Atomic Beta V8.20 (Editor's Choice Overall)

A repeat ski from last year's Sport Carve test. The Beta-bumps found in Atomic's top-of-the-line offerings have trickled down into the sport/recreational models. The V stands for V-shaped sidecut. Unlike many skis in this category, the V 8.20 has a wide tip for easy turn initiation, a narrow waist and just a slight flare to the tail--thus a V-shaped profile.
Men's comments: "Likes the medium to big turns best, but can pivot short turns easily. At the high-performance end of this category." (Stein) "A great 'sport' ski; felt like it could handle a lot more than I was giving it. Nice and stable, especially in bigger turns." (Beisel) "A teacher's pet, but almost too much ski for the sport class. All the control you need, and more." (M. Michaud)
Women's comments: "A great ski for someone looking to turn up the speed and improve edge performance. Quick enough to get into short radius, too. Recommended for the excelling intermediate." (Keith) "A little stiffer than some in this category, but nicely balanced and stable. Skids nicely, very versatile, and great for an intermediate to advanced skier who likes hardpack." (A. Terwiel) "A very forgiving ski--can ski it forward, back, centred and in all turn shapes. Can be pushed to the limit or skied with a light touch." (Roberts)
Consensus: Another "category killer" performance from Atomic. This ski, though, might transcend the performance parameters in the sport carve category and hence is most likely appreciated by experienced intermediates. Still, it's difficult to argue with the test scores.
* Both meaning Power and Finesse
** All meaning Firm to Soft

Dynastar Max 9, Venus 9

Sporting an identical sidecut, the Dynastar Max 9 and Venus 9 are aimed at more accomplished skiers who prefer groomed runs. The unisex Max 9 tested by the men has a metal laminate construction that provides good power and a smooth ride. Aimed at competent female skiers, the Venus 9 features Dynastar's Women's Power Offset that directs the ski's balance point and energy to the tip.
Men's comments: "Quick, short turns will make you happy. Good edge grip on hard snow." (Stein) "Dances to all of the tunes. Versatile, solid and a cruiser, take anywhere you go and you'll ski like a pro." (Weiss) "Reacts positively and strongly to all speeds and techniques." (Podborski)
Women's comments: "Great for an intermediate who likes short- to medium-radius turns. A great 'small hill' ski--quick and responsive, but not so lively that it throws you around." (A. Terwiel) "Very quick under the foot; simple to initiate, nice and light--perfect for my tiny lady friends." (Coulter) "Nice, snappy little ski. Had good oomph in shorter turns." (Bower)
Consensus: As McCartney sang, "Venus and Mars are all right tonight." Almost unanimous consensus from both male and female testers on these skis--if you like banging off quick, carved turns at a rapid-fire clip, this is your ski--especially if you're a bit lighter. Might be a superb junior ski, too.

Elan X-Carve 7.0

This is a ski that will have to prove that beauty is more than skin-deep, since it features the most attractive topsheet that Elan has ever produced. Very cool and "new millennium." It even features a 4-mm built-in riser plate. Superb monoblock construction and a durable wood core.
Men's comments: "Easy enough to get around on. No big surprises." (Beisel) "Stay awake on these! No relaxing at any time. Nervous and jumpy in both short and long turns. Chattery." (Stein) "A universal carving tool! Solid feel throughout the deal; will ski all terrain and respond to all commands." (Weiss)
Women's comments: "Felt like I had nothing under my feet. Light, unstable and no energy. Probably a good ski to slip from one turn to the other. A beginner's ski." (A. Michaud) "Did everything I wanted, easy on short turns and held on long turns. Skids well and could carve on the groomed." (Younker) "A predictable, stable, nice-turning ski. You'll do lots of solid turns on this ski. Anybody could ski on it." (Coulter)
Consensus: Women liked this ski much better than the men did, but even then there was a varying range of opinion as to what it did well. A light ski, perhaps best suited to a lower-level skier might be the way to describe a ski that was all over the map with both male and female testers.

Fischer Alltrax Cruiser 65

At $375, Fischer definitely put in the "lowball" bid. But this ski is loaded with advanced technical features such as Fischer's Power Distribution Technology, where power is directed along the centre of the ski for quick response and a smoother, more stable ride. Also features Fischer's long-lasting Plasma edge finishing process that helps keep skis sharper, longer.
Men's comments: "Solid carver for short to long turns. The top end of performance in this category." (Stein) "A solid confidence builder." (Honeyman) "Light and carefree ride. Responds to your commands. Smooth carving sensation." (Weiss)
Women's comments: "Very stable at all speeds. Excellent initiation. Recommended to anyone who wants to improve rapidly." (A. Michaud) "Holds an edge nicely on steep pitches without too much effort and allows slip-slidy turns with very little chatter. Good acceleration while riding the rail at slower speeds." (Keith) "Sweet spot is farther back, but once I found it this ski was excellent. Initiated well, but the tails were grabby." (Coulter)
Consensus: The best result a Fischer ski has posted in a Ski Canada Test in years, and evidence of how this venerable Austrian ski-maker is moving with the market to providing skis that are easy to turn, without sacrificing stability. Bargain-hunting intermediates, take note of this one.

