The Black Pearl 78, née Cheyenne a year ago, stands out in the crowded women’s Frontside field for 3 traits that don’t normally inhabit a ski intended primarily for groomed terrain. First, it’s a flat ski, meaning it has no interface to elevate the skier or suck up shocks, nor does it come with its own matching binding. Second, both its baseline and sidecut are meant to deal with off-piste vagaries in snow consistency and depth, not the ho-hum homogeneity of groomers. And third, it’s been put on a diet that’s made it Olson-twin light.

To take full advantage of the Black Pearl 78’s strengths requires getting off groomers and into moguls and trees where it Flip Core baseline helps it maneuver in tight quarters. The Black Pearl 78 is a great choice for the woman of modest ability who wants to tackle off-piste conditions when they’re favorable. At a probable retail of $499, the Black Pearl 78 is affordable step-up ski for the teenager or lighter lass who isn’t good in all terrain yet but would like to be.