April noticed the NS crew return to Banff Sunshine Village for our third annual ski testing bonanza. Due to our buddies @sunshinevillage , @evo.com and @DissentLabs we went even greater and higher than ever earlier than, testing extra skis and stacking extra photographs. The entire occasion retains increasing yr on yr and Sunshine supplies an ideal playground with fast laps and an enormous number of simply accessible terrain.
You understand how we roll at Newschoolers – even our employees are nonetheless sending (we’ve a 1-per-year common Banff hospital go to charge), and we wished to place these skis to the take a look at similar to we’d truly use ’em. We advised all of the manufacturers to ship over skis with progressive mounting factors, not more than -2cm from middle in order that they really feel pure chucking them off sidehits and touchdown swap in combined snow.
https://www.newschoolers.com/movies/watch/1075451/–YouTube
We do not categorize skis earlier than testing them, so something we have been despatched might technically win an award as an all-mountain ski (or park sk). Meaning a few of our picks win awards as a result of that is the place we loved them, regardless of not clearly being ‘all-mountain skis’ on paper. Some are undoubtedly on the vast aspect, however we felt snug snowboarding all of those skis anyplace. Shoutout to our large crew of testers, and thanks for the effort and time you set into this, we could not do it with out you. With out additional ado our high all-mountain skis for 2023:
Dynastar MFree 108
Arguably THE standout ski of our ’23-24 take a look at the Dynastar M-Free 108 is, merely put, an absolute monster. The listing of plaudits for these simply retains rising as a result of they do all of it properly and so they’re a whole lot of enjoyable whereas they do it. They’ve a reasonably stable flex, tons of rocker, and the mounting level is tremendous versatile. In addition they pivot in addition to any ski on this class we will consider. You’ll be able to undoubtedly take them within the park too.
“Undoubtedly my high ski of the take a look at. Tremendous poppy and enjoyable by means of moguls. Dealt with combined snow, groomers and every thing in between, felt like they have been a great charger ski too. Amazingly versatile.” – @lisard
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Season Cross
The Cross is 116mm underfoot, however these skis really feel a lot narrower and simpler to ski on laborious snow than these numbers would recommend. The sidecut and low weight make them very straightforward to deal with. Dare we are saying it, you may ski these day-after-day. In smooth snow, these surf-inspired masterpieces are a ton of enjoyable, they’re gentle sufficient to get spherical within the park too. Each @Twig and our filmer Aaron have been backing these as park skis in some way.
“Very playful and straightforward to show. These slay on the groomers when you hold your weight centered and the smooth tip and tail butter actually naturally. Very forgiving on the legs too.” – Jemma Capel
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Rossignol Sender 110
The Rossignol Sender Free 110 Ti Plus (okay, the title is a mouthful) is, merely put, an excellent ski. Primarily, these are a Black Ops 110 in all however title and weight. At Sunshine Village, they have been one of many standout skis, with testers having fun with them for every thing from deep snow to boosting park jumps. These skis are going to be in every single place this season, and with good purpose too.
“Superior ski. Fairly buttery with softer ideas and tails. However the ski transforms while you ship huge, it nearly feels prefer it stiffens up. Undoubtedly an all-mountain jibber prepared for no matter you throw at it.” – @Horsefacekillah
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Salomon QST 106
The QST is a combined circumstances machine, making it them a really helpful all-mountain device. No matter snow you might be confronted with, the QST is blissful sufficient to energy by means of. Crud? Flattened. Moguls? Flattened. Yellow jacket? Flattened. They’re surprisingly gentle for the way a lot energy they’ve, and there is a whole lot of nostril rocker, in order that they float very properly for being simply 106 underfoot too. They’re undoubtedly a directional ski however they responded surprisingly properly to having the bindings pushed method ahead.
“So steady! Nice ski for the pow, so surfy and really straightforward to maneuver across the bushes. The social gathering trick is they’re so stable within the landings.” – @emluuxas
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Head Oblivion 116
On our first day at Sunshine Village we have been blessed with a stable dump of the smooth stuff, excellent for testing the Oblivion 116. These shortly turned a tester favourite and no ski spent extra time pointed straight down the autumn line than these. The testers on them changing into immediately more durable to maintain up with for our digital camera squad, these items GO. Amazingly, they even received some love within the park.
“These are glorious for straight lining, tremendous chargy and highly effective, it felt like they might deal with something of their path. Nevertheless, they have been surprisingly floaty and playful in softer snow too” – @milo-mcsenderson
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Nordica Unleashed 108 (Tree)
The ‘Tree’ model of the Nordica Unleashed 108 is aimed toward lighter skiers, however in reality, we discovered it only a smidge extra enjoyable than the unique. It is simpler to ski, butters extra naturally however nonetheless crushes like all Nordica skis generally tend to. These are laborious to beat as an inbounds charger that may deal with some playful snowboarding right here and there. The sidecut handles a ahead mount properly and you do not lose out on an excessive amount of charging potential vs the unique both.
“I discovered the opposite Nordica skis on the take a look at a bit planky and heavy, however I assumed these have been actually enjoyable. They’re nonetheless a steady ski however there’s sufficient forgiveness to make them a extra pleasurable journey. And the decrease weight is a bit simpler to spin too.” – @Twig
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Atomic Bent 110
The Atomic Bent 110 was the primary ski our ski take a look at crew reached for once we received a deep day trip at Sunshine Village. It has a ton of rocker and that provides it that tremendous enjoyable poppy really feel within the smooth snow. But it surely’s versatile sufficient to carry its personal in hardpack circumstances and the swingweight is tremendous low for park shredding.
“Light-weight, tremendous buttery, dependable in touchdown on uneven snowy. They do not really feel 110 underfoot so taking them on groomers when you’re inbetween powder laps is not any downside. Very playful” – Abby Laviolette
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Take a look at our Greatest Of Take a look at Park Skis right here
