The Völkl Yumi isn’t meant for the best skiers, but it may be the best ski for anyone hoping to become one of the best. The Yumi isn’t your typical Frontside ski. Völkl has a full line of Frontside system skis (sold with a matching binding) called Flair meant to serve the full spectrum of ladies who prefer on-piste skiing. The Yumi is more like a transition ski where the next anticipated step will be a decisive move off-piste.

The Yumi is often a first-time ski purchase but not by a first-time skier. The prospective Yumi skier currently rents her gear, has out-grown a kid’s set-up or has had it with hand-me-downs. The Yumi won’t be just her on-trail, groomer ski; it will be her all-terrain, ski-whatever-is-open ski. “It’s a soft, playful ski,” alleges Steph Humes from Jans, “perfect for beginner to intermediate, lighter weight women.” Liz Elling from Gravity Sports agrees, picking the Yumi user as an “intermediate skier that wants an easy turning, stable cruiser.”

The Yumi has served as Völkl’s step-up ski for several seasons, but last year it morphed into essentially a new model. Völkl tapered the tip and tail and trimmed their dimensions a tad, giving the new Yumi a distinctly off-trail silhouette. Most importantly, Völkl added a partial layer of metal dubbed the Titanal Band. Nothing else stabilizes a ski quite like Titanal, giving the 2019 Yumi the gumption to tackle tricky, off-trail terrain.

Not to pigeonhole its possibilities but to better define its ideal partner, the Yumi is a perfect fit for the mid-teen lass who has stopped growing and graduated out of rental and leased equipment. She’s not interested in racing and not into backcountry, but would go off-trail more if it weren’t so arduous.

The desire for a forgiving all-terrain tool isn’t limited to young adults; their elders need the same tender care. For its role as a gateway to the backside of the mountain, we award the Yumi a Silver Skier Selection.