114-132 mm
Radius 23 m @ 184 cm
The brainchild of Karl Fostvedt, the Reckoner KF 114 is K2’s latest pro model and unlike anything else on the market. While the Reckoner KF is an undeniably unique ski, it’s not just a niche tool for high-level pros like Crazy Karl. Designed for playful-minded advanced and expert skiers, it features a soft flex and a twin-tip shape that encourages you to send big booters, stomp deep landings (forward or switch) and shred the gnarliest lines with a playful touch.
Kästle Paragon 101
Lengths 169, 176, 182, 190 cm
DIM 135-101-122 mm
Radius 18 m @ 182 cm
Kästle designed the brand new unisex Paragon series using their knowledge of what makes a front-side carving weapon and applying it to a freeride-oriented ski. The Paragon 101 calls to the aggressive rider, someone who tears into steep terrain without hesitation, looking to pop off cliffs and land confidently at high speeds.
La Sportiva Tempo
Lengths 164, 179, 190 cm
DIM 129-103-117 mm
Radius 18 m @ 179 cm
Built to excel in the backcountry, the Tempo tips the scale at a minuscule 1,400 grams per ski (at 179 cm) and strikes an impressive balance between the requirements of long skin tracks and demanding descents. With its 103-mm waist width and rocker in the tip and tail, the Tempo offers reactive, pivot-perfect control and flotation in both soft snow and variable conditions.
Liberty Scope 104
Lengths 164, 172, 180, 188 cm
DIM 134-104-149 mm
Radius 20 m @ 180 cm
The Scope 104 is an all-mountain freeride ski that inspires playful exploration with its energetic core and twin-tip shape. The poplar wood core gives the ski a peppy character with impressive stability. The wood adds torsional rigidity and the pension to pop, creating liveliness in the bumps and jumps. A layer of special thermo-treated plastic, called phenolic composite, provides vibration reduction at high speeds, keeping your legs happy all day long.
Nordica Enforcer 99
Lengths 167, 173, 179, 185, 191 cm
DIM 133-99-121 mm
Radius 18.5 m @ 185 cm
The award-winning Enforcer series has been a marquee collection for Nordica for 10 years running—collecting accolades and admirers for its ability to charge, on-piste or off, no matter the conditions. For 2025, Nordica has completely revamped the Enforcer line, along with the women-specific Santa Ana line, to build upon its prowess as an all-mountain machine.
Rossignol Rallybird Soul 102
Lengths 150, 156, 164, 172 cm
DIM 132-102-125 mm
Radius 16 m @ 172 cm
We know humans can’t fly but if there were a ski we’d use to try, it would have to be the new Rallybird Soul 102 from Rossignol. A new version of the brand’s former Rallybird series, the Rallybird Soul is more agile and versatile than its predecessor. Rossignol’s Air Tip reduces swing weight, making the ski feel more maneuverable and nimble, while maintaining its strong and stout qualities underfoot.
Rossignol Sender Soul 102
Lengths 156, 164, 172, 180, 188 cm
DIM 135-102-125 mm
Radius 16 m @ 180 cm
The brand-new Sender Soul 102 has arrived, in all its glory. The mad scientists at Rossignol brought in elements from both the retired Soul and current Sender series to create a ski that rips, plain and simple. That was the consensus from our testers after taking it from Vail Mountain’s frontside groomers to the leftover pow of the back bowls. A 102-mm underfoot, semi-twin shape is the Goldilocks zone for the aggressive freeride-oriented skier searching for their daily driver.
Salomon QST X
Lengths 178, 184, 192 cm
DIM 142-116-132 mm
Radius 25 m @ 184 cm
Salomon’s QST line has been a staple for freeride skiers at resorts across the globe for a number of years and the new QST X brings a pivoty, surfy and slarvy feel to the series. Sharing some of the tried-and-true characteristics of its narrower QST predecessors, this ski was built to float atop the deep stuff.
Scott Sea 108
Lengths 168, 176, 184, 192 cm
DIM 139-108-128 mm
Radius 19 m @ 184 cm
In an emerging shift to wider skis, Scott has built a treasure. The new Scott Sea 108 strikes a beautiful balance between stability and forgiveness. Engineers started with a fiberglass and poplar core and added a strip of Titanal underfoot. The poplar provides a lighter swing weight while allowing you to step on the gas pedal when needed, and the Titanal strip acts as a dampener, reducing the vibrations from the wood core.
Stöckli Stormrider 95
Lengths 170, 176, 182, 188 cm
DIM 132-95-120 mm
Radius 17 m @ 176 cm
Stöckli’s Stormrider 95 is a masterpiece of Swiss engineering, born from nearly a century of downhill racing expertise. A paulownia and Titanal core provides extreme torsional rigidity and vibration-damping to create a stable platform with incredible responsiveness. Unlike most skis, the 95’s Titanal also doubles as a topsheet, enhancing durability and longevity while giving the ski a slick aesthetic. Designed to dominate groomers, this ski offers top-notch energy transmission and precision across a variety of turn shapes—from short to long radius.
Völkl M7 Mantra
Lengths 163, 170, 177, 184, 191 cm
DIM 139-96-121 mm
Radius 16.8 m @ 177 cm
The next-gen M7 Mantra sets a new benchmark for stability and precision. With this latest incarnation from the storied Mantra family, Völkl created a fall line-oriented, directional beast that wants to be driven hard while bringing just the right amount of maneuverability to the table.
Zag Mata Ti
Lengths 163, 168, 173, 178 cm
DIM 141-90-117 mm
Radius 14.2 m @ 173 cm
Described by Zag as a new-generation carver, we can confirm that the all-new Mata Ti can pull some serious Gs. This is achieved through a narrow waist, tight turn radius, stiff core, and lots of tip and tail rocker. The Mata’s unusual combination of components creates an energetic and powerful frontside carving experience while still allowing you to play on the groomers.
