Goode Rahu (2012)

The most-improved award goes to Goode, which, if anything, was too successful using carbon to make skis as light. The Rahu, one of the new wood-core Goodes, had testers talking. They found they suddenly had improved tracking and stability, plus the feedback they'd been missing when the old feather-light Goodes were unweighted between turns. Meanwhile, the snap of carbon is still there: The Rahu ranked No. 3 in Rebound in a category of ponderous fatties. "Floats with a delicate feel and unique liveliness, with very little deflection in broken snow," said Mearce.