The 18 best women's skis of 2020

“Slaydies” take note, these skis are made specifically for the way women are built. Lighter woods and other materials are strategically placed to shed weight without sacrificing performance. Here’s FREESKIER’s definitive list of the best women’s skis of 2020.

1. Nordica Santa Ana 110

Buy Now – $900

100-114 mm Freestyle

The widest ski in the Santa Ana collection, the 110 is a do-everything, ski-everywhere kind of powder ski. The Santa Ana’s construction of poplar, beech and balsa wood keeps the ski light, poppy, playful and solid, while two sheets of Titanal and a full-length carbon insert stiffen this puppy up. Whether you’re laying trenches on corduroy or getting up for first chair on a powder day, this is the ski for charging.

2. HEAD KORE 99 W

Buy Now – $800

85-99 mm Freeride

After two successful years with its KORE series, HEAD is expanding its award-winning line to the female side of the aisle. Like its big brothers, the KORE 99 W features an über lightweight karuba wood core and is constructed using Graphene, Koroyd and carbon fiber for ultimate weight-savings. But don’t let its slight weight fool you. This ski packs a serious punch that’s sure to KO any obstacle you encounter.

3. 4FRNT MSP CC

Buy Now – $549

85-99 mm Freeride

She is style, she is grace. In its first year on the mountain, the MSP CC, inspired by founder Matt Sterbenz’s pro model, swiftly became 4FRNT’s premier women’s offering and retains that title for 2019-20. Made to take you all over the mountain, it features a poplar wood core and Titanal semi-cap construction for an energetic and intuitive ride that’ll make the ski feel like an extension of yourself. Camber underfoot provides absolute certainty on edge and a shovel design with gradual early rise in the tip and tail give you a little extra room to play and pop.

4. Black Crows Atris Birdie

Buy Now – $839.95

100-114 mm Freestyle

Lighter and slightly softer than its older brother, the Atris Birdie from Black Crows is made to fly down big-mountain faces. A poplar wood core gives this ski its poppy character while a rocker-camber-rocker profile with a progressive tip rise will have you floating on fresh like the ski goddess you are. Lay these birdies over—you’ll both be singin’ from top to bottom.

5. Völkl Secret 102

Buy Now – $850

100-114 mm Freeride

Making a back-to-back appearance in the Buyer’s Guide, the secret is out about Völkl’s hardest-charging women’s freeride ski, the Secret 102. Utilizing Völkl’s Titanal Frame design–metal along the edges of the tip and tail with added carbon in the tip instead of a full sheet of metal–this ski sheds the weight without compromising stiffness and stability. A three-radii sidecut accounts for the Secret’s versatility, allowing you to make long, arcing turns when you have the room, and quickly switch from edge to edge when the sudden need arises.

6. Nordica Santa Ana 100

Buy Now – $800

100-114 mm Freeride

The Santa Ana 100 is back in the FREESKIER Buyer’s Guide for a third consecutive year. A lightweight, yet performance-focused wood blend of balsa, poplar and beech, along with carbon sandwiched between two sheets of Titanal, boosts this ski’s rigidity for a confident ride. At 100 millimeters underfoot and sporting an early rise tip and tail rocker profile, the Santa Ana 100 is exceptionally versatile. From playing in soft snow to hard-charging the chunder, this ski will dance with you all over the mountain.

7. Blizzard Sheeva 10

Buy Now – $720

100-114 mm Freeride

The mid-width offering in Blizzard’s Sheeva series, the Sheeva 10 is an all-mountain, powder-maven’s dream ski. A poplar, beech, balsa and paulownia wood core keeps the Sheeva light, playful and poppy while the carbon frame in the tip and tail with a Titanal plate underfoot, which tapers down the ski, boosts its stability when you decide to climb the speedometer. Aggressive, yet intuitive, the Sheeva 10 will take you from corduroy groomers to bigger off-piste lines with a whole lot of confidence and attitude.

8. Faction Candide 2.0 X Mademoiselle

Buy Now – $799

100-114 mm Freestyle

Designed by one of skiing’s most prolific athletes, Candide Thovex, the award-winning CT line gains a female-specific ski in the CT 2.0 X Mademoiselle for 2019-20. Using a poplar-beech wood core construction for a playful and stable ride, as well as a carbon reinforcement in the center of the ski to ensure stompage out of every hit, the Mademoiselle is a playful, sendy all-mountain workhorse. With a truly symmetrical twin-tip shape, ladies who look at the entire mountain as their terrain park (á la One of Those Days), will flock to the Mademoiselle. Big ups to Faction for expanding the CT series to the women’s realm.

