2027 Head WC Rebels e-SL Pro

The 2027 Head Rebels e-SL Pro are amazing slalom skis that will appeal to the most technical skiers out there. These skis mimic much of what the race room has to offer but in a slightly friendlier shape and build. While the real race skis are reserved for the elite World Cup racers, these Rebels e-SL Pro skis have a lot to offer experts and former racers who are looking to leave their mark on the corduroy. If you’re in the market for a front side ski that can rip short to mid-range turns, this is the place to be. With a narrow waist, a short radius, and a sturdy build, this ski will make it easy and fun to lean it over on any firm snow you may find. We find these to have a relatively small yet passionate fan base.

Head leans on decades of race construction to come up with the overall quality and sturdiness of the ski. The build is impressive here, starting with their Graphene World Cup Sandwich Construction. That’s a fancy way of saying that there are a lot of dense wood stringers glued together with graphene strips to stiffen the flex. As a result, these skis get a sturdy foundation on which to build. We get two full sheets of metal for dampness and stability as well as Head’s Energy Management Circuit. This nifty piece of tech filters out unwanted vibrations in the forebody and through the tail. It results in a smooth and sublime feel when the ski is on edge—so incredibly stable. We also get a Raceplate WCR 14 Short on this ski so you can get some extra leverage at higher edge angles. Tester Rich O’Brien calls it a “Fun SL ski capable of maneuvering into medium turns. Great edge hold even on sheer ice. Made for fun, dynamic skiing.”

Slalom shape is very unique from a stylistic standpoint. The slalom style of skis is brought to the forefront with this e-Race SL Pro. We’re getting a paltry 12-meter turn radius in the 160 cm length. This puts it right on the money with real deal race skis in terms of sifting through the gates on your way down the course. At 68 mm underfoot, the skis are narrow enough to hold on the firmest of snows, but it is a bit wider than a World Cup ski just to take a bit of the sting off. With a wider overall footprint, these skis can handle a lot of pressure from very talented skiers no matter how steep or icy the run may be. This short radius is ideal for linking short carved turns for race days and beyond. Tester Dave Raybould states that it’s “Heavy and damp so not playful or forgiving, but this translates to a very stable ski with great edge grip. Stiff in the tail locks you into slalom turns but will still break loose when you want.” Dave comes from a very technical background, so it’s great to get his feedback on these skis.

Technical skiers and racers are the target market here. It’s very possible that you spend most or all of your time in an on-piste and front side situation looking to carve the cleanest turn out there. The big warning here is to avoid long trails as you will be making a whole lot of turns on the way down. With sporty carving at the forefront of the ski’s character, skills and strength are certainly needed to get the most out of it.