The best freeride skis of the season

Tired of resort skiing? Looking to explore new terrains and embrace freedom? Then you’re probably on the hunt for a freeride ski! Specifically designed to handle deep powder, freeride skis let you experience new sensations on untouched mountain slopes. Naturally, these skis have wider waist compared to piste skis to perform better in deep conditions and provide more support underfoot. For a freeride ski, waist widths easily exceed 100 mm to tackle deep snow. You might think such a feature would reduce manoeuvrability, but not at all! Brands offer various constructions with exclusive innovations to maintain excellent skiability. To help you choose, here’s a selection of the freeride skis we loved this season.

Faction Prodigy 3

The Faction Prodigy 3 Black is a backcountry freestyle ski designed to deliver versatility and freedom for advanced to expert skiers. With its 106 mm waist, it offers excellent float in powder while remaining agile across varied terrain. Its double rocker makes for smooth turns and easy lift-off, while the traditional camber ensures solid edge grip on hard snow. Built with a poplar wood core, it combines energy and strength, reinforced by Directional Twin shaping, shock-resistant Micro-Cap, and Full Strength Sidewall technologies. The twin-tip shapes makes switch riding and tricks effortless, encouraging creativity in every situation. Thanks to its medium turning radius, it adapts to different styles and conditions, offering precise, stable control whether you’re charging big-mountain freeride lines or throwing freestyle moves. A robust, playful, and high-performing ski.

Atomic Maverick 105 CTI

The Atomic Maverick 105 CTI is a freeride ski designed for advanced to expert skiers seeking power, stability, and float in deep snow. With its 105 mm waist, it floats easily in powder while maintaining strong edge hold on hardpack and chopped snow. The double rocker enhances pivoting and smooth transitions, while the traditional camber underfoot delivers precision and grip in fast turns. Its Power Woodcore of ash and poplar, reinforced with CTI Powered technology (titanal and carbon), provides responsiveness and strength even at high speed. HRZN Tech at the tip improves float without compromising stability in variable snow. This model is aimed at experienced skiers looking for a stiff, confidence-inspiring, high-performance ski to push their limits in demanding freeride terrain.

Salomon QST 106 Nirvana

The Salomon QST 106 Nirvana is a benchmark freeride ski, designed for advanced to expert skiers seeking versatility, stability, and performance off-piste. With its 106 mm waist, it delivers excellent float in powder while maintaining strong support on hardpack and variable snow. Its double rocker makes pivoting and handling deep snow effortless, adding fluidity and playfulness on technical terrain. The poplar wood core, reinforced with basalt and fibreglass layers, together with the Cork Damplifier Eco insert, efficiently absorbs vibrations while retaining responsiveness. Traditional camber underfoot ensures grip and precision at high speed. Ideal for demanding sessions, it guarantees control and reliability, enabling you to take on varied and challenging conditions while pushing your limits. A powerful, confidence-inspiring ski.

Blizzard Rustler 10

The Blizzard Rustler 10 is a versatile freeride ski that blends float, grip, and manoeuvrability, making it equally at home in powder or on hardpack. With its 102 mm waist, it provides solid float off-piste while staying efficient on technical terrain. The double rocker enhances pivoting and control in deep snow, while the traditional camber ensures stability and edge hold on compact surfaces. Its robust build combines a Trueblend Woodcore with FluxForm All Mountain technology and titanal reinforcements, delivering power, responsiveness, and strength underfoot. Playful yet confidence-inspiring, it’s aimed at intermediate to advanced skiers looking to progress in freeride while enjoying versatile performance across varied conditions. An ideal ski for exploring the mountain beyond groomed runs.

