Now in its fifth year, the Bonafide has earned the right to be considered among the greatest all-terrain skis ever made. It rolls to a precise edge with the languid ease of a ballerina, then grips the snow with the tenacity of an arm wrestler.

Best of all, its determination to cut a clean arc is unperturbed by whatever lies in its path. If it’s in the snow/ice extended family, the Bonafide can overpower it with the aplomb of an invincible superhero. If you don’t know what conditions are going to prevail on any given day, or if you’re taking a trip and can only take one pair of rides with you, taking a Bonafide along provides maximum fun insurance.

I fell in love with the Bonafide from the moment I finished my first test run, and the thrill of first love hasn’t worn off. But don’t take my word for it. Matt from Footloose had the Bonafide pegged when he penned, “The ultimate in versatility and performance without having to pay for a Stöckli or Kästle.   Look no further: this ski does it all.”

So why is the Bonafide so great? One, a rich construction that doesn’t cut corners, and two, a unique baseline called Flip Core that allows the long front rocker on the Bonafide to blend seamlessly with the rest of the ski for a sense of tip-to-tail edge contact that isn’t a given in this genre. The Flip Core allows the Bonafide forebody to find the edge the instant the ski is tipped, and the more it’s tipped to high edge angle, the better it responds.

While it’s certainly not a limitation on the Bonafide’s part, the Bonafide’s charms may prove elusive to the skier of modest skills. It’s a stout ski with a long turn radius unless you have the skills to manipulate it. If you do have the skills, guiding the Bonafide downhill feels effortless.