Head Cyber X-40 (Editor's Choice - Overall)

The Cyber X-40 features many sophisticated bells and whistles, like the patented X-frame technology which channels energy from the centre of the ski to the edges for better grip. Edges are finished off with Head's unique Edge Super Finish and Razor Edge process. The durable wood core will last for years.
Men's comments: "A great ski for the skier looking to break into the carving world." (Beisel) "Well mannered. Stable, carves well and suitable for big intermediate skiers, right up to advanced." (G. Terwiel) "A great ski that will take your skiing to the next level. Start the day skidding with comfort and end the day carving with confidence!" (Stein)
Women's comments: "These skis will help an intermediate move into the advanced skiing circle. They like to carve and go reasonably fast. Enjoy!" (Keith) "Solid as a rock. This is a ski that will take a lot of pressure and hold an arc without letting go. Super ski for someone looking to build confidence." (Roberts) "Easy turning, very responsive, almost effortless. A great mileage ski for an intermediate who wants to go to the next step." (Bower)
Consensus: For an intermediate skier, the Cyber X-40 represents "best-in-class" character at a decent price. Pretty much defines the "game-improvement" concept that the premier skis in this category embrace.

K2 Mod 7/8 (men's)

The Mod 7/8 uses K2's much vaunted new Mod X suspension on a decidedly mid-fat platform. A big honkin' 111-mm tip, and a stable 70-mm waist make this a ski that should shine in off-piste conditions as well as groomed.
Men's comments: "An all-terrain vehicle with tank-like stability. Easy steering to start with, a solid platform at the end." (Weiss) "Big ski for heavier and/or advanced skiers. Carves well in short and long radius; well mannered, but stiff." (G. Terwiel) "High-performance sport ski. Experts could easily enjoy this, maybe even race GS on it." (Stein) "Someone could buy this as a sport ski and end up in ski videos a week later. Perfection!" (M. Michaud)
Consensus: Both our big and burly testers (Stein and Honeyman) and light, quick cats (Weiss and Michaud) loved 'em, though some testers found them a bit "out of category." Definitely worth considering if your ambitions and desire for improvement in this sport are great. Awesome stability, and likely an off-piste beast, too.
* This ski exceeded our price cap of $600 designated for the sport carve category.

K2 Freedom 6/4 (women's)

K2 used its highly successful Four as a benchmark when designing this new women's cruiser. Similar sidecut, but the Freedom 6/4 has a bit wider 68-mm waist to make it more versatile off-piste. The ski uses K2's X-shaped titanium Torsion Coupler that allows the manufacturer to build a softer ski without making it twist longitudinally.
Women's comments: "A good ski for someone who doesn't ski a lot, but wants to try the new technology. Good for the pivoter or beginning carver." (Roberts) "A nice intermediate/advanced ski. Stable in both carved and skidded turns. More effort=more fun with this ski." (A. Terwiel) "A great ski while you're on the 'learning curve.' Your skiing will improve with this ski. Enjoy!" (Coulter)
Consensus: Pretty much a bang-on sport carve ski. One of the few skis tested that didn't punish the skier who skids his/her turns. Therefore, some testers felt it was best suited to the lower end of the intermediate ability spectrum.

Kneissl Ergo X (men's)

An updated version of one of the very first carving skis on the market, the Ergo X is aimed at intermediates moving from skidded to carved turns. It features Kneissl's new Power X Wave frame construction, found on its more advanced racing and freeride models.
Men's comments: "A beginner's ski that would be hard to improve on. Definitely entry level." (Coutts) "Very versatile ski which would make it a great big mountain ski, where terrain and conditions are constantly changing." (Beisel) "Soft and pillowy ride with glide. Edge-hold minimal but steers easily. For the intermediate skier." (Weiss)
Consensus: Kneissl markets the Ergo X as an intermediate-advanced ski, but our male testers felt otherwise. Definitely a ski for skidded, as opposed to carved turns. Best for skidded turns on soft slopes.

Nordica T7.1 (men's)

Nordica is building some very interesting skis. Consider the T7.1, a sport ski loaded with Nordica's shock-absorbing Exoflex plate. Who would think to put a plate on a recreational ski? Titanium "bridge construction" creates a strong, torsionally stiff ski. Very cool cushion-top anti-scratch cosmetics on the topsheet.
Men's comments: "Burly! Maybe too much action in the tail for the target market." (M. Michaud) "Lively, fast-turning ski for those looking for a fun carving ski. Excelled in short radius." (G. Terwiel) "Throw these around in short turns all day! A sport ski for anybody." (Stein) "Very solid initiation. Would love to try it in more challenging conditions, it would do great!" (Beisel)
Consensus: The T7.1 is a sport ski carrying some hefty attitude. The male testers definitely hooked up with this ski, which is best suited to heavier, more aggressive "intermediates in a hurry."

