2022 Head Oblivion 84

The 2022 Head Oblivion 84 is an ideal match for park and pipe skiers who also like to dabble in an all-mountain format as well. Thanks to the build, shape, and profile, these versatile freestyle skis have a lot going for them, both in the park as well as the whole hill. Built with a wood core and Head’s Independent Suspension System, the overall construction is fairly simple, but the ski does a whole lot that you might not expect. Built with durability and toughness in mind, these skis are great for sliding rails and boxes, as well as landing huge airs in the park without even blinking. A bit stiffer than a lot of other jib-specific skis, the Oblivion 84 does have some power and poise to it, and will stand up to the rigors of all-mountain skiing for sure. Well-balanced and easy to control, you’re looking for that good snap and pop out of the ski, and that mostly comes from the good positive camber that’s found in these skis. This allows for more energetic and dynamic pop off the lips of the jumps, and the carving ability of these skis makes those in-air drifts a lot easier to come by. Even if you never set foot in a terrain park, there’s a ton of skiers out there who will really enjoy this as an all-mountain ski. The mid-80's is a great place to be for a variety of skiers for an all-mountain format, and when the ski is easy to turn but with a high-end performance level, we’re going to see a lot of smiles.

Sam Freund was on the 176 and noted that it was on the short side for him. These do tend to ski a bit longer than the wider Oblivion 94, as they have less rocker and more camber, so a longer effective edge and a smoother ride. As a result, Sam’s top scores of 5’s out of 5 were given for quickness and maneuverability, with 4’s given for stability, playfulness, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression. We’re big fans of seeing that high versatility score, as it underscores the well-rounded nature of these skis, even though they’re primarily built more for park and freestyle skiing. Sam states that “This felt like a park ski that you could use anywhere on the mountain and it would work. No too flashy, but punched way above its weight in terms of versatility on the slope. Great for an intermediate skier, or advanced intermediate on a budget.” This is a good quote from Sam in that it highlights the ski’s ability to be more than advertised. We love it when skiers are surprised with a ski’s ability to be more than what it was designed for, and bonus points for when that ski outperforms expectations.

Also on the 176, Marcus Shakun notes that it felt “yes short short short, but still fun. In an 184/186 this thing would be awesome!!” Almost comically short for Marcus at 6’4 or so, the 176 in the 84 is definitely too short, but it’s funny to watch! Other than a lowly score of 2 out of 5 for flotation, the rest of the scores on his card were 4’s, and that’s pretty impressive for a short park ski, but this category of skis is one of the more impressive ones out there. Marcus states that the Head Oblivion 84 is best “For an intermediate to playful advanced skier. Stable and stiff enough to push its way through the soft spring snow and not get pushed around. I had fun mixing it up with this ski. Squiggling out some short quick poppy turns then locking it in and letting it do its thing. Once locked in its stable and has some give to it so you can manipulate it a bit. Can see that fun free flowing skier that like to mix it up in the park and all over the mountain loving this ski. It has a lot to offer a very versatile skier.” Short and quick turns are a whole lot of fun, and when you’re on the right ski, it makes them even funner.

Park and pipe skiers will not overlook these skis, and all-mountain skiers looking for something in the mid-80's range should not overlook them. Serving well as either a quiver of one type of ski or a park-specific board for tricks and style, the Head Oblivion 84 has a whole lot going for it in a seemingly one-dimensional package.