This is a tough question.
In brief, the skis we find most revolutionary for the coming season are the new Head Xenon 7.0 and 9.0.
http://www.head.com/ski/products.php?re ... ons&id=914
Diana and I tested the 7.0 and the 9.0. We liked the 7.0 very much in all conditions with all skiers. Even though the ski is beyond my normal width recommendation, it doesn?t ski like a wide ski. It?s quick and it really carves. It?s quick in the bumps, which is amazing in itself. It also has spring and feels lively.
We had some of our campers test the skis and they loved them. I had a very strong skier; who skis all black diamond, bump runs and steeps. He weights at least 220lbs and is 6?-2?. He finds the 170cm ski supports his skiing well and makes the bumps disappear. I found the same thing with these skis. They are super light, but don?t have the down side of light skis we?ve known in the past. They are stable at speed. They hold well on ice.
I will have a pair for most of my teaching and free skiing this season.
The verdict is still out on the 9.0. We found the ski too stiff in the tail. It also felt slow in transition, it requires more effort to tip to new edges and requires skiing at higher speed. The ski didn?t come through the turn with a consistent arc. I have to comment, these were early test skis, on occasion like with some early Super Shapes, the factory did some tuning of flex and arc shape this past season before the production run. I?m sure they will get it right, that?s Head?s strength, and they know how to make skis bend arcs.
I?ll report back in November after I test the new production versions.
The difference between the Head wider skis (70mm to 75mm) compared to other manufacturer product we test, is the Head?s feel like they bend, hold and respond in a controllable way. Many of the wide skis from other popular companies are very stiff; they don?t feel friendly or forgiving. Head skis always feel forgiving. I caution skiers though, there are skis in the Head line that are very beefy and are meant for the heavy, strong, ex-racer, high speed skiers. Be advised, Head is really serious about those skis and when they say they are meant for real experts, they mean it. For example, the Head Magnum SS, this is a very serious ski for aggressive all mountain skiers. I would not use it to teach or free skiing groomers. The regular Super Shape does fine for all these conditions, for all level skier. The Magnum is an all mountain 40mph charger, a great ski from the racer design department .