In the all-mountain category, there are some skis that are just more freeride-oriented, and the 2022 Liberty Genesis 96 is just one of those skis. Upgraded for this year with the VMT 1.0 core, the skis are built with a blend of poplar, bamboo, and paulownia wood for the best-possible combination of high energy and light weight. The metal strut that runs the center of the ski is responsible for delivering the stability to the ski, and making it damper and quieter for more energetic skiing and higher performance. At 96 mm underfoot, these skis are right in the Goldilocks zone for being able to carve on groomers, float through powder, and be used in a variety of conditions and terrain for a huge swath of skiers. If you’re looking for that one-ski quiver that can handle it all, look no further than the Liberty Genesis 96.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Carbon Stringers
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Groomers
Alli Ruschp skied the 165 and notes that it skis true to size. She scored the ski top marks of 5 out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness, and also gave 4’s for all other categories except a “lowly” 3 for versatility. These are some high scores, and they make the Genesis 96 punch way above its level in terms of all-mountain performance, and that at a high level. Alli calls the 96 “My favorite in the Genesis line up, 96 underfoot is the perfect width for every day. The extra width adds some stability and smoothness over the 90 mm width. Yet still easy to turn, gets through the crud and springy in bumps and trees.” The variety of terrain is a good way to think about it, in that you can really get into the complexities and intricacies of the mountain on a ski like this. Also on the 165, Catherine Ferguson scored all 4’s with the exception of a 3 for forgiveness, showing that these skis have a burly side to them as well, especially in the tail. Catherine “had so much fun on these skis, even in the slush. They will make every ski day a good day for you.”
On the longer 171, Louise Lintilhac had a great time on the Genesis 96. As a result of her being on the longer length, she gave the ski a top score of 5 out of 5 for stability. 4’s for torsional stiffness and edge hold, combined with 3’s for the rest of the categories round out her scorecard, again leading to the high overall performance of the ski. Louise notes that “This ski’s stability was balanced with a turning radius and waist width that made edge to edge movement more playful considering how heavy it is. This is a front-to-sidecountry ski that would be appropriate for advanced skiers looking to have a dampened all mountain shredder. A bit unwieldy in tighter turns but when you make those medium radius medium fast turns it shines.” The longer length does make those shorter turns a bit of a handful, and while many skiers will appreciate the stiffness of the back side of the ski, it’s still a decent amount of work, especially when you have to make subsequent quick turns.
For skiers looking for a one-ski quiver that knows no bounds, the Liberty Genesis 96 is the ideal stick. With upgrades to the construction and a lot of fun built in, these skis will take your game to the next level, and there’s no doubt about that. From steeps and trees to bumps and groomers, these skis will do it all and smile in the process.
