The Liberty Helix 98 for 2022 is a great ski that loves to be put in playful positions all over the mountain. Thanks to the shape, construction, and general demeanor of the ski, the Helix 98 represents the wider all-mountain twin tip subsection of the industry, and is one of the more fun skis we've been on in some time. At 98 mm underfoot, the skis have more than enough surface area to handle deep, fresh, and soft snow, while they remain narrow enough to be nimble and agile in the bumps, trees, and groomer performance as well. The Helix line is all about fun and play, and the 98 has a lot to do with the success of the model as a whole. We were able to get a couple of Liberty's ambassadors and athletes to contribute to our test, and we love the insider information that these skiers provide.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Carbon Stringer
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Park, All Mountain, Groomers
Stephen Pille skis the 186 and loves the playfulness, forgiveness, and maneuverability of the 98, with each of those categories earning 5's out of 5. 4's for stability, versatility, and overall impression round out the strong-scoring 98 in Stephen's experience. These consistently high scores are usually indicative of a very well-rounded ski of the highest order, so it's impressive to see with the Helix 98 for sure. I like how Stephen uses his analysis, breaking it down clearly: "When I use this ski: groomers, packed powder, slushy spring days, and skiing in the terrain park. Favorite characteristics: Light weight, quick turns, slight rocker in the tip and tail make initiating turn effortless, camber underfoot makes for energetic turns, playful. To sum things up, the Helix 98 is an excellent option for a wide variety of skiers. It is easygoing enough for less-aggressive skiers, while still allowing more advanced skier to go big and ski fast." Well stated, Stephen!
Michael Cappola skis the 179 and is a huge fan of the 98's versatility, playfulness, forgiveness, and maneuverability, with each of those categories earning 5's out of 5. Additionally, he lists an overall impression score of 5, indicating a high level of enjoyment on this ski. Like Stephen, Michael scores the 98 a 2 out of 5 for flotation, as the minimal rocker profile doesn't lend to strong powder skiing, but we'll let that slide. Michael states that the "Helix 98 is a super-versatile ski in all types of conditions. It's not too far off from the Origin 106 which surfs the pow like no other. As well as remarkably holding up while skiing the terrain park, the edges are incredibly durable for slamming onto rails and other stuff. Also, the bamboo stringers and the poplar core make it surprisingly light for the dimensions of the skis. I'm a huge fan of the Helix 98 because it will plow through all types of snow with no issues."
Fun, playful, and super-engaging, the Liberty Helix 98 is poised and ready to take a whole new generation of freeride and freestyle skiers to the next level. Thanks to Liberty's strong and long-standing tradition for smeary, trick-loving, and surfy skis, you're sure to get all you need from the Helix 98.
