Free delivery on orders over £80Our Top Freeride Skis
Built for powder, steeps and tree lines, freeride skis let you enjoy all that the back and slackcountry have to offer while retaining enough grip and manoeuvrability for enjoyable piste runs.
Here are the winners and runners-up for our 2017/18 Freeride ski of the year...
Nordica
Santa Ana 100
- Radius: 15.5m (169)(163)
- Waist: 100mm (169)
- Rocker: Tip/Tail
Tester’s comment
Sophie (Kensington) "This is all about having fun on any terrain, in any condition at any speed. An all terrain freestyle ski that has a kick on piste."
Winner of the Women’s best in category Freeride ski, the Nordica Santa Ana is a powerful ski that is surprisingly light and easy to control and suitable for advanced to expert skiers.
The core of the ski is balsa wood and carbon laminates sandwiched between two sheets of titanal. This delivers a playful flex with plenty of grip and edge hold while minimising weight and maximising manoeuvrability.
A host of features contribute to this high performance including a camRock profile, camber under the binding ( = grip) and rocker at the tip and tail ( = easy turn initiation and controlled exits with extra lift in powder). The ski has a blunt nose that reduces vibrations and swing-weight, and a sintered base with added graphite creates less static friction and more speed.
Again, the Santa Ana 100 inspires confidence in all conditions, and you can't help but have a good time with them strapped to your feet .
DPS
Zelda F106
- Radius: 18m (168cm))
- Waist: 106mm (168cm)
- Rocker: Tip/Tail
Tester’s comment
Justyna (Milton Keynes) "The Nina 99 is one of my favourite skis, so I was excited to test the Zelda 106. What can I say, it's now my choice for powder days. Stable, floaty and fun!"
A close runner-up to the Santa Ana 100, the DPS Zelda F106 is the perfect ski for intermediate to advanced skiers who are looking for a stable and balanced ski that makes short work of soft and choppy snow.
Powering this ski around the mountain is a bamboo/poplar wood core, full-length carbon stringers and tri-ax fibreglass. This mixture of lightweight materials results in a snappy and powerful ski that retains a surprising amount of grip on firm snow for a 106mm waist.
In deep snow, the paddle design (rocker and set back contact points) make for easy and simple turns. The wide waist really pays off here, offering up plenty of lift, stability and predictability, even in crud.
A fantastic ski that is going to give you lots of fun off-piste and can still hold a turn when needed on hard-pack.
Nordica
Enforcer 100
- Radius: 16.5m (177)
- Waist: 100mm (177)
- Rocker: Tip/Tail
Tester’s comment
Dani (Aviemore) "Great freeride choice with amazing performance on hard pack. 100mm waist, large rocker, full sidewall and metal laminate construction all help make it super stable."
A multiple award-winning ski that has been one of the best freeride skis for the last three years. Aimed at advanced to expert skiers it makes use of a World Cup style core of polar/beech, edge to edge titanal sheets and prepreg carbon laminates. It dispenses bucket loads of power with a stable feel that remains lively and playful when needed.
It comes with Nordica’s camRoc profile and Hammerhead blunt nose. These two features deliver grip, aid turning in varying conditions and reduce unwanted vibrations.
A ski that drives through turns on-piste, is stable through crud and floats smooth lines in powder; it really is worth every penny.
DPS
Wailer A112
- Radius: 15-18m (184)
- Waist: 112mm (184)
- Rocker: Tip/Tail
Tester’s comment
Luke (Buying Team) "A brilliant ski for advanced to expert skiers, the Wailer A112 is part of DPS’s, top of the line, Alchemist range. Taking full advantage of some of the world’s highest-grade materials, it is an engineering masterpiece designed to destroy powder. "
A brilliant ski for advanced to expert skiers, the Wailer A112 is part of DPS’s, top of the line, Alchemist range. Taking full advantage of some of the world’s highest-grade materials, it is an engineering masterpiece designed to destroy powder.
A big rocker on the front of the ski paired with a paddle sidecut acts like a shovel lifting you above the snow and crushing all that lies in your path. If the conditions are not perfect, the prepreg (aerospace-grade) carbon laminates absorb vibrations - driving you forwards. Back in resort, full-length sidewalls transfer energy into the edges and the low weight keeps the skis relatively nimble.
A firm favourite with all our staff - this ski epitomises what freeride skiing should be about…fun.
