The 2024 Head Kore 117 returns unchanged except for graphics, allowing skiers another year to get on one of the most interesting powder skis out there. Surely, there are other skis in this width range out there, but there aren’t many that feature this blend of performance and stiffness in such a wide format. We got the chance to get on this 117 this year and had an absolute blast. The main issue with testing a ski like this is that you rarely get the chance to ski it in its intended conditions and terrain—that takes a lot of work sometimes, and we just can’t dial up a powder day whenever we want. Even so, it’s impressive how light, maneuverable, and drifty the 117 is even in a variety of conditions, not just dep and fresh snow. High end skiers looking for a supportive yet light weight ski for aggressive skiing and big mountain lines should take a square look at the sweet Head Kore 117.

For the construction phase of the ski, Head uses a blend of karuba and poplar in the core. This makes the ski strong and sturdy to start without being too hefty, and that’s a rare blend of attributes to have in a ski of this width. We get two layers of carbon on top and bottom of the ski to boost the stiffness and strength. We see a curved layer on the top of the core, and this curve matches the chamfer of the edge. When carbon is curved, it stiffens the laminate because it’s in a three-dimensional fashion. With a weight of 1949 grams per ski in the 184, this ski is on the light side for the width while keeping the power fully intact. There are damping layers to quiet the ski a bit, and this offsets the pingy nature of the ski while reducing vibrations and chatter. That said, for a ski this wide, the carbon is going to take over at some point. If you’re landing big airs and skiing aggressively, though, you’ll be glad it’s all there.

At 117 mm underfoot, this ski is wide and surfy. It has the profile and taper to match the width as well, with elongated rocker and dramatic taper to boost the ski’s powder performance. Not only is it a great floater, but it’s also a smeary and drifty ski to boot. The fact that it’s so light for the shape makes it stand out in a crowded field, and the flotation gets a lift as well due to the build. In the 184, we’re getting a long turn shape of 24.6-meters, allowing skiers to be creative and playful as the terrain and snow allows. It’s impressive that they’re able to get this length of arc in a ski with this much taper. This means that the flat part of the taper is actually quite long and they’re factoring that into the radius.

If you’re a skier that needs a wide, strong, and sturdy ski for deep snow and untracked zones, the Head Kore 117 is about as good as it gets. There aren’t many other skis out there like this that hold up to both powerful as well as drifty skiing. Mostly, those who are in very deep snow will get the best out this ski, allowing for prime flotation and excellent powder performance. It’s got a somewhat narrowscope, though, as it is really only effective on very deep days.