Scott USA P4 (2010)

The most important characteristic a ski can have is predictability—no surprises, no matter what, especially in a no-fall zone. This is the P4, a solid B student in every subject. Thanks to its large sweet spot, the P4 blazes through hard and soft snow at all speeds while forgiving the odd lapse into the backseat. Plus: Excellent at both short and long turns. Minus: Needs more grip on hard snow.