Choosing The Right Ski For You – Guide to Some of The Best Skis of 2025
Mountainwatch | Gear Guide
The 2025 season is in full swing, and we have a good cover for early July and it is about to get better. There is more snow in the forecast over the next two weeks and if you’re a skier heading to the mountains to take advantage of the recent snow, now is the perfect to indulge in a new pair of skis.
Why we’d all like to have multiple pairs of skis for different snow, terrain and conditions, for many that is a that is an economic fantasy. That’s where the much-talked about “One ski quiver” comes into play– one ski that you ski all season no matter the conditions.
But deciding which ONE ski is right for you makes the whole process even more difficult. What follows is a ski selector quiz. It is designed to help you find that ONE ski that is right for you – Your “One-Ski-Quiver”.
Most skis are fantastic, so long as they are the right category, width and length for you. Answer the next three questions in our Ski Selector Quiz before going to your retailer who will help you make your final decision.
The Ski Selector Quiz
Question 1: Find your category
You are skiing and there is a feature in the slope in front of you. Do you?
- a) Turn around it.
– You are an ALL-MOUNTAIN SKIER
- b) Turn over it?
– You are a FREERIDER
- c) Air off it?
– You are a FREESTYLER
*As a general rule: Harder snow – Go narrow; Softer snow – Go wider
Question 2: Find your waist width
How soft do you expect the snow to be that you will ski?
- a) Hard groomers and ice – 60-70mm wide waist
- b) Occasional slush or little powder – 70-95mm wide waist
- c) Slush, crud, moderate powder – 85-105mm wide waist
- d) Snorkel deep – 100mm+ wide waist
- e) categories a to c – 70-100mm wide waist
- f) categories b to d– 90mm+ wide waist
*As a general rule: Harder snow – Go narrow; Softer snow – Go wider
Question 3: Find your ski length and refine its width
How fast do you ski?
- a) Slowest – I love looping turns, and I don’t want to fall.
– Find a ski around chin-height with a waist width on the narrower side from the previous question.
- b) Slow – When the snow is soft, and I can see I might let them run a bit.
– Find a ski around mouth-height with a waist width on the narrow to middle side from the previous question.
- c) Fast – I love charging, but the guys in the movies are crazy.
– Find a ski around eye to head height with a waist width on the middle to wider side from the previous question.
- d) Fastest – I am one of the guys in the movies.
– You know what you want.
*General rule: Slow – Go shorter and narrower; Fast – Go longer and wider
Freeride Skis
The best thing about skiing is that no two turns are the same, let alone runs. You love to explore the mountain and you love to turn. Turn around trees, over wind lips, down chutes, over and around anything.
What to look for: Ski brands will often refer to the right skis for you as “Freeride”, “All-terrain” or “Big mountain”
General traits: Directional, traditional mount, 90mm+ width, Medium to stiff flex; Longer turn radius; Regular camber, early rise or reverse camber.
Atomic Bent 100
Lengths: 164, 172, 180, 188
Dimensions: 128.5/100/119
Turn radius: 19m size 179cm
RRP:$1249.99
Built for every style from freeride to freestyle, the wildly versatile Atomic Bent 100 is a do-everything ski. Rooted in freeride with a side of all-mountain and a dash of art by Chris Benchetler, the celebrated Bent 100 has been reimagined from tip to tail. Incorporating performance feedback from Atomic athletes, the new Bent 100 features a Light Woodcore and new profile with 5% more rocker for more tail pop and easier transitioning to switch.
Blackcrows Atris
Lengths: 172.1, 178.4, 184.3, 190.2
Radius: 19m
Dimensions: 138/105/122
An iconic blackcrows ski that first appeared in 2014 and has been reworked over the years to arrive, like the best wines, at a particularly improved vintage. The Atris is truly the everyday big mountain ski, for skiers who like it when it excels in powder but who want impeccable behavior in all conditions. A versatile and accessible ski that achieves its objectives and delights the hearts of the most demanding.
Candide Skis Resort 101
Resort 101, $1,349.00
Lengths: 166, 173, 179, 184
Dimensions: 129/101/125
Turn radius: 18m @179cms
The Candide Resort 101 is at its best when moving fast but can pivot on demand and loves a little side hit action. The triple radius sidecut and very lightly cambered rocker profile makes this ski perform on piste and off. A proprietary mix of paulownia and poplar woods, wrapped in fibreglass and carbon gives a lightweight yet incredibly strong ski full of pop.
Dynastar M-Pro 100TI. $1,599.00
Lengths: 162, 170,178, 186
Radius: 17m @ 178
Dimensions 134/100/124
A versatile all-mountain ski with strong performance in mixed conditions due to its gentle rocker profile. Its double rocker facilitates float and makes the ski manoeuvrable in varied snow conditions. The M-Pro 100 TI has a solid balance between power and manoeuvrability. Perfect for any resort.
Faction Studio 2 $1,349.00
Lengths: 163, 173, 178, 188
Radius: 19m (178)
Dimensions 131/102/127
The Faction Studio 2 is the ultimate versatile all-mountain twin-tip ski with a 102 mm waist, perfect for transitioning from all-mountain to backside to park. Designed for high performance, this ski effortlessly responds to your movements and commands.
