Name: Sam Bass, editor
Age: 35
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190
Dream Ski: Elan Apex 88, because I want a narrower all-mountain ski—it rocked at our ski test and is a bit more versatile and less groomer-focused than the AC50.
Preferred terrain: powder, trees, groomers, bowls—you name it.
Your go-to ski for the last few seasons, and why you ski it day after day, year after year: For powder/chop: Rossignol S7, because it floats and smears over anything, but still carves well on groomed snow for when I need to get back to the lift.  For touring: K2 HardSide, because it’s extremely versatile (inbounds and out) and lightweight, and uses K2’s fantastic, user-friendly climbing-skin system. For groomers: Volkl AC50, because I can tip them way over on edge and feel incredibly secure as they rip from carve to carve.
Goals for the season: To ski Alta when the canyon is closed to incoming traffic because of snow; to finally make it to British Columbia, Tahoe, and Big Sky.