The newest edition to the Stormrider family is also its narrowest, but don’t get the idea in your head that the 83 is Stormrider Lite: it still built with 2 ½ layers of Titanal and is heavy enough to knock down castle walls.
In Stöckli-World, the frontside of the mountain is Laser country; Stormriders belong off-trail or somewhere out in the backcountry. That the Stormrider 83 performs so admirably on groomed runs is testament to Super G genes; Stöcklis always seem to ski like every run is being timed.
It’s considered axiomatic that a ski that bends more easily is best suited to lower skill skiers who need the help. While it’s probably true that the new, softer i.Titan is more accessible to the average punter, don’t imagine for one second that it isn’t also an ecstatic epiphany for the expert.
For here’s the truly brilliant element of the new design: when Head engineers added Graphene to the i.Supershape construction, they didn’t reduce the amount of metal in the ski, they increased it. A lot, as in wall-to-wall, tip-to-tail thicker sheets. There’s your power plant, the reason that once the i.Titan is tipped on edge, there’s not a trace of shimmy in its soul.
If you don’t instantly fall in love with the i.Titan, it might be because you also want to date her equally attractive sister, the i.Rally. In skiing as in real life, you’re asking for trouble, for once you’ve gone out with both you won’t be able to chose.
Forced to chose on penalty of agonizing death or never skiing again, we’d probably pick the i.Rally. The deciding factor would be the i.Rally’s slightly more automatic response to turn initiation; it’s shovel connects earlier to the snow, augmenting the sensation of never-ending contact and imparting confidence in the ski’s imperturbable predictability. As noted by one of Peter Glenn’s stalwarts, “This ski turns itself on groomed slopes.”
No brand is more obsessed with carving accuracy than Head. The Super Joy is right in Head’s wheelhouse, a Frontside ski that isn’t interested in experimenting with conditions that ruffle its featherweight construction. The Super Joy is at its most joyous on freshly groomed trails where, if the skier slows the pace to a trot, she can feel the snow ripple underfoot.
The Super Joy’s extraordinary snow feel is attributable to Graphene™, as this absurdly strong material allows Head to eliminate heavier materials that muffle this sort of subtle feedback. If there’s a trade-off for this sensitivity, it’s a prejudice in favor of the petite; bigger skiers can overload the Super Joy.
The Yumi can play several different roles in a woman’s life. It can be the first new ski for a teenager who has grown up on hand-me-downs. For the mother who’s watched every other family member get new skis while she’s soldiered on with relics, it can be her first experience with a modern ski. The Yumi is also a great catch for the woman who’s spent her humdrum ski life on groomers and is ready to try an occasional foray off trail.
The Yumi works wonders as a step-up ski for the intermediate skier of any age. It can be skied skillfully or somewhat crudely; the Yumi isn’t judgmental. It’s in the self-esteem business, building a woman’s skills. Once the skier acquires technical talent, the Yumi is ready and able to perform at higher speeds and more exaggerated edge angles.
