The All-Mountain Ski That Finished Second at Everything

Summary

A ski that was never the absolute best still emerged as the closest thing to a true all-mountain winner. After testing roughly 10 pairs a day for 3 days in Champoluc, across hard pack, powder, fog, bumps, and piste, the team highlighted several favorites for the 26 27 season. The Rossignol Arcade 94 impressed with confidence in powder and race-derived grip that felt “on rails” through piste turns. The softer Zag Arock, built with a wood core and titanium underfoot, stood out as an accessible option for intermediate to advanced skiers. Dynastar’s unusually narrow M-Cross 84 floated better than expected in deep snow while remaining easy through turns, bumps, and GS-style arcs. The Salomon QST 94 demanded slightly more input but delivered tenacious edge hold, smooth off-piste performance, and enough accessibility to become Dan’s ski of the year. For powerful, aggressive skiers, the metal-reinforced Faction Dancer offered stability, pivoting ability, and strong carving, though its stiffness makes it less suitable for everyone. The biggest all-round surprise was the K2 Mindbender 88: stable off-piste, agile in moguls, safe and accessible on piste, and suitable for strong intermediates, advanced skiers, or instructors. It was not the category leader anywhere, but its second-place versatility made it the group’s Swiss Army knife.