Best Women’s All Mountain (Mostly On Piste) 2017/18: Dynastar W88

Dynastar's W88 ski wins Fall-Line Skiing's 2018 'Women's All Mountain: Mostly On Piste' award

Dynastar go back to their roots with the W88, a women’s all mountain ski designed to cope with the endless descents and changeable conditions on Mont Blanc

In days gone by Dynastar’s Legend series were some of the most revered all mountain skis ever made, designed in the shadow of Mont Blanc to handle whatever that behemoth of a mountain could throw at them. We’re ecstatic to see the return of the Legend line, and delighted to find out they perform even better than our old favourites. After all, if a ski excels in Mont Blanc’s harsh and changeable conditions there’s little anywhere that’ll trouble it!

The 2018 Dynastar W88 is designed to rip, whatever the snow and weather conditions

The W88 blends that mythical all mountain heritage with more modern freeride design cues. With an 88mm waist you might be surprised that we’ve given it our ‘All Mountain: Mostly Onpiste’ award, but our test team were unanimous in their praise and who are we to argue?!

This onpiste performance largely stems from the double sheets of torsional-stiffness boosting titanal working in combination with the latest iteration of Dynastar’s tried and tested Powerdrive construction: a light Paulownia wood core sandwiched between shock absorbing TPU foam and vertical ABS sidewalls, for optimum energy transmission. Put the hammer down and they eat up the vertical in fast carved slashes with a real sense of purpose and all the grip you’ll ever need.

Offpiste the 5 point sidecut – contact points pulled back from the tapered tip and tail – and gradual rocker surf powder and slice through crud with composure, backed up by a gutsy flex and metal-clad tips for durability.

Overall they’re more tool than toy, with a distinct feeling of competence. Just what you want in the high alpine when the clouds start to close in – they’re a true Legend, that’s for sure!

Dynastar W88 2018 Specifications:

  • RRP: £550 (incl binding)
  • Lengths: 159, 166, 173, 180
  • Dimensions: 125-88-109
  • Turn radius: 18m @ 180

2018 Dynastar W88 product image

The Test Team’s Opinion:

“Awesome fun ski for charging – but not like a rhino, more like a cheetah, as it’s nimble and gets through crud with no worries.”

Amy Marwick 

 

Want to learn all about the best new ski equipment for the 2017/18 season? Head this way to get the bumper Fall-Line Skiing Gear Guide.