Word got out early about this new Volkl Katana. Last January the Volkl released some early models for testing among retailers and there was more than a little Internet buzz (and even a few posted videos) about this wonderfully wide backcountry crud buster. This season Volkl did away with the swallowtail and made the Katana slightly wider in the tip and tail while keeping the waist width exactly the same. The Katana features a Sensorwood core consisting of vertically laminated poplar and beech wood with titanium sheeting for just enough rigidity and none of the excess weight. This year's Katana also features Volkl's Elongated Low-Profile (ELP) rocker design, which is a complicated way of saying that the reverse camber shape is easier to turn than the Katana of seasons past. The idea is that ELP rockers bend to float in deep snow but still have the edging potential to keep you turning as you approach the packed-down stuff around the base of the chairlifts. This season you'll also find a lower tip shape (again, no swallowtail stuff like last year) on both ends for a smoother ride on groomed and a consistent bend that keeps the ends from diving in deep snow. What's surprising is that while the Katana's ELP tips are lower in profile, the height remains the same as a traditional ski tip--the elevation gain is just extended further down the length of the ski in a slightly bowed profile. Volkl specifically adjusted the ELP on the Katana, so it offers distinctive handling (and amazing float) that makes the ski unique compared to other Volkl freeride skis--even when those skis have similar shapes. Considering all the early tester accolades, more than a few powder-hound freeriders have this year's Katana on their "gotta have" lists, so grab one now before you're left looking on in envy at the lift lines.

A lot of big-pop, reverse-camber skis float on deep snow, but chatter wildly on hardpack or frozen groomers. The Rossignol S7 Barras does a reversal on reverse-camber skis and takes you everywhere with more stability. The S7 Barras features Rossignol's new Amptek technology. Fancy marketing terms aside, Amptek is a camber shape on the S7 ski that uses a reverse camber at the tip and tail, but keeps the traditional camber in the area beneath the binding. What this means is that the elevated S7 Barras tip shape gives you great floatation, excellent pop, enhanced landing potential and buttery turns, but the area beneath your feet stays rock-solid for increased edge pressure on hardpack, better edge grip, improved control for fast turn transitions--and you do all of it with less effort. The S7 Barras also features Rossignol's Weight Reduction System (WRS), a patented core design that groups strands of fiber along the core and sidewalls so that everything is aligned with the ski's sidecut shape. This allows for more structural integrity beneath your feet and less density along the tip and tail, giving the ski exceptional snap and lively maneuverability. If you're looking for a binding pairing with this remarkable backcountry twin-tip, Rossignol recommends their Freeski2 150 Ti XXL and Freeski2 140 Ti XXL bindings.

If the mountain backcountry is your playground, these Salomon Men's Dumont Skis are essential freeride skis. Freeride or freeskiing skis are specifically optimized for backcountry snow and maneuver more freely in untouched snow than conventional skis designed for groomed hardpack. These freeride skis feature waist widths that are wider than conventional downhill skis, so you appreciate enhanced floatation in heavy conditions. The ski tips are moderately curved upward for optimized maneuverability in broken and pristine snow. The Salomon Men's Dumont Skis also offers vibration-dampening features to reduce the jolts frequently experienced while skiing on icy conditions at high speeds.

If the alpine backcountry is your playground, these Head Men's John Olson Pro Skis are essential freeride skis. Freeride or freeskiing skis are specifically designed for backcountry conditions and turn more freely in untracked snow than traditional skis created for groomed runs. These freeride skis feature waist widths that are wider than conventional alpine skis, so you enjoy better floatation in deep terrain. The ski tips are moderately raised for enhanced confidence and control in broken and untracked conditions. The Head Men's John Olson Pro Skis also has vibration-dampening elements to absorb the jolts occasionally experienced while skiing on icy conditions at elevated velocities.

With a 110-mm. width, there is nothing minimal about the big-mountain powder shape of Nordica's new Girish ski. Nordica designed their Girish to give freeriders a surfing sensation in deep powder. It's certainly not the ski you want for setting speed records on hardpack (there will be chatter) but if you're paying big bucks for a dream helitour, few skis will treat you better in deep, untracked terrain. The Girish features a lightweight wood core reinforced with two-ply titanium laminates. This model comes flat and you'll need to choose binding to match the Girish, but make sure you pick a binding with a wide ski brake bar that fits a 110-mm. waist. One other important note: In previous skiing magazine reviews, the feedback on some of Nordica's ski performances varied depending on which ski lengths the testers and editors tested, so keep length in mind and match the appropriate sized Girish to your skiing preferences. In case you need specific data, we included the turn radius data for all sizes because of the significant differences in characteristics.

If the untouched backcountry is your backyard, these Salomon Men's The Dumont Skis are must-have freeride skis. Freeride or freeskiing skis are specifically created for backcountry conditions and maneuver more quickly in untouched snow than ordinary skis made for groomed runs. These freeride skis feature center widths that are broader than traditional alpine skis, so you experience enhanced floatation in knee-deep conditions. The ski tips are specifically raised for improved confidence and control in broken and pristine terrain. The Salomon Men's The Dumont Skis also features vibration-dampening features to minimize the jolts occasionally encountered while skiing on hardpack at high velocities.

If you prefer back bowls to congested runs--no matter what the snow conditions--Rossignol's Phantom SC87 is your quiver-of-one companion. While some wide backcountry rides float well in untracked, these same skis chatter and flutter on hardpack at speed. The Phantom SC87 incorporates precision carving performance with freeride characteristics for better stability all over the mountain. It features a lively wood core for excellent feedback and superb power transmission from your boots to your ski edges. Up front you'll find Rossignol's distinct Shark Nose tip with an aluminum insert added for better torsional rigidity. This additional reinforcement helps keep the nose steady at high speeds, even when you're blasting through the broken crud that others left in the backcountry weeks ago. To dampen vibration throughout the length of the ski, the Phantom SC87 has two layers of titanium inside the modern sandwich construction, so you enjoy the stability without a lot of excess weight--and weight is always a key factor if you have to hike up part of the mountain to reach the back bowls. If you're looking for one ski to take you all the places you went when you could afford three skis to match all snow conditions, Rossignol's Phantom SC87 is the right call in these challenging economic times.

