Best Powder Skis 2016/2017
Kat Robertshaw •
What are the best powder skis for 2017? Since the crew
here at Elemental Adventure make a healthy living off skiing powder in the best
locations around the world, we seem to get asked that question a lot. We’ve
taken a look at a handful of skis from the versatile Armada JJ’s to the more
touring-oriented Völkl Katana.
Armada JJ 2.0
Lengths: 165, 175, 185, 195
Sidecut: 131/138/117/134/127 @ 185cm
Radius: 17m @ 185cm
Profile: Rockered twin tip, camber in the middle
Weight/pr: 4580g
Best for: Skiers who want to tap into the Armada mojo with a freestyle pow slayer that is super fun to ski thanks to its aggressive 5-point sidecut and tight, 17-meter radius. Its wide variety of lengths make it a good option for those who don’t fit most manufacturers’ preconceived notion of what size a skier should be. Thanks to its incredible versatility, the JJ is one of the most critically-acclaimed powder skis ever made.
Black Crows Nocta
Lengths: 117.6, 185.5, 190.6cm
Sidecut: 140/122/132mm @ 185.5cm
Radius: 26m
Profile: full rocker
Weight/pr: 4000g @ 185cm
Best for: Anyone looking for a fat backcountry powder ski that is light, playful and easy to ski thanks to its full rocker shape and paulownia wood core. It’s also a smart choice for graphic designers that wonder who put all the blind people in charge of most ski graphics.
Blizzard Spur
Length: 189cm
Sidecut: 146/125/134mm
Radius: 28.5m
Profile: Long gradual tip rocker, flat in the middle, mild tail rocker
Weight/pr: 4800g
Best for: Big, strong skiers who find it difficult to find pants to fit their enormous thighs and who want to beef up their quiver with a stiff, powerful powder ski. The Blizzard Spur is designed to lay waste to the steep and deep and blast through crud and mank at mach 5 speed.
Faction Candide 4.0
Lengths: 172, 182, 188, 194cm
Sidecut: 140/118/134
Radius: 23m
Profile: slight camber with rockered tip and tail
Weight/pr: 3750g @ 182cm
Best for: Skiers who want a ski that’s fat enough to float through pow yet light enough to make backcountry missions more pleasure than pain. The Faction Candide 4.0 butters smoothly and lands big backcountry booters with ease and is perfect for skiers who love the surfy feel of a twin tip.
K2 Pinnacle 118
Lengths: 177, 184, 191cm
Sidecut: 145/118/135mm
Radius: 23m @ 184cm
Profile: 50% rocker, 50% camber
Weight/pr: 4660g @ 184cm
Best for: Skiers looking for a workhorse, all-purpose powder tool that floats through powder, blasts through variable snow, and holds an edge on hardpack thanks to K2s Konic Technology. The K2 Pinnacle 118 is a rock solid pow machine built for advanced skiers who ride hard and still expect their skis to last for more than one season.
Rabbit on the Roof - Norwegian Turbo Rockets
Length: 195cm
Sidecut: 131/120/95
Radius: Hmmm…
Profile: Erm…
Weight/pr: Ummm…
Best for: Skiers who appreciate the passion and soul that a gifted craftsman in Chamonix puts into each and every ski. Each pair of Rabbit on the Roof skis are as much a piece of art as they are equipment. These skis are also a great choice for those who like knowing they have the most expensive skis on the mountain.
Völkl V-Werks Katana
Lengths: 177, 184, 191
Sidecut: 143/112/132 @ 184cm
Radius: 23.5m @ 184cm
Profile: Directional full rocker
Weight/pr: 3810g @ 184cm
Best for: Skiers looking for a lightweight backcountry ski that floats like a butterfly in powder and also rails turns astonishingly well on groomers. Looking for a one-ski quiver that leans towards the ultimate enjoyment of untracked pow? Look no further than the Völkl V-Werks Katana.
