The Head Supershape E-Speed is a fantastic example of a front side ski done right. They do a fantastic job of mixing the build, shape, and profile to match and suit the needs of advanced and expert front side skiers who are looking for a race like feel without the full-on demand. The big thing bringing this ski into the recreational side of the spectrum is the shorter radius. While it’s more on par with that of the Rally and the Titan in terms of arc shape, it’s narrower overall, making it ideally suited for firm snow and quicker edge to edge agility. Head does a great job with these Supershape skis in that they allow mere mortal skiers to experience the dense and stable nature of a race room build, but in a more accessible shape and style of ski. This makes a lot of sense for advanced an expert skiers, as well as former racers, who find themselves spending most/all of their time on groomed and on-piste terrain.

By using Head’s World Cup Sandwich construction, the Supershape E-Speed gets a very sturdy build to start. They use vertical stringers of dense wood to create the core of the ski, and any time wood is used in this fashion, it adds a lot to the stiffness. Head does not stop there, though, they add two layers of metal and three laminates of fiberglass to add to the power. Furthering the stiffness, a strip of Graphene is used to make the ski feel a lot stiffer without adding much weight. To dampen the ski, they use two damping layers as well as their Energy Management Circuit. This technology uses a filtering device, basically, to reduce vibrations and chatter, leaving the ski smooth and stable at any speed. Whether it works or not how it’s explained, we’re not sure. What we do know is that this ski is extremely solid, an the EMC is likely a big part of that equation.

At 68 mm underfoot, the E-Speed is very quick and agile. It has a slightly longer turn shape of 14-meters in the 170, making this feel a bit more like a GS ski versus a slalom one. For skiers that prefer longer turn, or for those who may be interested in a citizen's race ski, this turn shape makes a whole lot of sense. With basically zero rocker or taper, this fully-cambered ski has a long effective edge and running length, adding to the smoothness and overall stability of the ski. The more the edge is in the snow, the better grip you’ll have. With a square tail and a non-tapered shovel, the ski hooks in to the snow instantly and holds on to the very end. You’ll be rewarded with a ton of energy out of the back of the turn, rebounding you crisply into the next carve.

While a bit more balance is required on this narrow-waisted ski, advanced and expert skiers will be able to harness the torsional stiffness and edge grip. Many skiers want or prefer a slightly wider platform to stand on when it comes to carving power, but for the few that prefer that exacting nature of a narrow waist, the E-Speed definitely lives up to its name.