If you assembled a personality profile of the Liberty evolv 84 based on appearances, you could be excused for thinking it’s some variety of all-mountain ski. Which I’m sure it’s intended to be, but it behaves more like a GS ski with a fall-line fixation. Its sunny cosmetics suggest a free spirit that will float over anything fluffy; in reality, the evolv 84 is one of the most connected carvers in the Frontside genre.
The reason the evolv 84 is so well planted on planet Earth is its triple-ribbed core. A little background: Liberty grew up as a brand building bamboo and carbon skis that would bring both lightweight and stability to wide-body skis. Then designer and co-owner Dan Chalfant conceived of Vertical Metal Technology (VMT), aluminum ribs placed vertically in the core so they would resist deflection more than the putty-soft horizontal Titanal sheets that are the norm.
When Liberty got around to applying VMT to its evolv series of all-terrain boards, it began with a two-strut design. Over the span of a few seasons, Liberty created a 3-strut design to maximize the edging properties of a series of relatively narrow models, but skiers weren’t looking at Liberty as a carving ski purveyor, so the V Series initiative ultimately failed. To keep the 3-strut flame burning, Liberty moved its most advanced metal technology to the evolv series.
Which is why the 21/22 evolv models have a distinct, carving-ski feel. As embodied in the new evolv 84, VMT creates a ski with a fall-line disposition. Short turns tend to be shallow, keeping close to the shortest path downhill. If you want it to head cross-hill, get forward and drive the evolv 84 as you would a race ski. Its tail provides a platform you can trust, so while its turn finish isn’t explosive, it’s totally trustworthy.
The evolv 84 isn’t naturally gifted at drifting, so I would suggest a base grind that encourages lateral lubricity, such as a thumbprint or chevron. If you plan on taking the evolv 84 off-trail, you’ll want to be able to foot steer and smear, and the proper grind (and edge bevels) will add this essential element.
Because it’s not a system ski – there’s no plate or other interface between the skier and the snow – the evolv 84 has a clarity of snow feel that most carvers with its tenacity lack. John Beesley, head of the Mt. Rose Ski School,” praised the evolv 84 for its “great snow-ski feedback.”
Most Frontside models are predisposed to short-radius turns, but not all Frontside skiers are. If you’re one of the many who prefer to cruise at a comfortable clip, the evolv 84 is stability incarnate.