2022 Head Supershape e-Speed

For the ultimate in on-trail edge grip and carving performance, be sure to check out the 2022 Head Supershape e-Speed. These narrow-waisted skis will provide endless power and grip to the snow, no matter how icy the conditions may be. In fact, they like it a lot icier than not, so if you run afoul of some pesky powder, these sticks are likely not your best choice. At 68 mm underfoot, they certainly run on the narrow side, and almost to the point of race-width, but they still have the build and a bit friendlier of a shape for some all-mountain skiing as well. Built with Head’s dense and powerful wood core, they also add two sheets of titanal to the mix, as well as a central strip of Graphene with stiffens the ski even more. These skis also feature some cool technology with their Energy Management Circuit that filters out the vibrations and makes the ski a lot damper. As a result, the skier is able to take a more confident and direct line down the hill, increasing the overall enjoyment of the ski experience. Zero rocker and taper, these skis have pretty much true tip to tail edge contact, resulting in one of the smoother skiing experiences that you’re likely to find.

Josh Wolfgang was on the 176 and noted that it was a perfect length for him. With skis like this, we’re expecting scores to be more varied versus those of an all-mountain ski. We see top scores of 5 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip while lower scores of 2’s are seen for flotation, forgiveness, and versatility. This disparity shows the more one-sided nature of this ski, so hopefully it excels in that department. Josh states that “For its intended purpose this ski rocks. I thought it was playful but obviously quick side to side. Snow was soft but on the few hard spots I was able to hold a very smooth quick turn.” So, yes, our hopes and dreams did come true when it comes to the feedback for this ski—it's supposed to carve and be quick, and it absolutely does. With a turn radius of about 14.5-meters, it’s going to make a lot of turns, and the ski loves to play with this shape.

Ryan Daniel also skied the 176, and like Josh, had some variation on the scorecard for sure. His top marks were 5’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and overall impression. Ryan has a very strong racing background, so skis like this are right up his alley. In his own skis, he wants the most precise and energetic skis, and these are right on the heels of those traits. On the flip side of the coin, Ryan scored lowly for flotation and playfulness, as these skis are better suited to fairly serious skiing on firmer snow. Our test day was on the softer side, however, really putting the e-Speed to the test. Ryan notes that “I skied this in mashed potatoes and was very impressed. It plowed and did not break away. It layed deep 2 footed arcs! This is an awesome big bro to the rally.” Even in softer snow, the burly build of the e-Speed kept Ryan happy in is relentless pursuit of carving perfection.

Skiers of the advanced and expert ilk will get the best performance out of these skis. Thanks to the combination of a burly build, a narrow waist, and some high-tech materials, these skis will find themselves on the top of any list of high-performance front side carvers. With edge grip for days, you’ll be hard-pressed to find much better out there on the hill.