2021 Head Kore 99 W

Lots of love is going around for these Kore 99's, and it's well-deserved. Now in their second year in the women's market, the Kore 99 returns unchanged, much to the delight of advanced and expert all-mountain skiers. Just like the men's versions, the Kore 99 W gets narrower as it gets shorter, so don't be alarmed when you see a different number as your waist width. In the 171, the skis have a 97 mm waist, and it gets narrower as it gets shorter. This makes all the models feel the same regardless of length, and it's a nice feature to have, as that 153 cm skier is going to get the same performance relative to length as the 171 skier. The build remains the same as well, with a karuba wood core, and graphene, koroyd, and carbon layers. These materials are all known for their high strength to weight ratios. Taking the place of metal laminates, the more synthetic materials provide an incredible amount of stiffness at a fraction of the mass. Skiers who value maneuverability and quickness will really appreciate this build. As we're getting up into the wider side of all-mountain, we're looking at a more dramatically tapered and rockered shape to the ski as well, providing stronger and more playful soft-snow performance for those adventure-oriented skiers looking for a more versatile setup.

Kristi Brown skied the 171 and scored all 4.5's and 5's out of 5 right down the scorecard. These are some impressively consistent high scores, which are indicative of a well-made and upper-end ski. She notes that "the Kore 99 is like a go-to favorite pair of jeans; they just work. You don't have to second-guess them and they make you look good no matter how you feel." We certainly appreciate and understand that analogy! Darcy Mangan skied the 163 and wished she was on Kristi's 171. Regardless, she scored the ski high for flotation and stability, with those categories earning 4's. With a bit of a feminine flair, Darcy notes "great graphic!" and a "solid ski with easy turn initiation. This ski totally crushes through variable snow conditions, making it a rare combination of playful and solid." We definitely like when skis, especially in the all-mountain segment, are able to hold multiple yet opposing strengths at the same time."

Annie MacDonald skied the 171 and loved the stability, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression, with those categories earning 5's out of 5. Annie is a pretty discerning skier, so these are some impressive scores for a high-end ski. "Great stability and light, so fantastic float. Stiff but playful." We see that again-the opposing qualities that really make this ski amazing. "Overall great ski in a variety of conditions. Good overall, all-around ski for an advanced aggressive girl." Echoing her sentiments, Kelsey Boleski notes on her 171 (she would likely size up) that "these skis rip. They are stiff enough to hold an edge on hard pack and forgiving when they need to be." Loving the paradoxical nature of these skis for sure!

Whether you're searching for a narrower soft-snow ski or a wider front-side ski, either need will be satisfied by the Head Kore 99 W. The oxymoronic skis are capable of a lot of different things, all at the same time. Stiff yet playful, carvy, and floaty, the 99's have a lot to offer skiers in the advanced to expert level, and that's just how we like our all-mountain skis.