Men's Groomed

No powder? No problem. The right ski—narrow and knifey—makes the most of fresh corduroy. No friends on a groomer day.

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ATOMIC

Redster X9 $1,200 with binding

D: 114-65.5-99.5 | R: 15.4 (175)* L: 169, 175, 181

If you’re angry at all that beautiful corduroy and want to hack it to bits, here’s your weapon. The ultra-narrow X9 puts up the highest score for Overall Impression. Testers have to ding it for lack of versatility. (Flotation? Forgiveness? Ha!) But for what it’s designed for—high-angle arcs on hard snow at high speeds—it’s a joy. Town league racers: Take note. Killington patrol: good luck. “One-dimensional,” said Schiller, “but wow!”

STRENGTHS: Stability at Speed (1), Overall Impression (1)

AVG SCORE: 3.72

BLIZZARD

Quattro 8.4 Ti $1,080 with binding

D: 129-84-113 | R: 16 (174) L: 167, 174, 181

Blizzard aims for balance in the groomer-specific Quattro, looking to deliver high-performance carving without making it exhausting. That’s not easy, but the Quattro succeeds. It gladly trades some high speed stability and grip for lightness and ease, and it’s among the more forgiving skis in the category. But there’s still some snap to it as well, especially if you like shorter arcs. Rogan: “Tip it on edge, add pressure, and this thing sings.”

STRENGTHS: Quickness (4), Forgiveness (2)

AVG SCORE: 3.57

DYNASTAR

Speed Zone 12 Ti $1,000 with binding

D: 121-72-106 | R: 15 (174) L: 158, 166, 174, 182