Line Sakana

The Line Sakana is an original freeride ski that stands out with its distinctive shape and striking design. Built for powder enthusiasts, it excels in deep or chopped snow while still maintaining reliable edge hold on hardpack. With its 105 mm waist and pronounced double rocker, it provides float, manoeuvrability, and instant pivoting—perfect for weaving through trees or slashing turns. Traditional camber underfoot ensures rebound and precision, while the maple/paulownia wood core balances lightness with performance, offering responsiveness and durability. Playful and creative, this ski encourages you to make the most of every natural feature, whether dropping cliffs, carving long arcs, or making tight turns on demand. Aimed at advanced to expert riders, the Sakana is for those seeking a lively, versatile, and expressive ski in the backcountry.

K2 Mindbender 108Ti

The K2 Mindbender 108Ti is a freeride ski built for advanced to expert skiers seeking power and control both in powder and on hard snow. With its 108 mm waist, it provides excellent float in deep snow while maintaining enough stiffness to ensure edge grip and stability on compact snow. The double rocker improves float, pivoting, and turn initiation, making the ski playful and manoeuvrable in tighter spots. Its Aspen Core brings power and responsiveness, while the Titanal Y-Beam reinforcement boosts stability even at high speeds or during aggressive edging. Versatile and robust, this model lets you alternate between powerful big lines and smooth rhythm changes, all with confidence and precision. A dependable ski for charging hard, making the most of natural features, and pushing your limits off-piste.

Volkl Mantra 102

The Völkl Mantra 102 is a powerful and versatile freeride ski, designed for advanced to expert skiers seeking stability and backcountry performance. With its 102 mm waist, it offers effective float in powder while remaining responsive and agile on hardpack or mixed snow. The double rocker makes turn initiation, pivoting, and controlled skids easier, delivering smooth handling even in technical or narrow terrain. Its robust construction, combining a wood core with titanal sheets, ensures strength, liveliness, and secure edge grip at high speed without sacrificing manoeuvrability. Whether you’re charging big, demanding lines, exploring technical couloirs, or weaving through the trees, the Mantra 102 provides outstanding versatility. An ideal ski for pushing your limits off-piste while still delivering solid performance on groomed runs.

Head Kore 106 Ti

The Head Kore 106 Ti is a powerful and versatile freeride ski, designed for advanced to expert skiers who love to venture off-piste. With its 106 mm waist and double rocker, it provides excellent float in powder and makes turn exits easier in wide open terrain. Its Karuba wood core combined with Graphene™ fibres delivers lightness, strength, and responsiveness, while the traditional camber and flat tail ensure grip and precision on hard snow. This ski excels in deep powder yet remains efficient when returning to groomed runs, capable of handling different turn shapes and rhythms depending on the conditions. A true freeride benchmark, it is aimed at skiers looking for control, stability, and strong sensations, ready to adapt to all types of snow and make the most of every run.

Nordica Enforcer 104

The Nordica Enforcer 104 is a versatile freeride ski designed for advanced to expert skiers seeking power and freedom in the backcountry. With its 104 mm waist, it delivers excellent float in powder while remaining efficient in the varied conditions of the mountains. The tip-and-tail double rocker makes for quick pivots, improved manoeuvrability, and adaptability on technical terrain such as tight trees or steep slopes. Energy 2Ti technology, which sandwiches a wood core between two titanal sheets, ensures stability, lateral support, and control even at high speed, while retaining the natural snow feel of wood. Responsive and robust, the Enforcer 104 is built to charge hard and commit fully to every descent, striking a balance between performance, manoeuvrability, and thrilling sensations across all freeride conditions.

Armada Declivity X 108

The Armada Declivity X 108 is a freeride ski designed for advanced to expert skiers seeking power, fluidity, and adaptability in untouched terrain. With its 108 mm waist, it delivers excellent float in powder, while the double rocker makes pivoting, manoeuvrability, and smooth transitions easier, even in the most demanding conditions. Its construction combines a poplar wood core with titanal sheets, ensuring stiffness, stability, and edge grip at high speed without sacrificing responsiveness. This ski excels on big technical lines, jumps, and fast descents, offering a dynamic, precise response. Versatile and creative, it allows you to explore the backcountry with confidence and style. The Declivity X 108 is built for those who want to push their limits and enjoy a committed, controlled freeride experience.