Back again, Head’s super-popular Super Shape i.Rally skis dominate the corduroy like no other. At 76 mm underfoot, they’re a dedicated front-side carver that loves to be on edge at all times. When you stand on it and lean over, you’ll instantly be able to tell that you’re on a technological masterpiece of ski construction. Head has really pulled out all the stops with this one, and as an advanced to expert level skier, you’ll appreciate every single centimeter of it. Head employs its Graphene World Cup construction with the i.Rally, and for a civilian ski, it has a ton of energy. Our testers loved the response and snow feel from the skis, and couldn’t help but marvel at the edge grip and stability that the skis possess.
Hans von Bielsen skied the 177 cm length and found that they skied a bit short. Aside from an obvious low score in flotation, Hans gave the skis 4’s out of 5 for all other categories, including versatility. Our guess is that he finds it versatile for a front-side ski, capable and willing to make a wide variety of turn shapes and sizes. “The ideal front-side carver. Maximizes front-side fall-line turns! Super lively and active ski that can generate power, release energy evenly, and power through varieties of snow.” That’s some nice feedback from Hans, and the idea of a ski generating power is something that we always like to hear.
Marcus Shakun likened the 172 cm i.Rally to a Ferrari. “Unbelievable edge grip with amazing edge hold. Ski is very stable at high speeds, but requires the skier to be on top of it. Lightning quick edge to edge. They’re designed for an expert skier that wants a high performance front-side ski.” And although Marcus really enjoyed the ski in quick turns, the i.Rally “can lock you in to medium and long radius turns as well.” Marcus obviously gave the skis top mars in stability, quickness, and edge hold.
Skiing the 177 cm length, Charlie Roy had a similar experience to Marcus. Charlie’s high score went to edge hold as well, and he advises that you “hold on to your bootsraps! These will take you for a ride! Super-fun short-turn ski. The wide shovel really hooks up and pulls you through the turn. Great for those who like to tip and rip. I would recommend this ski for advanced to experts skiers who like to carve and make short turns.” There’s nothing wrong with anything Charlie said just there, but to be advised that expert skiers will earn the biggest benefits from the skis, while intermediate skiers will have to learn pretty quickly how to handle these high-performing boards.
David Wolfgang wanted to see how the 177 cm length performed on the ice. He sought out the firmest conditions at Stowe and let them rip. His high score of maneuverability and edge hold ensured that he’d get the answer that he was looking for as far as glacial performance. “With some skis you want to look for ice to see what they can do. With the i.Rally, the moment you set your edge, you know. It’s a high powered carving machine.” David was obviously impressed with the i.Rally’s ability to handle the hard stuff. However, and not totally unsurprisingly, he liked their soft snow performance as well: “With crud, it’s a crud-buster.”
Many advanced and expert skiers love the sensation of carving. If you are one of those skiers and you’re looking for that high-end feel and top-end performance, the Head i.Rally is a truly fantastic product that will cater to each and every one of your g-force seeking needs.
