The 7 Best Freeride Skis of 2023
By: Jordan Berde: Assistant Ski Buyer | January 24, 2023
Do you continually feel the urge to explore, push your comfort zone, and get creative when skiing? If so, freeride skiing is a style that checks all of those boxes, but now you’ll need some new skis to match. Freeriding takes place on ungroomed terrain where skiers often seek out steep and challenging terrain and use a combination of techniques such as carving and jumping to navigate through it. As it is a more advanced form of skiing and requires a high level of skill and experience, you’ll want to ensure the skis you choose are more than capable.
New This Year:
Many big mountain skis now have wider waist widths and more rockered profiles for float in powder, and incorporated carbon fiber or titanium in their construction for increased stability and responsiveness. Increased sidecut and new shapes have also become popular, allowing for more precise turns and better performance in various snow conditions. In addition, lightweight materials have been used to make skis more manageable and easy to handle, which also translates to some freeride skis now having touring capability, allowing skiers to access the backcountry easily.
Atomic Bent Chetler 120
The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis have been going strong for 14 years with no sign of slowing down. As the big brother of the newly expanded Bent family, they continue to set the standard for powder hungry freeriders seeking a more progressive - but no less capable - shape. Light, nimble, impossibly floaty, and stacked with enough guts to stomp every landing from here to Hokkaido, the Bent Chetler 120s are built to nurture your creativity and stoke the fire within.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 120 | $799.95 |
Salomon QST Blank
The QST line has been the stuff of freeride legend since its inception. Now, it welcomes a new member. Looking to fill in a slot between the pow-specific 118 and the all-mountain 106, Salomon turned to their stacked roster of pro skiers and gave them a blank slate to design the best freeride sticks possible. The result is the aptly named Salomon QST Blank Skis. With a 112mm waist, a snappy and stable feel, and a bomber construction, these skis are as well rounded as they come. They excel in soft snow, thrive on speed, and are as comfortable weaving trees and spinning off side hits as they are gunning lines and stomping big drops. They're accessible, powerful, and simply excellent for any skilled jack-of-all-trades skier.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 112 | $799.95 |
K2 Mindbender 108 Ti
If the Mindbender series reaffirmed K2's status as an industry leader in the world of freeride, it's the 108 Ti that cemented it. The K2 Mindbender 108 Ti Skis are the burliest member of the family, delivering a powerful, smooth ride at the highest speeds while remaining nimble enough to navigate tight, technical terrain with composure and poise. K2 know when they're onto a good thing, so changes have been kept to a minimum and laser targeted at fine-tuning their already impressive performace. Modifications to the signature Titanal Y-Beam improve turn initiation and edge-hold, and a small increase in tail rocker means they're a touch more forgiving than the previous generation. A fantastic all-rounder for the modern freerider, the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti Skis are worthy of a place in any quiver.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 108 | $799.95 |
Line Skis Blade Optic 104
The Line Skis Blade Optic 104 Skis are and all-new everyday freeride tool. They have a versatile waist width, playful mount point, and a metal laminate, giving them everything you need to charge hard in the morning and goof off in the afternoon. They're the perfect ski for a high level skier who doesn't need to be out crushing GS turns all day, but also doesn't want to be left undergunned when it's time to put the hammer down.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 104 | $749.95 |
Rossignol Sender 104 Ti
The Rossignol Sender 104 Ti Skis pair a stiff flex with a maneuverable Free Rocker profile to create a stouter waisted all-mountain weapon that can hold it down on both hardpack as well as in the fresh fluff. Ideal for aggressive, hard charging skiers who want to go fast and send 'er deep off those natural sidehits and cat tracks, the Sender 104 Ti empowers you to charge all over the mountain without ever holding you back. From pow days to the post-storm chunder, ski confidently with the Rossignol Sender 104 Ti Skis.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 104 | $799.95 |
Black Crows Atris
The Atris is one of the most popular birds in the Black Crows' flock. This traditionally cambered freeride ski has one of the most balanced skill sets around. It is the quintessential playful charger, providing excellent high end performance in freeride-style lines, while also remaining smooth and accessible for all-mountain endeavors. With a 105mm width that's floaty enough for powder days and maneuverable enough for groomers, the Black Crows Atris Skis are an excellent choice for competent all-mountain skiers looking to tackle any day of the season.
