[The Völkl Aura has been a benchmark ski in the All-Mountain West genre since its introduction practically created the category many moons ago. Three years ago (2014/15), the Aura underwent a significant transformation, switching from a cambered ski to one with end-to-end rocker, giving the new Aura a decidedly off-piste personality. Most of the data behind the scores shown here was captured when the new Aura debuted. The review is essentially a reprise of last year’s comments.]

If you’re fortunate enough to catch first tracks, it almost doesn’t matter which All-Mountain West model you’re on. They all offer approximately the same flotation, and fresh snow is so consistent that skis sustain relatively little shock.

It’s on runs 2 through 20 that you’ll be particularly pleased you’re on an Aura. Cut-up snow is utter bliss if you ski it right and pure hell if you don’t. Whether you spend the day upright and smiling or upside down looking for your goggles depends a great deal on the tool you use.

In 2014 the Aura was renovated to make it better adapted to skiing crappy snow. Völkl tapered the tip, moving the forward contact point further back, and fully rockered the baseline, virtually inverting the cambered arch underfoot. The baseline and shape of the New Age Aura is friendlier than ever to advanced skiers, but inside its wood and metal core beats the heart of a race ski.

But race skis won’t suddenly swivel sideways the way an Aura can, and skinnier skis can’t hold a P-Tex candle to the flotation and steering ease of an Aura in powder. Its wood and Titanal construction keeps the Aura on course in the heaviest crud and gives it enough bite on hard snow to make this condition endurable between snowfalls.

It’s this inner strength the Aura summons when it’s plundering an already well-ravaged powder run. It imparts to its partner the confidence that comes with having everything under control, even in the midst of chaos.