The new version of Atomic’s Cloud skis was voted best women’s freeride ski for 2020 by retailer Ellis Brigham after their team tested all the latest models.  One tester described the updated Cloud skis, as, “Really playful and agile with more stability than a typical piste ski. Quick and responsive without being demanding on the legs.”  Sound ideal then.  The new Cloud Wide Body skis have a full woodcore combined with a Titanium Stablizer and the model is based on the popular Cloud 11 but is wider than its predecessor, giving still greater stability. Atomic’s Servotec Light technology dampens vibrations when you’re skiing on rough terrain or hitting high speed on the piste.

Armada reckon their new Declivity X skis are unequalled by any other manufacturer when it comes to confidence-generating stability when the off piste terrain gets really steep and deep. The skis were designed with feedback and testing from Chamonix locals who put it through its paces in the most demanding of conditions, tackling terrain previously considered too extreme to be skiable. The model offers an AR100 Sidewall and directional, slightly rockered tail for maximum control and stability, while the AR Freeride Rocker and Hybrid Caruba Core ensure the quick manoeuvrability needed to access exposed and technical terrain.  

Voted 2020 women’s ski of the year by the testers at Fall Line magazine, The Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance put the spotlight on two new technologies developed by K2, the Titanal Y-Beam and the Carbon Spectral Braid. This titanal plate and specific carbon weave give a great torsional rigidity to the ski, making it powerful under the foot with a rocker that works well on both fresh snow and on rough terrain. Combine this with the twin-tip profile and the camber under the feet and you get instinctive turn entries and exits, a great control and stability on pretty much everything the mountain can (and will) throw at you.

The Bafatex tip and tail are being credited as the secret to the instant popularity of Fischer’s new RC One 73 ski which retailer Ellis Brigham have rated the best new men’s piste ski for 2020. The Bafatex technology helps the ski perform like a slalom ski with precise, sharp handling, but then when it comes to it doesn’t grip the snow like a racing ski and allows for smoother transitions out of the turn. That’s thanks to the Turn Zone rocker feature making the ski super smooth in and out of a turn.

Head have revamped their ever-popular Joy series this winter, giving it a complete makeover inside and out.  Using a graphene, carbon and wood construction to create an ultra-light ski with a very lively feel. The icing on the cake (or the ski) is that this revolutionary construction has been topped with a polyester fleece instead of a standard top-sheet. This topless Tech construction results in the lightest ski in its category. The triaxle weave of its carbon layer provides additional torsional rigidity for supreme responsiveness and solid edge hold.

For 19/20 Blizzard is overhauling their popular Zero G skis introducing a new construction technique, new shapes, new sidecuts, and new rocker profiles to existing models, as well and introducing the new Zero G 105, the widest ski in the line.  The new shape and lower weight are intended to combine to provide improved performance both skiing up and skiing down on all terrain.

The new twin tipped MissConduct all-terrain ski from K2 is great for good skiers who want to have full confidence that they have the best possible gear on their feet in the park, but also want to be able to ski on the piste or bounce off in to the trees  and hit some jumps, it doesn’t matter – just have fun. 85mm underfoot with a medium radius and tip and tail rocker ensures that it is comfortable in any condition. An aspen wood core provides strength and longevity without adding excess weight; TwinTech sidewalls deliver precision and increase durability. Tester’s comments: Florrie (Covent Garden) A fun and flexible ski, aiding you to muck around of the sides of the slopes (or park). I found it really helped to build my confidence.

New for 19/20, the 102 takes Volkl’s Mantra platform further with the additional waist width but the real secret of the success of this ski is its 3D radius concept. Three radii in one ski creates a sidecut geometry which perfectly suits the rocker construction for maximum turning and speed versatility in all mountain skiing. The titanal frame combined with carbon tips not only provides stability and dampening effects but also great liveliness. Depending on the rider’s speed or edge angle the effective edge becomes longer or shorter and the matching sidecut radius provides hold, manoeuvrability and smooth running.

Elan’s big news for 2020 is their Wingman series, designed to bridge the gap between all-mountain and freeride ski tech by creating a unique new shape of ski. These frontside-focused, all-mountain skis feature the Slovenian ski specialist’s asymmetrical Amphibio technology, with unique left and right skis that have cambered inside edges and rockered outside edges. The skis come in six different variants with a choice of three different waist widths and include a luxurious CTi version that use carbon rods from the tip to tail and a Ti version that has titanium reinforcement – both at a premium price too.

Reported to be the result of close cooperation between Volkl’s research and development team and their park crew (well, that does make sense realty doesn’t it?) these incredibly versatile skis feel light for their size and the tip and tail rocker ski comes with a slight camber under the binding providing a little extra pressure and steering when approaching the kicker. The ski’s design is also super tough meaning park skiers can tackled whatever they want to tackle without fear that the ski will let them down.