It would interesting to know precisely how Head changed flex and mass distribution on the Power Instinct Ti Pro compared to the Raw Instinct, as they share the same materials, make-up and price, yet the Power comes across as so brittle and hard to bow it scored poorly for all Finesse criteria.  Perhaps the Power Instinct is bred to come alive at World Cup racing speeds, its true talents as inapplicable to ordinary humans as the sound of a dog whistle.  For whatever reason, our panelists were unanimous in identifying its indifference to short turns, resistance to drifting and impatience with off-piste conditions.

Perhaps our panelists’ low scores were a reflection of deflated hopes.  The ski the Power Instinct replaces, the Rev 85 Pro, was a sweetheart any skier could love.  The addition of Graphene™ to the traditional wood/metal construction should have made everything feel lighter and zippier, no?  Well, no.  Lightness isn’t the dominant impression imparted and the Power Instinct isn’t one iota easier to ski.  No matter how powerful a ski is, it needs a dose of forgiveness or its power can’t be tamed.