Some skis just aim for the next turn; Head’s Kore 117 aims for the bottom of the mountain. If skis were golf clubs, the Kore 117 would be an illegal driver. Head may have finally found the combination of materials that delivers the damping and torsional stiffness that only Titanal has provided up to now. Crud is powerless to deter the Kore 117’s dominating will. On hard snow, the Kore 117 begs to be laid over. The tapered tip isn’t much interested in this condition, but the rest of the ski grabs the snow like Gorilla glue.

The intent behind the Kore collection is to make a light ski that doesn’t ski light. Head nailed it. Even snow with the consistency of gelato has no effect on it; what it doesn’t glide over it runs right through. It doesn’t have to blaze to feel fulfilled, but nor is it shy about acquiring speed. The Kore 1176 is the rare Powder ski that’s comfortable to ride with legs extended as far as they’ll go. It’s salvation for the advanced skier who never does this and a plum perk for the expert who does.