They had a demo day at my home mountain today. I was able to get on 4 different pairs of skis, all of them next seasons models. In the order that I skied the them:
Head e.Race Pro; 170 length, around a 15m TR. Harald skis this ski and his are from last year or the year before. He has said that they require him to be on his A game to ski them well, so I was slightly concerned when I got on them. But I loved these skis. They were tuned with a progressive base at .5 under foot and .7 at the tips (which i thought would be grabby) and they were 2 degrees on the side. Our groomers were absolute perfection with super grippy/hero Montana snow, and these skis rocked. The tips would bend pretty nicely, and the tails have less sidecut than a slalom carver, so the skis would release quickly. If you want to bring skis back uphill slightly, you have to really progressively tip all through the arc and relax the stance leg slightly past the apex. The ski brushed way better than I expected (with .5 base bevel underfoot). The skis are super quick edge to edge, super stable at speed with a glued to the snow feel and I could see owning a pair. I did not take them off piste because I figured they were too stiff for that terrain. For a skier that wants a slightly wider TR on a great carver (and a ski that probably slays ice) this would be the ticket.
Rossignol Forza: 181 length, 78mm underfoot and a 15m TR. I really enjoyed skiing these. It's a new ski for next season and it's designed as a 78mm underfoot carver. Super stable at speed, arced beautiful turns and I could bend the ski pretty well and rail some pretty tight turns. My sense was that it was too stiff for off piste skiing but I wanted to try them there. Actually, they were quite fun off-piste and not that stiff. They are super stable and I was skiing them a little faster and straighter than I might a different ski, but I was having a blast off piste with them. Vs the Blossom White Out, the ski does not bend as deep as the WO does and the WO is a little softer and better for off piste skiing. But I really enjoyed skiing these. I also liked the 181 length (I have been enjoying skiing longer skis I am 6'3" with very long legs). I think I could ski these all day in pretty much all conditions on my home mountain and have a blast. Reminded me of a thinner MX 88.
Nordica Doberman GSR: 185cm length, 20.5m TR.
The guy at the booth was pitching me on these skis, so I gave them a spin. They were a hoot. Very bendable and I was able to get more a like a 16-17M arc when I got up a little speed. Its a one dimensional cheater GS ski, but as cheater GS skis go, this was pretty sweet. Lots of fun.
Head SS e.Titan: 177cm length, 17ish TR, 84mm underfoot.
I did not love this ski. Was by far the softest flexing ski I skied all day. It's a easy ski to ski and its got a friendly flex for off piste skiing. On piste, at least for me, I wanted and need more. For me there is not enough there there. Having said that for many PMTS skiers this could be a very friendly all mountain ski that will arc on groomed and be very friendly off piste.
Tomorrow is Fischer and Kastle and I think Volkl. If I get on some more skis I will post reviews.