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 105 | $899.95 |
Fischer Ranger 108
Powder bred, hard snow approved. The all new Fischer Ranger 108 Skis were made for some good old fashioned freeride fluff and that includes the turbulence-riddled runout at the end too. With poplar and beech construction, a shaped titanal insert underfoot, and Fischer's Freeski Rocker, the Ranger 108 shines through the big turns, and doesn't mind the little guys either. If you're looking for hard charging stability that's now easier than ever to maneuver too, the Fischer Ranger 108 Skis deliver in spades!
| Waist Width (mm) | Original Price |
| 108 | $949.99 |
Learn More With Our Other Ski Guides:
Skis - Kids' Size Chart and Buyer's Guide
Skis - Rocker Technology Explained
Ski Bindings – How to Choose & DIN Setting Chart
Ski Boots - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Ski Boots - Boot Sole & Ski Binding Compatibility
Ski Boots – How to Make Your Boots Fit Better
Ski Poles - Size Chart
Skiing - Beginner Skiing Tips
Skiing - How to Fly With Skis
Skiing - How to Get in Shape
Ski Maintenance - Base Repair
Ski Maintenance – How to Store for the Summer
Ski Maintenance – How to Tune
Ski Maintenance – How to Wax
Gloves & Mittens - How to Choose
Goggles - How to Choose
Goggles - Wearing Goggles with Glasses
Helmets - How to Choose & Fit Guide
Outerwear - What to Wear Skiing & Snowboarding
Outerwear - How to Wash Waterproof Jackets & Clothing
Outerwear - Regional Ski & Snowboard Guide
Ski Socks - Sizing & Buyer's Guide
Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Airbag Pack
Backcountry - Choosing an Avalanche Beacon
Backcountry - Climbing Skins Size Guide
Backcountry - Dynafit / Tech Binding Basics
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Bindings
Backcountry - How to Buy Alpine Touring Ski Boots
Backcountry - How to Choose an Avalanche Shovel
Backcountry - How to Choose Climbing Skins
Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
Discover Our Favorite Gear:
The Best Women's Skis
The Best Beginner Skis
The Best All Mountain Skis
The Best Powder Skis
The Best Touring Skis
The Best Carving Skis
The Best Park Skis
The Best Intermediate Skis
The Best Freeride Skis
The Best Ski Bindings
The Best Touring Ski Bindings
The Best Men's Ski Boots
The Best Women's Ski Boots
The Best Touring Boots
The Best Ski Socks
The Best Beginner Ski Boots
The Best Value Skis
The Best Ski Poles
The Best Kids' Skis
The Best Kids' Ski Boots
The Best Cross Country Ski Boots
The Best Ski Boot Liners
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jordan Berde
Jordan (she/her) is the Assistant Ski Buyer at evo. Before working in this role, she worked at the evo Denver store for two years, where she began as a bootfitter and quickly moved into Store Lead and then Store Supervisor roles. Prior to evo, Jordan worked as a bootfitter at other shops, a mountain bike instructor for kiddos in Colorado, a ski patroller in Alaska, and a liftie in Taos. She's an avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer and recently summited Mt. Baker as a fundraiser for SheJumps, a non-profit committed to getting more women involved in the outdoors.She started sliding on snow later than most (in her late 20s), but now she’s the friend getting up at 4 am to make sure she can get a dawn patrol lap in before work! Jordan is passionate about diversity and inclusion and making outdoor activities more inclusive to all genders, races, and ability levels. When she's not skiing, Jordan is likely on her mountain bike exploring all that Colorado and Washington have to offer with her wife. Some say she never stops moving…