The word for 09/10 women's skis is refinement. Rather than introducing a lot of new skis, ski manufacturers have been hard at work revising their existing models. Graphics are moving away from the flowery, stereo-typically feminine to more sophisticated, bolder designs. Guest Author Wendy Clinch reviews women's skis for the 09/10 season.
1. Blizzard Magnum Viva
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Blizzard has an addition to their Magnum Series: the Magnum Viva 7.4. I tried the Magnum Viva 7.4’s, a great, intermediate ski. Good edging, easy to turn, very forgiving. I also took out the Viva 7.6’s just for comparison -- a more advanced, all mountain ski with a wood core and an integrated binding system. Holy Smoke – what a ski! Terrific energy, yet stable and smooth with good edging. Two thumbs up! 
Some of you will also be pleased to hear that they’ve brought back the Eos, an expert powder ski (at 88 underfoot, this is the same ski as the men’s Chronus.)
2. Elan Black Magic
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If I was giving an award for the most beautiful graphics, I’d give it to Elan. The Black Magic is gorgeous: black embedded with flecks of color and a small crystal embellishment. The '10 Black Magic is a little stiffer than the '09 (they’ve added 'wave technology"). All in all, a good intermediate ski.
3. Elan Freespice
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This Free Spice wider ski (88 waist); I wish I could’ve tried this in powder, but alas – none was available. Elan’s given it cool new graphics -- a splattered paint look. Other than that, the ski is the same as ‘09. The Free Spice is based on the men’s 888 Alu, without the metal.
4. Head Wild One / Head Every One
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I skied the Head Wild One and the Every One. The Wild One is the equivalent of the company’s Monster IM82. It’s a very stable, solid ski with an 81 waist and a vertical sidewall. Good energy to it, too. And I love the graphics. The Every One is white with the name available in either orange or blue. It’s a versatile, nimble ski that’s light and quick, with a waist size in the 70’s.
5. Head Perfect One
Head is offering the same line up as last season with one new addition: the Perfect One, a carver with a 67 waist. Although the graphics are nothing special, the ski is really a lot of fun. The narrow waist allows it to move easily from edge to edge, and it has excellent rebound.6. Fischer Koa
Fischer has replaced its popular Vision series with the Koa. Available in a variety of widths (75, 78, and 84) the Koa has a sandwich vertical wood core instead of the glass fiber/wood core found in the Vision line. According to the rep, this makes it a lighter, stronger ski with better edge hold. The graphics of the Koa are a big departure from the Visions, too: Dark with a bold, abstract design that’s not at all girlie. I found it striking.7. Rossignol Eco
Rossignol has an extensive line of women’s skis. Especially intriguing is their new Eco, which they’ve positioned as an environmentally friendly ski. According to Rossignol, the base is made of recycled plastic, and it takes less petroleum products to produce. I tried the Eco, which turned out to be a really nice ski. Responsive, a good carver, light, quick.8. Rossognol Voodoo 80
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I tried the Voodoo 80, which has a slightly turned up tail. I tried the Voodoo last year, but maybe in a different waist size (it comes in several). Whether it was the conditions or the waist size, I liked it this year a lot better. Very responsive, came out of the turn nicely. A very fun ski.
9. Volkl Aura
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Volkl continues to offer the Aura. Wider than the Aurora, this is a twin tip that's good for more than just the park. Featuring a lightweight wood core, a high strength titanium sheet, and a 94 mm waist, the Aura is a blast just about anywhere on the mountain, and can float through the powder or power through crud. Don't let its wide waist fool you; this baby can also hold an edge and is great for wide, swooping turns. The Aura has a new look this year, moving away from its milky white and blue graphic to a more dynamic Asian-inspired theme. Again, a personal call, but I prefer the new graphics over the old.
10. Volkl Aurora
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Last year I fell in love with the Aurora, and I’m happy to report still am. What a ski! It feels like a Cadillac under foot: smooth, stable, and strong with that great Volkl edge. A terrific all around ski (though a little too stiff for the bumps). A mid-fat with 85 mm waist, the Aurora features Volkl's new "Wide Ride System." This is an internal Power Transmission (iPT) binding interface that's built into the ski body and slides into position on the ski's inside rails, for a rounder flex pattern. I found it smooth, stable, great in the big turns, and powerful enough to cut through crud like butter. Like most Volkls, the Aurora is terrific on edge, so it even performs well in icy conditions.