K2 Mindbender 89Ti
Lengths: 164.170, 176, 182,188
Dimensions. 130-89-114
Radius 15.4 @ 176
Specific Hardpack performance with a freeride twist. The Mindbender 89Ti is an all-mountain freeride ski with a carving pedigree. Thanks to Titanal Y-Beam technology, providing precise, predictable, smooth turn initiation, and enhanced power transfer.
Salomon QST 100 Cosmic Sky
Lengths: 156, 164, 172, 180, 188
Dimensions: 133/100/121
Radius: 16.5m, @ 180
The perfect everyday choice, these 100mm underfoot skis are stable at high speeds and feature a backbone and cork dampening construction for floaty off-piste turns. Featuring a long tail rocker length and a progressive mounting point, these skis’ pivot and maneuverability allow you to express yourself with style and confidence. The most playful QST in the lineup, these skis deliver a quick turn feel, a poppy tail for extra bounce, and a lightweight construction for effortless jumps and tricks.
Volkl Revolt 101
Lengths: 168, 175, 182, 189
Dimensions: 133/101/115
Turn radius: 19m @ 182
Whether it’s hard snow, packed powder, or long days on the mountain – the lightweight, high-performance Revolt 101 is aimed at classic skiers as well as seasoned freestylers and former racers with freeski ambitions who are looking for a lively all-mountain ski that feels at home in various conditions. The proven Völkl 3D sidecut ensures outstanding agility and allows for the tightest turns. The flat tail further emphasizes the ski’s forward-oriented character, positively affecting carving properties on and off the piste and helping to reduce speed.
FREESTYLE SKIS
The mountain is your canvas and your skis the paint- brush. Skiing is about riding features to slash, butter and air and if the snow is not cooperating then the park probably is. Skiing switch is fun, but you also love a longer, softer tail that you can press out on take offs and landings. If you need to slow down quick, you shut it down sideways with a few power slides and then ollie out to get your balance back.
What to look for: Ski brands will often refer to the right skis for you as “Freestyle”, “Park”, “Freeski” or “New-school”
General traits: Twin tip, mounted near centre; 80mm+ width? Softest to medium flex; Short to long turn radius; Regular camber, flat to early rise and reverse camber
Atomic Bent 90
Lengths: 157, 166, 175, 184
Dimensions: 119/90/109
Turn radius: 19m @ 175cm
RRP $1,149.99
The Atomic Bent 90 is the ski Nico and Miguel Porteous refer to as “the Swiss Army knife” – the perfect all-mountain/park ski. HRZN Tech Tip & Tail give the Bent 90 the ability to float through pow laps in the morning and send the park in the afternoon. A Light Woodcore keeps the weight down and the performance responsive. With topsheet and base art by Chris Benchetler, the Bent 90 channels a unique approach to the mountain both in design and aesthetics.
Blackcrows Mirus Cor
Lengths: 168.3, 173.2, 178, 184.2
Radius: 13m
Dimensions: 134/87/121
The Mirus Cor is a ski object born from performance and design, to achieve an alliance between two worlds: freestyle and the most angular curves of the moment. Built with a fairly long rocker and a tail, it is skied short to play with the track, the edges of the track, carving in a blackcrows approach and/or all-terrain freestyle. Accessible, solid and creative, in every sense of the word.
Faction Prodigy 1 Capsule
$999.00
Lengths: 158, 164, 171, 178, 184
Radius: 17m
Dimensions 120/88/112
The Faction Prodigy 1, these skis offer effortless turn initiation at any speed, while full strength sidewalls deliver exceptional edge hold. The Prodigy 1 is 88mm underfoot, enhancing its precision on hard-packed features. A twin tip in the tail encourages playfulness and freestyle attitude, meaning you can ride switch with ease.
K2 Omen Team
Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184, 188
Dimensions:125-95-119
Turn radius: 20m @ 184
Rigorously tested and athlete approved, The Omen Team is the high-performance freestyle twin you’ve been looking for. With all terrain twin rocker, carbon boost braid, Twin Tech Sidewalls, Bio Resin and aspen micro block core. It’s capable enough to hold its own amongst contests and burly enough to dominate even the heaviest of late-night street sessions.
Salomon N départ 1.0
Lengths: 170, 180
Dimensions: 137/104/125
Turn radius: 14m @ 170
With its generous rocker tip and tail and 15 m radius, these skis enable quick turns and enhance agility, so you can draw your own unique path when maneuvering between jumps. The Tip&Tail-powered design offers ultimate pop and boundless jumping freedom, so you can jump higher, leap farther, and exploring new tricks becomes a breeze. Drawing inspiration from the community’s roots, these skis feature Nico Vuignier’s graphics and Sämi Ortlieb’s dream shape for the perfect fusion of creativity and function.
