Hey Ladies (or anyone who likes women’s skis, no judgement)! Tired of everyone telling you to buy a Blizzard Black Pearl just because they are the best selling ski on the planet? Not sure what skis are designed for women and aren’t just shrink and pinked men’s skis? Want the opinion of an actual woman who sells skis and isn’t paid by any brand? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then this list is for you!
As a lady skier and Unofficial’s token female, I know it can get annoying reading reviews by dudes who don’t even use women’s skis. Below are my top women’s skis as chosen by me (an alleged woman). For this list, the skis I have chosen are all skis I’ve personally tested or owned. If there is a ski you love that I didn’t mention, it’s for one of three reasons. That ski is either unisex (which is fine, but not the point of this article), one that I’ve never tried (I can’t recommend what I haven’t been on), or I hated it. Let’s get into it:
Best New Freeride Ski: Nordica Unleashed
Having first hit the snow for the 22/23 season, the Nordica Unleashed is a freeride powerhouse that already has a Freeride World Tour win under its belt. Nordica took the lessons learned from the Santa Ana and bundled it into this immensely fun ski (which is surprisingly still damp thanks to the Nordica’s terrain-specific metal). The Unleashed 98 is my all-mountain ski that I use for trees/moguls and powder days. If I had unlimited money, I would get the Unleashed 108 as a dedicated powder ski.
Pro Tip: The Nordica Unleashed has a women-specific model that is parading as a unisex ski. While the 22/23 season had the Unleashed for men and Unleashed W for women, the 23/24 lineup has moved to unisex naming conventions. If you are looking for the women’s model (which features a different core construction and smaller sizes), then you want the Unleashed with the “tree” graphic.
Best for Aggressive Skiers Who Want to Blast through Anything and Anyone: Nordica Santa Ana
If you are ready to unload your anger at the patriarchy onto a ski, the Nordica Santa Ana series is the one for you! This ski is incredibly stiff and rebounds with immense power when driven correctly. The Santa Ana is made for an aggressive, expert skier (don’t let anyone tell you it’s intermediate-friendly). The Santa Ana 98 is my all-mountain ski for hard snow and full-send bowl bombing. I’ve tried the Santa Ana 88, and it is a killer option for a frontside skier. This ski can and will go through anything, with or without you attached.
Best at Turning Without Thinking: Elan Ripstick W
The Elan Ripstick W is incredibly easy to ski without being a beginner ski. Thanks to Elan’s Amphibio profile (which makes the skis left and right specific), this ski is super intuitive to turn. It requires very little input to change turns on both groomers and moguls. I would easily put just about any woman on this ski, particularly someone older or who is coming back from an injury and wants an easy yet very capable all-mountain ski. I particularly liked the Ripstick 94 W Black Edition, which has loads more carbon than the standard models for damper and more responsive ride.
Best for Intermediates Who Don’t Want a Blizzard Black Pearl: Atomic Maven
As someone who absolutely loathes the Atomic Bent series, I was pleasantly surprised by the Atomic Maven. I hopped on the Maven 93c immediately after the Blizzard Black Pearl 88, and I would recommend the Maven over the Black Pearl any day. The carbon construction keeps it very light, yet it was surprisingly stable (way more than the Bent 100). It is very easy to ski, yet it feels ready to go off-piste for those who want to expand their horizons. Although the Maven series is fairly new, it still feels underrated when compared to its competitors.
Best Brand That Actually Consults Women: Blizzard
Ok ok I know I’ve given the Blizzard Black Pearl a hard time, but Blizzard actually reigns supreme for involving women in their design process. Blizzard’s Women 2 Women program incorporates female skiers in all stages from beginning to end. Women’s skis by Blizzard are created from the ground up instead of being a reworked men’s ski. This program encompasses all popular models, including the freeride-minded Sheeva and (yes, I’m mentioning it again) the Black Pearl. Blizzard also offers a women’s scholarship program, which was recently renamed to honor the late Hilaree Nelson. If you want to support a brand that supports women, then Blizzard is the brand for you.
Photos Courtesy of skiingsolo and all brands listed