Line Prophet 90 (2012)

Review: Here's one of the easiest skis to like-no. 1 in Forgiveness in the whole test. It's light and quick, with a pinch of tip rocker that makes it extra-agreeable. A half-cap rides on low sidewalls, combining the ease of the former with the edge grip of the latter. It trades off some stability to be nimble, but that was refreshing in a category of bruisers. And the 90 holds its own-in its own style-in difficult snow conditions. "Lightweight yet solid; truly held to the task and charged," said Korman. "Great ski." Notes: The 90-waisted Prophet is designed for 20 percent powder, 80 percent all-mountain application-a good day-to-day design for eastern skiers looking for a midfat. Metal reinforcement of its wood core gives it durability and stability, but its combination cap/sidewall construction (sidewall on the bottom for power; cap on top for forgiveness) is designed to keep its performance lively and forgiving. It gets just a tiny bit of tip rocker (just 1 mm over 5 cm) to make it easygoing and easier to pivot.