With winter right around the corner, we’re back with our fifth annual ski test, which features authentic and impartial reviews on 33 pairs of skis. And if you’ve checked it out at some point over the past four years, then you know the drill. We assembled a 13-person, Rossland, British Columbia-based team of everyday skiers who work everyday jobs and pay full pop for skis, and asked them to put 11 of our brand partners’ latest offerings through the paces at the third largest ski area in Canada, Red Mountain Resort. And as opposed to doing so over the course of a weeklong demo event, and getting only a few runs on each ski, they had the second half of the winter—from February to April—to ski on them for as many days as they liked. Then, once Old Man Winter readied himself for his annual hibernation, our testers chose which skis they liked best, and provided us with honest, informed and unbiased reviews in both written and video form. Click on the thumbnails below for both, and if the way our testers sound and ski seems relatable, then perhaps the 2026 Forecast Ski Test will assist you in determining which set of skis is perfect for you

gear

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD RUSTLER 11

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD RUSTLER 11

The Blizzard Rustler 11 was a great daily driver for my home hill of Revelstoke Mountain Resort: stiff, powerful and ready for anything from debris to 45-degree steeps.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD RUSTLER 11

The Blizzard Rustler 11 was a great daily driver for my home hill of Revelstoke Mountain Resort: stiff, powerful and ready for anything from debris to 45-degree steeps.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD BONAFIDE 97

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD BONAFIDE 97

I liked that this ski knows what it is. Blizzard bills the Bonafide 97 as a do-all ski, but in reality it has pretty specific tastes, and is pretty blunt...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD BONAFIDE 97

I liked that this ski knows what it is. Blizzard bills the Bonafide 97 as a do-all ski, but in reality it has pretty specific tastes, and is pretty blunt...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD SHEEVA 10

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD SHEEVA 10

The Blizzard Sheeva 10 is the Rustler's little sister, with all the family resemblance, but without the 20-year-old boy meathead mentality.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - BLIZZARD SHEEVA 10

The Blizzard Sheeva 10 is the Rustler's little sister, with all the family resemblance, but without the 20-year-old boy meathead mentality.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 108

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 108

Now this here is a true all-mountain ski. The Dynastar M-Free 108 is ideal for the type of skier who has transitioned from riding park to big mountain, and is...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 108

Now this here is a true all-mountain ski. The Dynastar M-Free 108 is ideal for the type of skier who has transitioned from riding park to big mountain, and is...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 99

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 99

I don’t believe in the concept of a one-ski quiver, but Dynastar’s M-Free 99 comes damn close. It not only did everything, it kicked ass while doing it.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-FREE 99

I don’t believe in the concept of a one-ski quiver, but Dynastar’s M-Free 99 comes damn close. It not only did everything, it kicked ass while doing it.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 W

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 W

Singing to myself, grinning ear-to-ear, and stoke levels to the moon. The Dynastar M-Pro 99 W is a crowd favourite, and it was easy to see why the moment I...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - DYNASTAR M-PRO 99 W

Singing to myself, grinning ear-to-ear, and stoke levels to the moon. The Dynastar M-Pro 99 W is a crowd favourite, and it was easy to see why the moment I...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN RIPSTICK 106 BLACK EDITION

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN RIPSTICK 106 BLACK...

Sleek and powerful like a panther, classy like a stretch limo on prom night, technologically advanced like the Tesla you’ll never afford. Elan’s Ripstick 106 Black Edition expects, no, demands...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN RIPSTICK 106 BLACK...

Sleek and powerful like a panther, classy like a stretch limo on prom night, technologically advanced like the Tesla you’ll never afford. Elan’s Ripstick 106 Black Edition expects, no, demands...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WINGMAN 86 CTi

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WINGMAN 86 CTi

Since rockered fat skis first arrived on the scene, I’ll admit that I’ve shied away from skinnier offerings. Whether it was mind over matter, I felt unstable and unconfident on...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WINGMAN 86 CTi

Since rockered fat skis first arrived on the scene, I’ll admit that I’ve shied away from skinnier offerings. Whether it was mind over matter, I felt unstable and unconfident on...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WILDCAT 86 CX

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WILDCAT 86 CX

The Elan Wildcat 86 CX is a fun, playful ski that thrives on groomers and mellow off-piste terrain. Elan advertises it as an all-mountain ski, but it definitely shined brightest...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - ELAN WILDCAT 86 CX

The Elan Wildcat 86 CX is a fun, playful ski that thrives on groomers and mellow off-piste terrain. Elan advertises it as an all-mountain ski, but it definitely shined brightest...

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION AGENT 3.0

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION AGENT 3.0

If the Faction Agent 3.0 was a planet, it would sit perfectly within the Goldilocks zone; everything about this ski felt just right.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION AGENT 3.0

If the Faction Agent 3.0 was a planet, it would sit perfectly within the Goldilocks zone; everything about this ski felt just right.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION DICTATOR 2.0

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION DICTATOR 2.0

Faction’s Dictator 2.0 is a no-nonsense ski, plain and simple.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION DICTATOR 2.0

Faction’s Dictator 2.0 is a no-nonsense ski, plain and simple.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION PRODIGY 2.0X

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION PRODIGY 2.0X

The Faction Prodigy 2.0X bridges the gap between an all-mountain ripper and a playful park ski.

THE PEOPLE'S SKI TEST - FACTION PRODIGY 2.0X

The Faction Prodigy 2.0X bridges the gap between an all-mountain ripper and a playful park ski.