9. HEAD KORE 93 W

Buy Now – $750

85-99 mm Freeride

Like its big sister, the KORE 93 W is here to dominate the mountain in 2019-20. Light as a feather and sturdy as an ox, the unique combination of karuba wood, Koroyd and Graphene stands up to carving at Mach speeds and blasting through hard crud while still providing a tender touch to a few new inches of fresh. For the ladies who prefer the frontside, the KORE 93 will have you dominating all day, every day.

10. Fischer MyRanger 102

Buy Now – $699.99

100-114 mm Freeride

New for 2020, Fischer takes everything skiers love from the Ranger 102 FR–sandwich sidewall construction, a carbon nose and long rocker in the tip–and put it in a women’s-specific ski. At 102 millimeters underfoot, the ski is versatile in a number of snow conditions and built for ladies who like to do it all–blast through bumps, squeeze through trees and open it up on groomers. From fresh powder to the morning after’s choppy leftovers, the MyRanger 102 will be your best friend.

11. Atomic Vantage 107 C W

Buy Now – $775

100-114 mm Freeride

Beefing up the women’s Vantage lineup, Atomic has added a new mid-range waist-width ski to its all-mountain arsenal. Utilizing its ProLite construction–a slim chassis with carbon tank mesh in front of and behind the binding–the Vantage 107 C W is a powerful, lightweight ski that begs to be tossed around. Its 107 millimeter waist makes it a dream in powder, too. Step into these powerful planks, feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme and slay all the time.

12. Salomon QST Lumen 99

Buy Now – $800

85-99 mm Freeride

The QST series has been Salomon’s most award-winning lineup for three years running. To keep things fresh in 2019-20, the entire collection features updated constructions, technologies and shapes. A full-length poplar wood core sandwiched with a Titanal platform underfoot boosts the ski’s durability while the addition of tip-to-tail carbon fiber and basalt increases the Lumen 99’s power and edge-hold capabilities. Head into the chunder and you’ll certainly notice the use of cork in the tip that drastically reduces chatter, and the new shape of the QST Lumen 99 makes it even easier to throw around at your beck and call.

13. Black Crows Camox Birdie

Buy Now – $719.95

85-99 mm Freeride

Making its return to the murder of Black Crows skis in 2019-20, the Camox Birdie is the baddest bird on the all-mountain block. A semi-cap construction that steps down to a traditional sidewall underfoot makes this a nimble, yet stiff, reliable ski on the hardpack, while the double-rocker profile keeps it fun and floaty when you venture off-piste. The early bird gets the worm and the Camox Birdie will deliver you all of the goods.

14. Rossignol Soul 7 HD W

Buy Now – $850

100-114 mm Freeride

The Soul 7 HD W is a fan favorite among our female testers for its versatility. A paulownia and carbon alloy core gives it a light and playful character, while the Air Tip 2.0 technology–an air-filled frame structure–in the tip of the ski boosts its dampness when the going gets rough. Progressive rocker in the tip and tail make this a dream powder ski and the camber underfoot delivers the utmost confidence on hardpack.

15. Dynastar Legend 106 W

Buy Now – $800

100-114 mm Freeride

Every legendary lady shredder needs a ski to match her style and the Legend 106 W from Dynastar is the ticket to all-mountain fame. At 106 millimeters underfoot, the Legend is the widest offering in the collection and keen to shred a few inches of fresh. A paulownia wood core with a full fiberglass sandwich construction reduces swing weight and maintains stiffness, while its progressive rocker profile boosts confidence in the crud. Blow through bumps, cruise the corduroy and float effortlessly with the Legend 106 W.

16. Blizzard Sheeva 11

Buy Now – $800

100-114 mm Freeride

The Sheeva 11 from Blizzard was made for women with a propensity for seeking out the biggest, baddest lines on the mountain. A poplar, beech, balsa and paulownia wood core combined with a unidirectional carbon frame in the tip and tail makes this plank inexplicably light for how stable it skis. While it’s the widest Sheeva in the collection, you’d be hard-pressed to find conditions these shred sticks can’t handle.

17. Elan Ripstick 94 W

Buy Now – $750

85-99 mm Freeride

A FREESKIER Buyer’s Guide regular, the Ripstick 94 W returns with its Amphibio construction. A cambered inside edge increases grip and a rockered outside promotes turn transitions. Two carbon tubes are inserted into the laminated wood core along the edges of the ski and a lightweight composite material is used in the tips to shed unnecessary weight without sacrificing strength for all-mountain domination. For the chicks who love to leave the boys behind, these are your sticks to rip.

18. Icelantic Maiden 101

Buy Now – $699

100-114 mm Freestyle

The Maiden 101 is back for the 2019-20 season armed and ready to attack everywhere you ski. At 101 millimeters underfoot, this ski is the ideal width to charge through any kind of snow, from wide open faces to the tightest of trees. Its proprietary blend of pacific albus and multiple layers of fiberglass in the core make this a featherweight heavy hitter, and a gorgeous topsheet design sends this ski’s steeze through the roof.