Head’s Absolut Joy is an awesome option for ladies who spend most of their time in a front side format and value easy-turning and light weight agility over all else. While this ski has been around for a while now, it does get some new updates for 2024, taking the Absolut Joy’s proven strengths and moving them into the next group of skiers. With a wide enough waist for providing balance and poise in a groomer format, this ski also has some versatility built in for off-trail adventure. Overall, though, it’s a lot happier making carved turns on groomers than it is dealing with soft, manky, or challenging conditions. The smoother the better with the Absolut Joy, creating fun and engaging carving experiences for intermediate skiers who love a light and energetic feel.

Built with a wood composite core, the engineers at Head are able to pack in quite a bit of performance while keeping the weight down and the energy up. The ski contains a central strip of graphene to stiffen the flex and provide excellent pop throughout the ski, with the added bonus of this material adding a pittance of weight. In order to keep things smooth and silent, they use their Energy Management Circuit to quiet the vibrations of the ski in the front portion. This is a lot of technology in this ski, and it works quite well as it functions as a radiator—diminishing chatter as it filters through the circuit. While the construction is mainly carryover from the past years, there is a new ramp angle in the build that allow for easier turn initiation for progressing skiers.

Most of the changes have to do with the shape. While the previous version was a bit on the catchy and turny side, the new footprint is smoother and more amenable to slightly longer turns. With a rounder shovel shape that aligns more with the race series of skis, the Absolut Joy eases into the turns a bit better. This factors in with the slightly longer turn shape as well, with the new ski hitting 14.8-meters in the 163 cm length. While nobody’s going to mistake this for a GS ski by any stretch, the slightly longer arc does make for a friendlier overall feel and character. Available in a wide variety of lengths, ranging from 143 to 168, this ski has something to offer everyone. There’s not much to talk about when it comes to rocker or taper, as the ski is basically a full camber model with minimal to no taper, pushing the on-trail acumen of the ski a step or two further forward.

The new Head Absolut Joy is a great ski for intermediate skiers who spend most or all of their time on groomed and smooth terrain. This is a great carver with a light weight and a high level of energy. Skiers looking to improve and progress with ease and confidence will love the new shape and build of the ski, putting them in the driver’s seat for when the skiing gets interesting and exciting.