Rossignol Cut 10.4 Super (Editor's Choice - Men's)

Rossignol's Cut 10.4 Super features a layer of rubber sandwiched between the cap and the edge (just under the cap and across the width of the ski, in front of the binding) to dampen forebody vibrations and provide a smooth ride. The broad 104-mm tip is similar to that found on Rossignol's race weapons.
Men's comments: "What category is this again? I could race on these! Perfect ski for everyone--even snowboarders!" (M. Michaud) "Easiest turning ski in the group. Great finish to the turn as it crosses the fall line--maybe even too quick turning." (Stein) "Soft, even flexing, very versatile, carves nicely in short and long turns. Can feel the edge early under the foot, just like a race ski." (G. Terwiel)
Women's comments: "A bit on the light side, but effortless. You can develop skills on this ski without outgrowing it too quickly." (Bower) "A nice 'la-te-da' ski; perfect for providing confidence to low-end intermediates." (Gamblin) "Easy-to-initiate turns, stable, offers good carving performance--my mom would love them!" (A. Michaud)
Consensus: Men and women loved it. One tester even remarked it "would have saved my marriage if I'd bought a pair for my ex-wife instead of putting her on German racing skis..." (Too much information, Honeyman!) Women remarked on the "floppy tip," indeed, a 104-mm tip is definitely at the wide end of the spectrum.

Salomon Verse 9, Verse 7

Built as kind of a recreational version of the twin-tip teneighty pipe tool, the new Verse series packs a lot of ski into its short length. The tip is a massive 107-mm tip and the waist is a buoyant 72 mm. Salomon supplied two very short, wide skis (the women were on 160s!) for our testers to put through the paces.
Men's comments: "Absolute fun! A category of its own because it loves to carve without effort. A play gym with trampoline energy to do rope-swinging turns." (Weiss) "Nice big platform. Quick turning, very centred, very skiable. Loved it." (Sivers) "Sporty, quick carver--fantastic short turns with quick initiation." (Terwiel)
Women's comments: "I loved playing on this ski...but does it belong in this category? Cannot be skied slow or skidded or straight. A super fun carver." (Terwiel) "Felt like a long Snow Blade. It was unhappy unless it was carving--seemed unstable in skidded turns." (Bower) "Felt more like a snowtoy. Doesn't overpower you with tons of speed." (Gamblin)
Consensus: Well, it's the Sport Carve category, and there's no doubt that these babies can carve. But skidders beware; most testers agreed that this ski was very twitchy if your technique is not bang-on. Many of the female testers felt it was a tremendous "second" ski to go out and play on. Men were more comfortable on the 180-cm ski, and rewarded it accordingly.

Scott Intoxica SC

At an MSRP of $480, this is an affordable ski. So that you'll enjoy your skis for more than one season, Scott has installed tip and tail bumpers for cosmetic protection from crossed edges and wayward ski poles.
Men's comments: "Hooks and cooks! A temperamental ski with a tricky edge feel. Edge-hold is great but you must be on the sweet spot or it will tell you you're not." (Weiss) "Edges best early in the turn with your weight forward, which might make it tricky for intermediates. Difficult to change turn shape." (G. Terwiel) "Squirrelly on sliding turns, but improves when put on edge." (Podborski)
Women's comments: "Nice, easy ski. Glides perfectly on pitches and picks up speed well on the flats." (Gamblin) "Fun, playful carver--a great ski for those learning to carve. Fairly soft flex pattern." (Roberts) "A nice, versatile ski for an intermediate to advanced skier. Nice carving action and a smooth ride." (A.Terwiel) Consensus: No consensus between the sexes, here. The men felt it was much better suited to advanced skiers who already know how to carve and prefer short-radius turns, while the women were unanimous in praising its versatility and ease of use. Go figure.

Volant Epic (Editor's Choice - Overall)

Now here's an interesting one, a mid-fat sport carve ski. Nice, secure 67-mm base, with a honkin' 103-mm tip and Volant's cap steel construction. Volant aims its skis to the recreational weekend warrior, and the Epic is a new, value-priced steel beauty that is sure to make friends in this category.
Men's comments: "Smooth, even flex, carves sensationally on medium-radius turns. Versatile, great ski." (Terwiel) "Monstrously huge sweet spot. Stable and smooth; performs wonderfully at all speeds. Loved it, can't say enough!" (Beisel) "Lovely all-purpose ski. Not enough sidecut for short carves." (Coutts)
Women's comments: "A solid, easy, fast-turning ski that likes doing a variety of turn shapes. Also likes faster speeds." (Coulter) "Solid, smooth ski--a bit slow to finish the turns but forgiving. Nice, weighty feel underneath." (Bower) "This ski likes to be on edge, not for slipping and sliding." (Keith)
Consensus: For the heavier, more aggressive sport carver, this Volant is definitely a "must-demo." The men loved its long-turn performance, and the steel dampening means you never have to worry about stability. Rock-solid performance, like just about every Volant in the line.

Sport Carve
The following chart shows the highest and lowest marks given to the ski by the testers, and the overall tester average. Men/Women each brand.