Soul Rider 97

If you think of the Soul Rider 97 as a skinnier Patron, it’s appearance among our Recommended models for the all-mountain Finesse skier should come as no surprise. Its twin-tip design, a rarity among our Recommended models, descends directly from the double-rocker DNA of the Patron. The turned-up tail isn’t an invitation to ski backwards – the Soul Rider 97 is a directional ski – as much as a silent plea to be taken off-piste, where this poppy, playful ski is in its element.

Santa Ana 93

Finding just the right formula for a women’s ski construction can take a ton of tinkering. The weight allusion is apt, for part of the presumed goal is to pare away every ounce that can be cut. Nordica has been reconfiguring its women’s core components for several...

Sick Day 110

[The test results and review for the Sick Day 110 are from 2016; its only changes for 2017 are cosmetic.] Because of their considerable girth, Big Mountain skis can feel ponderous on the foot. You feel less like you’re riding a porpoise and more like you’re driving a...

Sick Day 102

[The test results and review for the Sick Day 102 are from 2016; its only changes for 2017 are cosmetic.] The Sick Day 102 takes the idea of a day off and expands it into a lifestyle; this ski isn’t going to show up if you’re going to make skiing feel like work. With...

Sir Francis Bacon

[The test results and review for the Sir Francis Bacon are from 2016; its only changes for 2017 are cosmetic.] Line changed the popular Bacon last year, and our jury couldn’t have been more divided on the subject. “Too squirrelly,” one tester cautions, while another...