Ever heard someone say, “let’s split the difference?” That’s exactly what happened in Head’s development room when they got the ball rolling on the Kore 99. Situated right in between the other Kore models, the 99 shares all the same construction and design properties of the 93 and 105. Six millimeters difference in the overall shape of the skis doesn’t really sound like a lot, but just like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this one’s just right. Of course, just right for you is most likely too wide or too narrow for someone else. That’s the great part of doing an impartial ski test like this, we get to find out and match up exactly who this ski is just right for. After last year’s enormous success, the Kore series expands to the third, and middle, model. With a wood core, graphene, koroyd, and a topsheet-less top, the Kore 99 is lightweight, fun, and versatile. Most of our testers continuously remarked at how stable it is for how light it is. That mix of quickness and stoutness is what made the Kore series successful last year, and we see no reason that this model will diminish that achievement this year.
Bob St.Pierre was one of those testers who fell into the “just right” category for the Kore 99. He skied the 189 cm length and scored the skis 4 out of 5 in every single category. From an optical standpoint, that means that the ski scored above average in all areas. The skis have “top end feel and performance. Head nailed it with this in-between Kore ski. A perfect blend of lightweight, stability, snap, and control.” He also went on to call it a “wonderful experience.”
Skiing on the 180 cm length, Steve Sulin scored top marks for stability and overall impression. His biggest takeaway was that the “Kore 99 performed better when at speed, and liked medium to long turns, and during those turns, finished them well.” Due to his score of 2 for forgiveness, it’s safe to say that Steve found the Kore 99 to feel a bit demanding.
Also testing the 180 cm length, Matt McGinnis loved the versatile nature of the Kore 99. “The Kore 99 is really good at just about everything, fast or slow, on edge or flat, the Kore 99 is an all-around solid ride.” Matt’s other top mark was for forgiveness: “My favorite aspect of this ski is its ability to bend to your will. If you need or want to stop, they will. They’ll shut down in an instant, slash sideways, or hold an edge. I’d recommend these skis to anyone looking for a sold all-mountain ski that they can trust in all conditions.”
James Stewart hopped on the 189 for a few runs and gave top marks for quickness, maneuverability, and overall impression. As far as the quickness is concerned, he says “it’s unbelievable how damp this ski is for how light it is, and for most conditions, this is a great ski. Keep it on edge and it will hang out there.”
Mike Aidala skied the 180 and his take on it is pretty clear. He does a nice job conveying the comparisons of the Kore line. “The Kore 99 fills the niche between the performance of the 93 and 105 perfectly. Taking the quick pivot performance of the 93 and burly performance with great float and power of the 105, you have the new 99. This ski is very stable and really quick with a lightweight feel. The Kore 99 is a great freeride ski that does it all really well.”
So in conclusion, for many skiers, and maybe you, the Kore 99 is not too fat, not too thin, but just right.