Volkl Revolt 86
Lenfgths: 148, 156, 164, 172, 180
Dimensions: 120/86/110
Turn Radius: turn radius 16m @ 172
Together with Olympic Gold Medallist in Big Air, Birk Ruud, the Revolt 86 was fine-tuned with a race base to make the ski as fast as possible. The wood core got lighter as it’s made of bamboo, the fastest-growing wood in the world. The Revolt has a width of 86 mm beneath the binding and is a twin tip with tip and tail rockers, perfect for aspiring freestylers who are shredding in the park. The butter zone enables smooth transitions between switch stances. It’s Tough Box construction and new bamboo wood core gives the ski the right amount of pop and makes it light, agile and versatile in and out of the park.
ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS
You might only get out there a few weeks a year. On a powder day you might ski a bit of powder off the side of the groomed run but what is even better is groomed pow. When the groomers are squishy that is heaven. Skiing up high can be fun too when the wind has flattened out the snowpack and skiing all over the mountain is fantastic, so long as there are no rocks, no bumps and a chairlift to get you back up.
What to look for: Ski brands will often refer to the right skis for you as “All-Mountain”, “Piste”, “Frontside” or “Resort” skis.
General traits: Directional, traditional mount, 60-95mm width; Soft to stiff; Short turn radius; Regular camber sometimes with early rise.
Atomic Maverick 88 CTI
Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186
Dimensions: 123/88/108
Turn radius: 16m @ 172cms
RRP: 1249.99
A highly stable ski that delivers robust hardpack performance, the all-mountain Atomic Maverick 88 CTI offers the ideal combination of power, precision and playfulness. CTI Powered, the core construction blends the perfect mix of carbon and titanal to create the ideal balance of agility and stability for lively, highly charged performance. The 88mm waist width and early rise All-Mountain Rocker delivers versatile performance while the Power Woodcore uses dynamic ash and poplar wood to enhance control and dampen vibrations at speed. A uniquely shaped HRZN 3D tip offers more surface area for improved float in deeper snow and better versatility in changing snow conditions. Built for taking skiing to the next level, a new matte topsheet gives the Maverick 88 CTI a shine-free finish, for a modern look.
Blackcrows Octo 88
Lengths: 167.2, 173.4, 179.3, 185.4
Dimensions: 126/88/113
Turn radius: 14m @ 173.4
Sleek and wild, light and maneuverable, the all-new Octo is designed for alpine ski aesthetes. Carving purists will rejoice in the performance of this insatiable piste eater. While its short radius and sporty flex may evoke a slalom ski, the slight oversteer provided by the combination of tapered tips and rocker allows you to change the rhythm and arabesque of your turns at any time. The Octo smoothly transitions from short turns to more flared turns – or even to skidding if that is your choice. The construction, a combination of poplar wood and fiberglass, provides a feeling of solidity and confidence, while remaining light and agile underfoot. This feeling is further enhanced by its 84 mm waist which facilitates rapid transitions from edge to edge.
Dynastar M-Pro 85
Lengths: 158, 167, 176,185
Dimensions: 120/85/110
Turn radius: 16m @ 176
Freeride inspired. All-mountain ready. The new M-PRO 85 ski offers all-conditions versatility for intermediate to experts who enjoy skiing every side of the resort. Our innovative Hybrid Core construction combined with Rocket Frame Ti insert delivers added stability that translates to a smooth ride and confident edge grip no matter the snow surface. Open them up in wide open spaces, or enjoy hard snow precision while ripping acrs on groomed trails.
K2 Blur XT
Lengths: 149, 156, 163, 170, 177, 184
Dimensions: 135-83-115
Radius: 12.4 @ 163
Looking for a frontside rally machine? The Blur XT delivers. All-new for 25, and engineered for smooth, intuitive turn initiation. Hit the speed jackpot with the Blur XT. It has a lighter weight aspen core, traditional shape, with all terrain rocker with tip rocker and a flat tail. The XT is 83mm underfoot, with a tight turn radius.
Salomon Addict Pro 76
Lengths: 156cm, 163cm, 170cm, 177cm
Dimensions:109/76/125
Turn radius: 14m at 170cm
Built for those who can’t get enough carving, Salomon’s new Addikt Pro 76 setup will have you hooked from the first run. With its playful vibe and cutting-edge Motion Tail technology, plus a 76 mm waist that handles both short and long turns like a pro, you’ll be charging confidently no matter what the snow’s up to. The Woodcore and double TI construction is enhanced by Salomon’s Blade technology to take your speed to the limit of your comfort zone whenever you choose.
Volkl New Mantra 88
Lengths: 163, 170, 177, 184
Dimensions: 129/88/113
Turn radius: 16.2m @ 177cm
The new Mantra 88 comes with innovative Völkl technologies that now provide more dynamics, pop and accessibility. Among other things, the fibers of the Tailored Carbon Tips have been repositioned for improved agility and dynamics. Adapted as well are the radii of the 3D Radius Sidecut, underlining the flexibility of the technology. The underfoot radius of the Mantra 88 has been shortened by a meter for enhanced turn variety. The updates culminate in a ski with efficient power transmission and a sporty riding style that provides full control and more manoeuvrability on groomed slopes and in challenging terrain.
The Ski Selector Quiz is presented by the experts at Chillfactor Australia’s premier snow magazine.
