With this chamfered build, the ski should be less susceptible to chipping. The past-generation Kore was prone to showing premature wear, but Head attempted to address that with this latest model by rounding off the top of the ski. And if you’re like most bump skiers and want a little more shock absorption and compliance, you may want to consider a softer option like the Blizzard Rustler 10 or Salomon’s QST 98. All that said, the narrower Kore 93 is still the better performer here thanks to its reduced mass. Similar to its hardpack performance, it’ll take a strong, advanced-level rider to make the whole experience enjoyable, but there’s a lot of power in the tip and tail to drive the ski, and its flickable nature really shines in tight spots. However, its responsiveness and limited swing weight are a nice combination for dipping into the trees and through bumps. Given its relatively wide dimensions, the Kore 99 won’t be at the top of any mogul skier’s list. And that “right” user group can certainly include advanced to expert backcountry skiers that want a stiffer set-up. All told, the Kore 99 was a little more soft-snow biased than I expected given the popularity of these wider, all-mountain models, but for the right user, it’s an excellent option. It’s less fatiguing, easy to flick around and pivot in technical spots, and frankly more enjoyable to ride in these conditions. The only notable exception would be at absolute top speed through a wide and open bowl, where I’d prefer a little more dampening (like what you get with the Nordica Enforcer 100).Īnd as the terrain gets tighter, the difference between the nimble Kore and a heavier option like Volkl’s M6 Mantra really becomes apparent. The moderate rocker profile and superlight Graphene tip and tail do a great job with floatation-the Kore definitely punches above its width in this regard-and the ski felt smooth and relatively easy to handle in just about all conditions. over a solid base) to just a light dusting in the trees. Here, that lightning-quick personality shone through: the ski felt completely in control in everything from moderate powder (around 6-10 in. In contrast to my experiences on hardpack, the Kore 99 really came to life when I ventured off trail and into my local hill’s sidecountry. As such, we recommend the narrower variation or one of the many strong and wide models in the all-mountain market for those that spend more than half their time on trail (including the aforementioned Enforcer 100, Volkl’s M6 Mantra, and others). During wider, high-speed sweepers on bumpy snow, the 99 was just a touch less fun, not as smooth, and harder to trust than the 93. Specifically, I found it more skittish and prone to getting knocked around than the narrower Kore 93. On the flipside, powerful skiers that love a highly responsive ride will be rewarded with lots of energy and pop in between turns (quick and medium-width turns are the ski’s specialty), and the Kore’s great off-trail manners (more on this below) encourage a creative riding style.Īs I touched on above, the Kore 99 does have its downsides in firm conditions. It takes some muscle to really lay into a turn and get on edge, and if you’re not pushing into the front of your boots, the ski’s rigid tail with relatively limited rocker has a tendency to grab and punish poor technique. That said, there’s still quite a bit of stiffness underfoot, and it’s not something we’d recommend for intermediates (or even strong intermediates) that like to take it easy and slarve their way down the hill. Unlike a heavier and very damp design like Nordica’s Enforcer 100, the Kore is lively, reacts quickly to input, and has a nimble feel that matches its lightweight build. The Head Kore 99’s mix of lightness and power give it unique characteristics on hardpack. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best all-mountain skis. Below we outline our experiences with the Kore 99. That said, if you like to pop in and out of the trees, prioritize a nimble feel, and have enough soft snow to justify the wider set-up, it’s a compelling package. In testing the latest variation, it struck us as a solid 50/50 on- and off-trail ski: it’s still impressively powerful yet light, but it’s not a standout in terms of stability or dampening on hardpack. Like the rest of the Kore models, this ski saw a number of changes for this season, including a revised construction, even lighter weight, and a smaller (7cm) gap between lengths. Head’s 2022 Kore collection covers widths from 87 to 117, and towards the middle of that lineup is the versatile 99.
1 Comment
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |