All the unisex All-Mountain West models, whether new or returning, biased towards Power or Finesse properties, lightweight or burly, strive to serve two masters by providing enough surface area to facilitate off-piste skiing while retaining basic carving skills for when the off-trail is off-limits. AMW Finesse models focus on making off-road terrain easier to tame for less aggressive skiers, while Recommended Power skis come alive at higher revs. Once infused with speed, the top Power skis don’t so much float over choppy terrain as demolish it.
There aren’t many all-new AMW models this year, which is to be expected after an infusion of new designs last season. Atomic, Blizzard, Dynastar, Elan, Head, Nordica and Völkl left their 18/19 All-Mountain West stars alone, while Salomon and Stöckli improved on returning templates. Fischer, K2, Kästle, Liberty and Line debuted new AMW models, all of which deserve consideration but none of which are likely to significantly upset the status quo.