If the Monster 98 were to submit a personality profile to a dating service, it might read something like this—

Background: Mixed race: Mom was a Big Mountain gal; Dad was a Carver.  Likes: Soft snow, preferably powder up to the knees.  Oh, and going fast; I can’t stand going slow.  Turn-offs:  Posers.  Skinny people with their skinny skis. Moguls. (Am I right, people?)   Anyone who calls me fat.

As you can see from its profile, the Monster 98 is a bit high maintenance. If it’s sensitive about its weight, it’s because several of our testers commented that, Graphene™ notwithstanding, the Monster 98 felt heavy and recommended it for heavier skiers. It’s decidedly on its best behavior in powder, where it’s having too much fun to be finicky. In tweener conditions like crud and wind crust it reverts to its carving roots and rides a high edge like a champ. There’s no point in getting a 98 if you don’t take into whatever loose snow you can find, so our advice is to turn this Monster loose in the nearest powder field.