The Pro Mtn 95 Ti is hybrid design blending two of Fischer’s fortes: Old School wood and metal structures descended from classic alpine race construction and the new fascination with all things light, an arena where the brand developed world-trouncing technology in its cross-country R&D department.

What Fischer retains from its racing heritage is how to optimize the union of wood, Titanal and fiberglass. This combo provides the power to keep the skis tracking cleanly in broken snow or etching grooves into hardpack. The influence of the Lighter is Better movement is apparent in the Air Tec Ti core, an intricate whittling-away of much of the ski’s center material, and the selective use of Titanal to deliver the optimal vibration dampening that is metal’s métier. Reducing the weight of other components allows Fischer to keep Titanal in the mix, the key to the Pro Mtn 95 Ti’s stability at speed.

The Pro Mtn 95 Ti would be a sensational carving ski save for the one concession Fischer made to conventional wisdom, the addition of the obligatory dose of rocker at the tip and tail. Carbon inserts at the extremities serve more to reduce swingweight than increase edge connection, but the Pro Mtn 95 Ti is so solid once tipped that this minor distraction is soon easily overlooked. While most comfortable in a medium-radius arc, it can be coaxed into any turn shape. It reserves its best performance for off-piste terrain, where it proves capable of following any contour, regardless of its shape or consistency.