By Jeffrey Proctor
This season (2025), I started on a 100mm-wide all-mountain ski. They were fun, but notparticularly dynamic. I wanted more excitement with less effort, higher edge angles, and better carving on hard snow.
Shape: 177 cm 4 radius. 25-40-16.8-22 139-96-122
Volkl World Cup FIS Slalom Skis
My first move was to try the Volkl World Cup FIS slalom skis with a piston plate and World Cup bindings in a 165cm length and a 13-meter turning radius. This ski is exceptionally smooth, with unreal edge grip, and is surprisingly easy to ski. It only comes in a 165, I found that length a little too short for my style. I enjoy longer GS turns. I ski mostly groomers with some light bumps, no trees or powder.
Contrary to what some may think, race skis can be more forgiving than expected. Slalom racers ski aggressively on rutted courses with small bumps, so predictability is built into the design.
Shape: 165 cm 12 meter radius sidecut 118.5-64.5-101
Volkl Peregrine 72: High Performance
Looking to maintain much of the World Cup Slalom performance but in a longer length, I moved to the Volkl Peregrine 72 in a 173cm, with a 15.3-meter radius. It features an ash World Cup core and piston plate and is available up to 178cm. While I’ve also skied the 178, it felt a bit less slalom-like, so I settled on the 173. For another season, I would buy the 178. This is a wonderful ski, powerful and precise, but it's heavy. The 125mm tip width gives it some float in softer snow, and overall, it was hard to want anything else!
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Shape: 173cm 16.4 radius. 125-72-103
Atomic Redster Q9.8 Revoshock
Lastly, I took out the Atomic Q9.8 Revoshock in a 181cm length with a 15.2-meter radius. At first, it felt long and a bit of work, but it performs extremely well on hardpack. With race a construction and a wider profile at 136-85-120.5, it delivered excellent carving performance.
My last day on this ski was at Loon Mountain, with 6–12 inches of wet spring snow at the base. While it didn’t surf over the slush like a 110mm ski might, it sliced clean, controlled arcs through it. Very enjoyable. I’d love to try the Peregrine 72 in a 178cm next year in similar conditions.
Shape: 181cm 15.2 radius 136-85-120.5
https://proctorski.com/products/atomic-redster-q9-8-rev-i12-skis-2026
A softer carving ski can work even in powder.
The ski on the right in this picture was 74 underfoot. The ski on the left was 100 underfoot.
Many say the skier on the right made better turns. She was lighter and her ski was 72 cm under foot. Her skis were 118-72-101 Salomon X Wing’s.
Summary
The skis below are some of the highest-performing carving skis available. You can find more forgiving versions-like the Volkl Peregrine 80-but you lose the great race feel. We can special order carving skis like the New Nordica Doberman Mulitpista DC and we will stock some of the new K2 Blurr skis.
Great High-Performance Carving Skis we stock.
Although the Volkl FIS Slalom is a favorite I will leave it out here. Just not as versatile as most people want.
Volkl Peregrine 72 which comes flat without a binding. Marker Comp 16
bindings are a great choice. Only Marker Race Bindings fit the plate.
Shape: 173cm 16.4 radius. 125-72-103. Comes flat needs Marker Bindings
https://proctorski.com/products/volkl-peregrine-72-master-wc-plate-skis-2026
Atomic Q 9.8 Revoshock comes with Atomic bindings.
Shape: in a 181cm 15.2 radius 136-85-120.5
https://proctorski.com/products/atomic-redster-q9-8-rev-i12-skis-2026
DPS Pisteworks 79 comes flat use any binding with 79 plus brakes
Shape: in a 174 126-79-109
https://proctorski.com/products/dps-pisteworks-79-skis-2026?_pos=4&_psq=dps&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Salomon Addikt Pro 76 with M12 Bindings
Shape: in a 177 125-76-109
https://proctorski.com/products/salomon-addikt-pro-76-m12-skis-2026?_pos=1&_psq=addikt&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Rossingol Hero Multi Turn with 12 DIN Bindings
Shape: 124-74-109 14 meter radius
https://admin.shopify.com/store/proctor-ski/products/9044175782134
For New England skiers, skis with a 72 to 85 mm waist and race-type builds are an awesome choice for POWER, EDGE HOLD, AND CARVING EXCELLENCE. So much fun!! 😎😎
Questions or want to chat more about skis? Leave a comment or EMAIL me; I’m always happy to help!
Jeff Proctor
Jeff@Proctorski.com
Info@ProctorSki.com
1 comment
So Jeff, was the un-named ski a Volkl Secret?
Frank