2021 Head Supershape e-Speed

Narrower-waisted skis provide better torsional stiffness and edge grip, it's as simple as that. If you think of it like a hockey skate, the ability to grip on ice and hard snow is bolstered by that shape, and the 2021 Head Supershape e-Speed has got it in spades. At 68 mm underfoot, the waist width is a large part of a big story with these Head carving skis. For 2021, the I changes to E, and basically indicates a slightly different use of energy management systems. For the past few years, they've used their KERS system to technologically reduce unwanted vibrations, and for this year, that's changed to their EMC system. This Energy Management Circuit takes in that kinetic energy when you're engaging in the turn, stores it in an electronic circuit, and then regulates and modulates its release on the back swing of the carve. It may sound strange, but it's a technology that's been used on Formula 1 cars in the race circuit for years, so there is something to it. Whatever you want to call it, it works. These skis are as smooth and stable as they come, even at 68 mm underfoot. Narrower skis require a better balance point from the skier, so these are best when used by advanced and expert skiers who know how to stay centered on their boards.

There's not a whole lot of versatility built in to these skis-they're clearly more at home on freshly groomed slopes and flatter terrain. The waist width, combined with the profile and shape certainly are better suited to harder snow versus any type of off-trail adventure that you can conjure up. The slight tip rocker is there only to allow access to the mere-mortal recreational skier who needs a bit mellower of an entry into the turn. Since the shovel is pretty wide, it if were fully-cambered, it would be quite twitchy. As a result, the slight tip rocker helps get the ski into the turn. It is not there to provide flotation in soft snow, but rather to aid in the entry/initiation phase of the turn. These skis, and the other skis in the e-line from Head are some of the least tapered skis on the planet, allowing for true tip-to-tail edge contact and a smooth ride throughout.

Built with a wood core, titanal laminate, and graphene, these skis have a ton of technology going on in them. While we touched upon the race car tech that is employed in order to reduce bad vibrations, the Head Supershape e-Speed, the implementation of Graphene as a ski laminate is equally as cool and interesting. The strength to weight ratio of these skis is off the charts, and the Graphene has a lot to do with it. Incredibly light and strong, it works very well in these on-piste carving skis.

Whether you're a former race who's looking to keep their skills strong or an advanced/expert skier looking to round out their quiver with a banger groomer ski, the Supershape e-Speed will be with you every turn of the way. They're not incredibly versatile, so all that energy gets focused into the carving performance of the ski, and does so in an amazingly efficient way. Super-smooth turns and clean carves are all you'll get, but what they do, they do better than most.