The 2024 Liberty Origin 96 is one heckuva fun ski. As with most things in life, balance is incredibly important. Liberty does a fantastic job in balancing fun with business, edge grip with agility, and flotation with carving. The Origin 96 is one of those well-rounded skis that just makes a lot of sense for a huge number of skiers. No matter the day, what you’re looking to do, or what terrain you end up skiing, there’ll be something fun to do on this 96. We talk a lot about the mid-90's as being one of the best shapes for true all-mountain skiing and versatility, and when you add a twin-tipped shape to the equation, the fun factor is increased, and we’re just fine with that.

The build here is remarkably sophisticated for a ski that some may consider just a floppy twin tip. In reality, there’s a whole lot going on here that adds to the seemingly innocuous ski. By starting with a blend of poplar, paulownia, and bamboo, we get a good mix of energy and damping. Liberty then goes ahead and adds a single vertical metal strut to the mix, furthering the damping ability of the 96. When metal, or any other structural material, is used in a vertical format like this, it adds to the overall strength and stiffness. Without this strut a few years ago, the ski was very fun, but somewhat soft. When they added this strut last year, it totally changed the ski’s character in a good way. Additionally, we’re getting two strips of carbon that boost stiffness and pop without adding much weight. The poured polyurethane sidewalls add silence to the mix, and when compared to a normal ABS sidewall, there’s a bit of grip loss, but for a freeride ski like this, that seems to be an acceptable trade.

To reiterate, a mid-90's underfoot ski is a great shape for most all-mountain and freeride applications. This makes it a good floater, decent carver, and agile enough for bumps, trees, park, and other creative realms. there’s some decent rocker in this ski, and it makes a lot of sense when you think about mixing styles, terrain, and technical zones. We found it to be quick edge to edge, and since the ski has a fun-loving tail, it’s great in the moguls, even pushing down on the back side. The taper shape is moderate and round, leading to a smooth path cut through the snow. Whether fresh, crud, chop, or mank, this ski stays on top and remains fun and surfy with endless possibilities. The versatility of the sidecut is very much amenable to a variety of turn shapes and styles, with this 96 clocking in at 19-meters in the 182. Long enough to carve a clean turn, and flexible enough of a ski to manipulate into shorter arcs, this is the way to go with a non-directional twin tip.

We’ve loved the Liberty Origin 96 ever since inception, and our feelings have not changed. Instead, we’ve grown fonder of the ski with the implementation of the metal strut and new graphics. This is a sharp-looking ski and an even sharper turner, giving us a whole lot to like no matter where we go and what we do.