Ladies looking for maneuverability and precision will love the overall composure of this ski. The 2024 Head Kore 91 W is a shining example of a ski that’s been put through a lot of different tasks over the years and has come out clean on the other side. We’ve wavered and discussed endlessly about who this ski benefits the most and who stands to gain from skiing on it, and we’re finally coming to some general consensuses about our conclusions. The main things that always kept this ski somewhat enigmatic were the stiff flex and the light weight and the resulting combination. For blending the fun-loving aspect of the sport with a more business-like level of power, there’s not much else out there like the Kore 91 W. For a lot of skiers, the low to mid-90's is a better place to be for all-mountain versatility, blending the on-trail carving with the off-trail flotation and maneuverability.

Built with a blend of karuba and poplar in the wood core, we get a nice mix of light weight and high energy. This is a great place to start, and while it’ssomewhat basic in nature, this allows for more room for Head’s engineers to really start pouring in the technology. On top and bottom, we get two carbon laminates—the one on the bottom is flat but the one on the top is curved to match the lines of the topsheet. As a result, the upper carbon laminate makes the ski considerably stiffer and more powerful when it comes to energy and pop out of the turn. We also see a strip of graphene integrated into the central portion of the ski, giving it a high level of stiffness and precision in a carved turn. While carbon has the reputation for being pingy and chattery, Head does a great job in balancing those properties with two damping layers that definitely quiet the ride. In the 170, we’re seeing a weight of about1600 grams per ski, putting it on the light side of the spectrum, especially for how stiff and strong it is. Normally we see weights like this on much lower-end skis that aren’t quite capable of this type of performance.

At 91mm underfoot in the 170, this ski is highly useful in a lot of conditions and terrain. The stiffness makes it a better carver than the width may indicate, and the weight makes it a better floater on the other end of the spectrum. As a result, this ski becomes very chameleon-esque when it comes to all-mountain applications. Wherever you go or whatever you do, the Kore 91 W feels very natural on your feet. There’s not a whole lot of underfoot camber to go along with this ski, and that’s by design. There’s width-appropriate tip and tail rocker, but the camber is on the flat side of the spectrum. If the ski was more cambered, there’d be just too much precision and/or power behind it. With a radius of 14.7-meters, the ski can carve a very clean turn, and it’s more than happy to do so, but mainly on the feet of skilled and powerful skiers. Otherwise, most skiers find more success at shallower edge angles, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Advanced and expert skiers will get the most out of the Kore 91 W, but the cool thing about it is that intermediates can also get the feeling of being on a sturdy and strong all-mountain ski without feeling overpowered. The weight opens up a lot of doors for skiers who desire strong grip and confident performance without having their legs ripped off by wicked heavy skis. In this light, skiers of a variety of levels can access the performance, but the best ones we’ve found have some extra weight and a good balance of skills.