SKI Magazine's annual gear test rolled into Deer Valley, Utah this season, where a crew of hardgoods buyers, coaches, instructors and former racers put this year's women's frontside skis through their paces on corduroy, ice, moguls and the choppy piles that collect beside groomers. After scoring every model on hard-snow grip, carving ability, responsiveness and versatility, the testers crowned the Rossignol Arcade W 88 as Best in Test.
The winning ski costs $750 and impressed with a rare blend of approachability and bite. Testers described a ski that rolls onto its edge with barely any pressure, yet stays manageable thanks to a flex soft enough for intermediates. Expert tester Lauren Engle summed it up as the ski "your ski instructor wants you to have" — one that makes everyone feel like a hero. The 88mm waist means it handles bumps and crud as well as groomers, though novices may find its eagerness demanding, and skiers who lean back will feel the stiff tail.
The rest of the podium has character too. The Nordica Wilde Belle 84 DC, also $750, took Best Value for smooth, metronome-steady medium and long turns — just don't ask it to slam into short slalom arcs. At the top end, the $1,529 Stöckli Nela 86 earned Best for Experts, with testers calling it graceful and glued to the snow at speed, though it's a handful in moguls.
Further down the list, the picks get more specialised. The Fischer The Curv GT 80 ($800) is the narrowest ski tested and the best pure carver, with a triple-radius sidecut and plenty of energy — testers warned it can buck you off if you push it carelessly. The Armada Antimatter 88 W ($700) is the most forgiving, a relaxed all-rounder that trades some ice grip for ease. Salomon's Stance Pro 82 ($700) is the playful one, dependable across ability levels, while the Dynastar M-Cross W 88 ($700) is the crud-buster of the group: stable and damp in chopped snow, but stiff and chatter-prone on boilerplate. The Head Kore 87 Ti W ($700) rounds things out as the confidence booster — balanced and predictable in long turns, if not the sharpest on hard groomers.
Why does this matter if you're booking a winter trip? Frontside skis are what most resort skiers actually spend their days on, and choosing between a razor-sharp carver and a forgiving all-rounder can shape an entire holiday. A confident intermediate heading to wide European pistes might love the Nordica, while someone splitting time between groomers and off-piste stashes would get more from the Rossignol or the Dynastar. If you demo skis on your next trip, this list is a solid shortlist to ask for at the rental counter.