At 110 millimeters at the waist, Rossignol's Women's Voodoo Pro BC 110 is easily one of the widest and best floating backcountry skis made for women so far. This twin-tip design is very similar to Rossignol's men's Phantom line, but Rossignol moved the binding positions (there are three potential positions) forward for easier turning and added Rossignol's Women's F.I.T. Technology for a softer ski flex as you move down to shorter sizes. If you are an advanced or expert skier and you like to freeride exclusively in untracked or broken snow conditions, the Voodoo Pro BC 110 is the perfect platform. It incorporates Rossignol's "Rocking Chair Effect" or reverse camber for improved floatation and better control in deep powder snow. Because of this curved powder specialization, the Voodoo Pro BC 110 is not the sort of ski you want for ripping hardpack conditions unless you like your tips and tails fluttering at high speeds. This freeride performer features a lightweight wood core and Rossignol's WRS (Weight Reduction System) so it's easy to turn (in fact, this season the Voodoo Pro BC 110 has a tighter turn radius than this season's Voodoo BC 90). If you like to go big in the steep and deep but you can't stand the awkward fit and clunky feel of the burly backcountry freeride skis made for guys, the Women's Voodoo Pro BC 110 treats you like a queen--or an ice princess if that's more your style.

If the mountain backcountry is your play space, these Rossignol Men's Phantom Sc87 Skis are essential freeride skis. Freeride or freeskiing skis are specifically crafted for backcountry conditions and maneuver more easily in untouched snow than conventional skis created for groomed corduroy runs. These freeride skis feature center widths that are broader than conventional alpine skis, so you experience improved floatation in knee-deep terrain. The ski tips are slightly curved upward for improved confidence and control in broken and pristine terrain. The Rossignol Men's Phantom Sc87 Skis also offers vibration-dampening components to minimize the vibrations occasionally experienced while skiing on frosty terrain at elevated velocities.

As the narrowest freeride ski in Head's Big Mountain collection, the twin-tip John 94 ski is one of the most versatile freeride skis you'll find on the mountain this season. The 94 in the product name refers to the 94-mm. waist, a width that makes this ski excellent for broken snow and crud while retaining the carving characteristics that make it ideal for GS-style turns on groomed runs and even mild runouts plagued with broken crud. Created for advanced and expert skiers, the John 94 ski isn't weighed down by dampening components but it does feature a classic sandwich construction with rugged ABS sidewalls. The sandwich construction accentuates the responsive characteristics that make the John 94 ski intensely fun off jumps and kickers. If you're looking for a binding match (this ski comes flat) consider Head's Mojo 15 bindings.

Aside from a few cosmetic changes, this season's Volkl Men's Mantra Flat Freeskiing Skis is the same breathtaking, expert-oriented powder-performer as last year. If you can't afford a private snow cat or helicopter, then finding your personal powder stashes usually requires a few ski lifts and traverses over crud, groomed and hardpack snow. The Mantra is one of the few wide all-mountain designs that get you there with few compromises. It features a versatile sidecut that's easier to turn on packed snow than those unforgiving, powder-only skis. Last season Volkl refined the waist dimensions for better turning on wind-shaped hardpack without messing up the float potential. If you're skeptical about the results, check out some of the accolades from Mantra owners on various ski forums. Like other wide-waist Volkl skis, the Mantra ski has a tip-to-tail Sensorwood core and wood sidewalls for flex. Volkl balanced this agile core profile with their Power Construction design to keep you completely in control wherever you need to go. Until you buy the personal helicopter for weekend trips, the Mantra will get you to your secret places, even if you have to traverse a few well-traveled ski runs. By the way--this version doesn't include bindings. If you're looking for ideas, Volkl pairs their skis with Marker bindings.

While Volkl's Gotama received a blizzard of accolades when it established (almost single-handedly) the twin-tip backcountry revolution, Volkl didn't mire today's Gotama in the tradition of old-school conformity. Nearly every season the Gotama receives refinements and innovations, which makes sense when you consider that most backcountry freeskiers are hardcore innovators. This season Gotama has new dimensions wider in the tip and waist, but slightly narrower in the tail, which allows you to transition from turn to turn with less effort. What this means is that you can still ski switch in backcountry powder, but you'll now enjoy easier turn initiation on the resort hardpack and groomed slopes--and that makes it a big mountain twin that you can ski every day this season. It features a Sensorwood core consisting of vertically laminated poplar and beech wood with a new Tough Box enhancement that wrap layers of fiberglass strands around the durable Power Construction and wood core. Carbon stringers further enhance the flex and feel of this rugged design without bogging you down with a bunch of excess ounces. This year's Gotama also features Volkl's Elongated Low-Profile (ELP) rocker design, which is a complicated way of saying that the reverse camber shape is easier to turn than the Gotamas of seasons past (and we loved them all...). The idea is that ELP rockers bend to float in deep snow but still have the edging potential to keep you turning as you approach the packed-down stuff around the base of the chairlifts. Volkl specifically adjusted the ELP on the Gotama, so it offers distinctive handling that makes the ski unique compared to other Volkl freeride skis--even when those skis have similar shapes. If you're looking for a backcountry powder twin but you can't afford a quiver of skis for other snow conditions, this year's Gotama will have you smiling all the way down the mountain.