Quick, nimble, versatile and aggressive, this category is made to satiate every woman’s desires when it comes to design and performance. Buckle up buttercup, these skis are ready for fast and firms groomers, winter’s deepest days and everything in between.
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.
Blizzard Black Pearl 94
Lengths 152, 158, 164, 170, 176 cm
DIM 131.5-94-113.5 mm
Radius 15 m @ 164 cm
Blizzard went ahead and threw the age-old sentiment, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right out the window, creating the next evolution of the Black Pearl. The widest in the collection, the Black Pearl 94 effectively replaces the old Black Pearl 97 and comes in a huge range of lengths, from 152 cm all the way up to 176 cm. Maintaining the true spirit of the Black Pearl and Blizzard’s Women-to-Women (W2W) program, the ski inspires every woman who clicks into it to be the absolute boss of her ski day.
Elan Ripstick 94 W Black Edition
Lengths 152, 158, 164, 170, 176 cm
DIM 131.5-94-113.5 mm
Radius 15 m @ 164 cm
For the 2024-25 season, the brand redesigned the Ripstick series, including the Black Edition skis, to have a slightly narrower tip for more stability and performance in variable conditions and a wider tail to boost the power and strength of the ski at the end of the turn. In the Black Edition, specifically, a carbon reinforcement is added to the ski to increase its stability at higher speeds without adding significant weight. This means it’s geared more toward expert female skiers who are champing at the bit, from bell to bell.
Völkl Secret 96
Lengths 149, 156, 163, 170, 177 cm
DIM 139-96-121 mm
Radius 13.7 m @ 163 cm
Like a healthy relationship, the Secret 96 from Völkl provides unwavering stability through whatever the season brings you. The Secret 96 features a tailored Titanal frame, which means the amount of Titanal in each ski is dependent upon the length. The longer the ski, the more metal it has. This ensures you get a ski that fits your build, as opposed to one-size-fits-all.
Nordica Santa Ana 97
Lengths 150, 155, 161, 167, 173, 179 cm
DIM 136-97-114 mm
Radius 16.5 m @ 161 cm
As part of Nordica’s complete overhaul of the Santa Ana series, the second-biggest sister in the collection, the updated Santa Ana 97, is built to handle whatever comes her way on the mountain. Boasting an updated core construction, a combination of a poplar and beech wood as well as a rubber elastomer layer sandwiched with a sheet of terrain-specific metal on top, the Santa Ana 97 retains its prowess in arcing turns but now offers a bit more energy to play when you want it to.
Black Diamond Women’s Impulse 98 TI
Lengths 161, 168, 175 cm
DIM 131-98-119 mm
Radius 16 m @ 168 cm
The new women’s Impulse Ti 98 from Black Diamond may be a bit too slim to pull out on powder days, but in-betweener days are exactly where this ski shines. Whether you prefer hike-to terrain from the resort or blasting through inbounds stashes, this ski is versatile enough to sneak through steeps, bumps and glades like it ain’t no thang.
Blizzard Sheeva 10
Lengths 156, 162, 168, 174, 180 cm
DIM 133.5-102-122.5 mm
Radius 16.5 m @ 174 cm
We wouldn’t necessarily equate Blizzard’s Sheeva 10 to a bucking bronco (she’s more refined than that) but clicking into a pair of these fast-and-furious planks is definitely a rowdy-good time. Tailored to aggressive, freeride women who like to push the speed limit, the Sheeva 10 is equal parts burly and playful.
Icelantic Maiden 102
Lengths 155, 162, 169, 177 cm
DIM 137-102-127 mm
Radius 16 m @ 169 cm
For 2024-25, Icelantic unveils a completely redesigned Maiden collection. The revamped series is now closer to a symmetrical twin tip line, with double the amount of camber underfoot and deep rocker in the tip and tail that provides premium float in soft snow. Combine those updates with four carbon stringers above and below a poplar wood core and you get the new Maiden 102—livelier and poppier, with more rebound from edge-to-edge and tip-to-tail than past iterations.
K2 Reckoner 102 W
Lengths 149, 156, 163, 170, 177 cm
DIM 134-102-127 mm
Radius 14.3 m @ 163 cm
The go-to freestyle line in K2’s stable, the Reckoner series gets another revamp this year and our testers are borderline-obsessed with the performance of the new Reckoner 102 W. “I’m not sure what a race car with tight suspension would feel like, but that’s the thought crossing my mind on these skis,” raved our tester. “Its playful design and maneuverability make it a fantastic choice for those who prioritize fun and versatility on the mountain.”
Nordica Santa Ana 102
Lengths 155, 161, 167, 173, 179 cm
DIM 127-102-116 mm
Radius 17 m @ 161 cm
Nordica is dedicated to continuous improvement, which is why the brand has redesigned its award-winning Santa Ana series, bringing an updated shape and construction that boosts the classic, all-mountain performance the collection is known for. The widest of the bunch, the Santa Ana 102 is designed for intermediate to advanced skiers looking for a fast-and-furious ski that leaves nothing to be desired.
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.
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.
Elan Ripstick 106 W
Lengths 154, 161, 168, 175 cm
DIM 139-106-119 mm
Radius 16.8 m @ 161 cm
The Ripstick series from Elan has graced the pages of our Buyer’s Guide numerous times, and for good reason. Updated for 2024-25, the Ripstick 106 W features a slightly narrower tip and wider tail for more stability and power, which makes this a great West Coast daily driver, whether you frequent the ski area or the skin track—or both! An asymmetrical rocker profile, with more camber on the ski’s inside than the outside edge, encourages the inside edge to hook up first, making transitions feel natural and the overall ride feel buttery smooth.
Salomon QST Stella 106
Lengths 157, 165, 173 cm
DIM 137-106-124 mm
Radius 17 m @ 165 cm
If you look at Salomon’s team, with female big-mountain skiers like Leah Evans and Emma Patterson, you’ll notice these ladies are usually riding the QST Stella 106. The queen of the QST family, the QST Stella 106 has been featured in the pages of our Buyer’s Guide year after year for its consistent performance in steep terrain and deep snow, while also ready to charge the hard pack any day of the week.
K2 Reckoner 110 W
Lengths 156, 163, 170, 177 cm
DIM 138-110-135 mm
Radius 18 m @ 170 cm
For the ladies looking for a hella-playful powder ski, the new K2 Reckoner 110 W may just be the Cinderella powder shoe for you. Not too big, but certainly not small, the 110-mm waist provides a platform that is plenty wide to float, yet maintains enough maneuverability to thrive in the trees. By no means would we call the Reckoner 110 W a groomer ski; on-piste is just a pathway to the untouched goods.
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.
