Gear: The 4 Best Skis for Women This Season

December 17th, 2014 • BY Leah Fielding

What are the best skis for women this season? The real focus is on skis that do it all.

Progression towards the one-quiver do-all women’s skis continues in 2015. It’s all about all-mountain this year.

Several ski makers are easing away from fatty skis and are adding new waist widths (98-109) to their back-side lines, providing women with even more all-terrain, all-conditions options.

Here are our mountain-tested picks for the best skis of the 2014-2015 season for women who want an all-mountain option—from women who rip the blacks and pow to intermediate ladies who want an all-purpose ski they can grow with.

K2 Remedy 102

The all-new K2 Remedy 102 provides the ultimate diversity for the lady who likes to sample all aspects of the mountain. From steep, smooth groomers to technical glades and deep powder fields, the Remedy 102 offers plenty of sidecut and camber for hard-pack and a tapered tip shape for powder. The modified 102 mm waist, compared to its beefier 112 mm sister, allows for more seamless edge-to-edge control on the frontside without sacrificing too much surface area for those deep days.

I was able to test this ski on the upper reaches of Copper Mountain in the Upper and Lower Enchanted Forest, during the Snowsports Industries of America on-snow demo in February 2014. The route provided the perfect opportunity to test the K2 Remedy 102’s mettle. The ski charged through the chundery, wind-blown powder fields off the top of the Storm King T-bar and was quick enough edge-to-edge to navigate the bumps and trees that litter the Enchanted Forest. The run-out back to Copper’s base area features blue groomers and the perfect chance to sample the Remedy 102’s hard-pack capabilities. The ski carved nicely when I set an edge, yet the tail remained pliant enough to provide a playful, forgiving freeride feel all the way down.

Lengths: 156, 163, 170

Dimension: 131, 102, 125 (163)

Additional Features: Built-in tip and tail attachments for K2 skins give you the lightest and cleanest skin system available.

 

Nordica Nemesis

The newly updated Nordica Nemesis provides the same all-mountain prowess that iterations past have, yet the ski features a 25 percent lighter core, thus improving maneuverability and reducing stress on the knees. With the brand new Nemesis, all-mountain conditions have met their match. Featuring true camber underfoot for exceptional stability, a new powder rockered tip and 98 mm waist width, the Nordica Nemesis steps up to whatever terrain its rider wants to conquer.

My first impressions of the Nordica Nemesis were specific to the light swing weight and breezy maneuverability. Starting from the top of Copper Mountain’s Excelerator chairlift, I tested the Nemesis’ powder field performance down the wide-open Hallelujah run and found the skis to push the snow with surprising deftness considering the lightweight construction and 98 mm waist. I have a feeling the new powder rockered tip might have something to do with that. On the groomers the Nemesis’ 98 mm waist ensured that the skis could carve well, but the ski truly performs in less than perfect off-piste conditions and powder, which ensures that the adventurous lady has her pick of terrain.

Lengths: 153, 161, 169, 177

Dimension: 134-98-118 (161)

 

Atomic Century 109

Featuring a lightweight poplar wood core, camber underfoot and 25 percent rocker in the tip and 10 percent in the tail, the Atomic Century 109 is another exceptional new arrival to the all-mountain category. The camber underfoot allows for aggressive carving, while the titanium inserts at the front and back of the binding allows for stability at high speeds. In other words, you can push the Century 109 on both the back-side and front-side.

My initial reaction to the Atomic Century 109, when testing at Copper Mountain, was that ski was noticeably quiet at high speeds, making for an ultra smooth ride. Rockered skis, especially those constructed with more flexible cores, can often be distractingly chattery, but there’s none of that with the Century 109. Atomic’s designed the perfect blend of float, carve, stability and lightness, everything an advanced female skier would want, into the Century 109.

Lengths: 159. 167. 175

Dimension: 132, 109, 122 (167)

Blizzard Sheeva

New for the 2014/15 ski season, Blizzard has replaced the Dakota with the Sheeva (a women’s version of the Peacemaker) as their widest women’s model. The Sheeva shares the same rocketed tip and tail camber underfoot profile. Aside from smaller lengths, the biggest difference between the Peacemaker and the Sheeva is a lighter core construction, which is bamboo and paulownia instead of bamboo and poplar. The Sheeva’s core construction makes a world of difference for the lady who loves the Blizzard’s high-performing, all-terrain design but may be on the smaller side and in need of a lighter, more forgiving ski.

The Dakota enjoyed a long reign of approval from hard-charging ladies, but the Sheeva’s maneuverable underfoot width and lighter construction will appeal to wider range of skiers, both in stature, strength, and ability.

I had the opportunity to demo the Blizzard Sheeva on Aspen Mountain in March 2014 and was immediately in love. Personally, I had always struggled with the Dakota because I’m a bit smaller and the skis were always a tad too stiff, making mogul and tree skiing a sweaty struggle. The Sheeva, however, combines everything I appreciate about Blizzard, impeccable high-performing sidecut and stability, with female-centric additions, like the lighter, more pliant core materials.

An absolute joy to ski on groomers and plenty slarvy in soft snow, the Sheeva provides a true all-mountain experience for the advanced to expert female skier.

Lengths: 172

Dimensions: 134-104-124

Kamagra oral jelly Online something to buy the most convenient way. He doesn’t demand from you any actions except how to visit the website. And in separate with goods necessary to you to put the end. To specify your address and to wait for the supplier to whom you will give money.