Ski Tests Best on Test
We asked our testers to nominate their favourites; their choices for “best on test”. The votes were collated and lined up with the test results to determine the Ski of the year. For 2009, it went to the K2 Xplorer which was tested in both the Fat skis and Freerider 80+mm category. The Chix Ski of the year went to another Freerider, the Nordica W Speed Xbi CT. Top of the class in each of the segments are listed below; for the full results, read on.
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2009 Ski of the Year |
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2009 Chix Ski of the Year |
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fat boys |
| Elan 888 |
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| K2 Xplorer |
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| Nordica Supercharger Enforcer |
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twin tips |
| Dynastar Trouble Maker |
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| K2 Extreme |
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| Nordica Ace of Spades |
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chix freeriders |
| Elan Pure Magic |
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| Nordica W Speed Xbi CT |
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| Nordica W Victory |
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| Roxy Joy Rider |
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chix twin tips |
| K2 Miss Demeanor |
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| Roxy Shazam |
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first big buy |
| Dynastar D-Stinct Carbon |
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| Elan Mag 74 |
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| Nordica Hot Ignitor CA Xbi |
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carve skis |
| Dynastar Contact 4X4 |
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| Elan SLX Waveflex |
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| Rossignol CX80 |
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freeriders - 74-80mm waist |
| Fischer Watea 78 |
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| K2 Recon |
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| Kastle MX 78 |
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| Nordica Hot Rod Nitrous CA Xbi |
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freeriders - 80mm+ waist |
| Elan 82XTI |
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| Head iM82 Monster |
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| K2 Apache Xplorer |
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| Nordica Hot Rod Jetfuel CA Xbi CT |
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How they win the medals
We divide the skis and the testers into groups. At the end of testing a group of skis, each tester awards gold or silver medals according to how they felt the skis performed. There is no limit to the number of medals they can award and the medals are not awarded in a ranking sense – a tester could award no medals or could award gold to every ski in the group. What we then do, to ensure accuracy and to eliminate personal bias, is look at how the skis rated overall and in the various performance categories. We then combine the calculations to award the medals.
How we rate the skis
Most ratings are self-explanatory, but snow and terrain could need some clarification.
When we look at snow types, we rate ski performance on powder, crud, spring, corduroy, hard pack and ice.
When we look at terrain types, we rate ski performance on groomed, bumps, steeps, off-piste and the race track.
With turn types, testers have to consider the ease of initiation, accuracy of the carve through the turn, overall edge hold, exit and acceleration out of the turn and how the ski forgives mistakes.
Consider your own terrain and snow preferences when reading the results and take account of what we leave out as much as what we leave in.
Scoring is simple –
0 = useless
1 = just acceptable
2 = adequate
3 = performs
4 = excels
5 = sets benchmark