The 2018 Sky 7 HD receives the same snazzy upgrades as the Soul 7 HD that are intended to enhance snow contact in the forebody, but it still lacks the carving power essential to hard-snow skiing and of course it can’t match the flotation of a Big Mountain model. Its double rocker design and amply tapered tips and tails leave a relatively short platform underfoot, facilitating sideward drift in off-trail conditions but limiting the amount of edge contact on groomers.

As an introduction to off-trail skiing for the lightweight, Finesse skier, the Sky 7 HD has its merits. A Power skier who demands true all-terrain capability in an All-Mountain West model would be better served by the Experience 100 HD.