CATEGORY: Speed / $999 w/binding / 124-78-108

A Speed ski that’s under $1,000 is actually a good deal. (Those integrated binding systems and metal laminates don’t come cheap.) But a $999 Speed ski that scores No. 1 overall in our test? That’s a Victory, indeed. Amidst a stable of twitchy racehorses, this is a versatile, comfortable choice that rips hardpack turns and cuts up crud with equal ease. It’s powerful and aggressive, but without the attitude. It’s perfect for accomplished carvers who occasionally like to dive off-piste, but it fights a skid, so it’s not a good fit for someone who likes to dial it back.