Best Women’s Touring Ski 2018: Scott Superguide 88W

Scott Superguide 88W wins Fall-Line Skiing magazine's 2018 best women's touring ski award

Scott have pulled off an absolute blinder with the new Superguide 88W, somehow cramming a full-bore all mountain gun into the lightweight body of a slim and slinky touring ski

As we’ve come to expect from Scott the Superguide 88Ws are seriously capable offpiste and a joy to skin on, but we were genuinely blown away by how well they carve on piste too. And not just ‘good for an 88mm wide 1.2kg/ski touring stick’; but, really good – no caveat.

The 88Ws sport a lightweight Paulownia wood core in a sandwich sidewall construction, topped with an elliptical topsheet made with a swanky carbon matrix with 0° stringers to bring life and pop to the longitudinal flex and 45° stringers for maximum torsional stiffness; then finished with an aramid bottom layer to soak up unwanted vibrations.

Heading uphill on the Scott Superguide 88W touring ski

The shape is almost as exotic as the construction: 3Dimension sidecut features a straight section underfoot for stability and easier pivoting plus shorter turn radii in tip and tail for better turn initiation.

This works in harmony with Scott’s Pro-Tip 320 rocker to float smoothly over soft snow despite the relatively narrow waist, and punch through nasty crust or tracked snow without hooking unexpectedly.

The innovative skin attachment system works really well too, securely holding the skins in place.

The same torsional stiffness that leads to the Superguide 88W’s shockingly good carving performance brings exceptional edge hold to the mix on icy slopes, both up and downhill.

The 88Ws are supremely confident and competent all round, and deserving winners of our Touring award: no matter where or when you tour on the Superguides, or what conditions you encounter, you’re guaranteed a fun and safe descent regardless. You can’t ask for more than that!

2018 Scott Superguide 88W Specifications:

  • RRP: £450
  • Lengths: 154, 160, 168
  • Dimensions: 121-87-110 (160)
  • Turn radius: 16m @ 160
  • Weight: 1200g/ski

2018 Scott Superguide 88W product image

 

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.