2021 Liberty Origin 96

It's cool when the narrowest ski in a lineup is a 96-it shows the overall nature of the line and what it's intended for: skiers who want to do a little bit of absolutely everything out there on the hill. From bumps and trees to groomers and pow, the 96 is the go-to model for true all-mountain freeride skiing. Built with the same bamboo/poplar combo as the wider skis in the line, the 96 also has the same carbon strips to bolster stiffness. Since they're the same width in these skis as the wider ones, it takes up a greater percentage of the ski, so it feels stiffer and more responsive than the 106 and 112. When it comes down to it, it's all about having fun, and the Origin 96 is the place to be for that. The tails are a bit stiffer than expected, especially with the lower rocker profile back there. While not a true twin-tip, the skis do have that turned-up tail for playfulness and freestyle-oriented skiers. There's a lot to like about the Origin 96 and its versatility, and our testers were keen to pick up on that.

Jeff Neagle skied the 182 and was impressed with the quickness, playfulness, and forgiveness, with all of those categories scoring 5's out of 5. "If you hand me a twin tip to test and expect me not to have a good time, you're drastically mistaken. The Origin 96, in my opinion, is all about fun and versatility. It's not the stiffest, not the most powerful, and doesn't have the best vibration damping, but it's certainly among the most playful mid-fat twin tips, one of the lightest on your feet, and the fun factor is through the roof. The edge grip is better than I expected, but the softer flex pattern requires a relatively balanced skiing stance if you're looking to make high speed carves. The maneuverability and playfulness are off the charts. Super quick in the woods and just has a fun, snappy, playful feel. Loves to pop off of little natural hits, which is probably my favorite thing to do on it. Would make a good park/all-mountain ski for someone like myself who values performance in both applications. Classic Liberty feel. Light, snappy, energetic, fun."

Bob St.Pierre skied the 187 and was surprised with the stiffness of the ski, especially in the tail. "While the ski performs well at slower speeds and in tighter turns, I was most impressed with the high-speed performance and stability of the ski. When you get it going and it starts to dig in, those tails really come to life. They hold you in the turn a lot more than I expected, and I kind of wished for a more playful feel at the back end of the ski. This didn't make me dislike they ski by any means, but I was definitely thinking it was going to be something else, especially when compared to the floaty playfulness of the tips, which I did not find to be stiff enough to handle the higher speeds that the tail demanded. Overall, a very fun ski nonetheless, and one that could be used any day in any conditions on any terrain-extremely versatile!"

Versatile skiers looking for a well-rounded ski will love the Liberty Origin 96. Anytime, anywhere, any trail, the Origin 96 is ready to roll. Surprisingly agile and responsive, skiers who know how to turn a ski will benefit the most. As the narrowest ski in the model line, the 96 is prepared for anything you can dish out.