The Most Iconic Skis of All Time

There are skis you may look at and overlook about, after which there are skis which have change into family names. Very like iconic automobiles or famed bottles of advantageous wine, there are a handful of iconic ski fashions all through snowboarding historical past which have actually stood out amongst a crowded discipline of rivals. They’re time capsules showcasing what explicit taste of snowboarding (and know-how) was modern on the time. 

Bear in mind when twin suggestions have been first invented across the flip of the millennium and caused a revolution in how we approached snowboarding the resort? Or the mid- to late-aughts, after we all have been obsessive about huge, floppy 130mm-underfoot powder skis as a result of a handful of professional athletes made them look cool within the films? Issues have been a bit excessive for some time. However, we finally entered an age of refinement, the place designers took classes realized from their wildest experiments to rigorously create enjoyable, progressive skis that have been truly useable for on a regular basis skiers.

Throughout every of those eras (and the years in between), there was all the time a ski or two that adorned the wall of a ski store or the pages of your favourite ski journal, that oozed coolness and easily had an simple desirability. They have been those you knew you didn’t really want however as an alternative have been simply enjoyable to take a look at, play with, and dream about perhaps sooner or later snowboarding within the situations they have been meant for.

Whether or not it was the introduction of sidecut or rocker, using progressive supplies, using outside-the-box shapes, or simply leaning into the plain-old cool issue, right here’s an inventory of skis that we’d think about legendary, in no explicit order. Preserve a watch out; you may nonetheless see these underneath the boots of a discerning ripper even in the present day!

K2 Hellbent

Maybe some of the actually iconic skis ever made, K2’s Hellbent first confirmed us how ridiculous powder ski design might get in 2007. With dimensions coming in at a very voluptuous 150-122-141 (finally rising to 160-132-151 by 2013), comical quantities of tip and tail rocker, a really distinctive flex sample, and classically grotesque K2 topsheets, these have been meant for floating by way of the deepest snow, tricking pillows, and getting jibby within the backcountry. Whereas designed expressly for powder snowboarding, many skiers discovered these to be a hoot inbounds for his or her stability of stability, nimbleness, and stomp-everything perspective. After renaming them the Powabunga, K2 finally discontinued these, however Heritage Labs now provides the HB122 for the diehards nonetheless left on the market.

K2 Pontoon

Very like the Hellbent, K2 actually thought exterior the field with the Pontoon skis. Designed by none aside from Shane McConkey himself, the Pontoon actually did appear to be a water ski. It was meant to drift atop deep snow it doesn’t matter what and make bottomless powder snowboarding accessible to everybody. Eschewing fashionable ski design tendencies of the 2007 period, the Pontoon stood out with its 160mm tip and 130mm waist, mixed with a a lot narrower, tapered pintail rear finish. That allowed the tails to sink, inflicting the tricks to airplane above the snow, drastically growing maneuverability and nimbleness in tight terrain. As of late, K2 has carried over the important thing design parts into the modern-day K2 Crescendo.

Salomon TenEighty

On the threat of oversimplifying, Salomon’s TenEighty skis modified ski design perpetually by introducing a twin-tip design. They’re what most fashionable freeride, freestyle, and powder skis can thank for his or her success. When Canadian professional skier Mike Douglas (greatest referred to as the “Godfather of Freeskiing”) approached Salomon in 1998 a couple of new ski for competitors freeskiing, he knew he wished one factor: a turned-up tail that allowed him to ski backward. In truth, there’s truly a complete film made about it by Salomon. The ensuing ski, the Salomon TenEighty, modified how skiers approached the mountain, permitting them to ski and land methods backward, giving beginning to fashionable freestyle snowboarding.

Atomic Bent Chetler

We’d hazard a guess and say the Atomic Bent Chetler is essentially the most recognizable pro-model ski ever made. It wasn’t the primary twin-tip powder ski, or the fattest, or the one with the wildest form, nevertheless it’s persistently been a favourite amongst freestyle-focused powder skiers on the lookout for a ski that’s each extraordinarily enjoyable and versatile and very easy to ski. It’s starred in dozens of notorious film segments underneath Atomic athletes and begs Visionary professional skier and artist Chris Benchetler joined forces with Atomic Skis to develop the OG Bent Chetler in 2008, wanting not only a high-performing ski that catered to his inventive backcountry snowboarding, however a literal canvas for his creative expression on the highest sheets. At the moment, Atomic and Benchetler proceed to work collectively, producing his namesake ski, the Bent Chetler 120.

Atomic Powder Magic

Lengthy earlier than the Bent Chetler, Atomic was credited with creating the primary actual powder skis. Taking inspiration from the then nascent sport of snowboarding, Atomic determined that ski waist widths wanted to extend. Legend has it that Atomic engineer Rupert Huber sawed a snowboard in half lengthwise and mounted ski bindings to every aspect to create the prototype, initially known as the Powder Plus. 

By 1988, the Atomic Powder Magic was born, changing into the primary broadly obtainable fats ski. At 115mm underfoot, some taper within the tail, and with a lot shorter sizes than the 210 cm skis of the day, it didn’t look that completely different from many skis in the present day.

K2 Excessive

Even with the introduction of fats skis by Atomic a number of years earlier, K2 wasn’t satisfied that going wider was the long run. As an alternative, the 1990 launch of the K2 Excessive went heavy on the advertising and marketing and light-weight on the innovation. The K2 Excessive was billed as the primary big-mountain ski for excessive snowboarding, and underneath the ft of legends like Scot Schmidt and Glen Plake featured in ski movies and on the pages of POWDER Journal, it shortly grew to become the sworn go-to software for ski bums all world wide. The humorous factor was, it was actually simply K2’s current competitors slalom ski with a brand new prime sheet and wasn’t any completely different from what got here earlier than. However that didn’t matter, when the professionals mentioned it was cool, the ski bums listened.

Dynastar Legend Professional Rider

Talking of ski bums, one of many first “it” skis for the hard-charging freeriders in locations like Cham, Jackson Gap, or Alaska, Dynastar’s Legend Professional Riders have been popularized by legendary TGR athletes like Jeremy Nobis and Erik Roner. These noticed varied design iterations all through the late 2000s, finally selecting a reasonably unexciting 100mm waist width. Dig somewhat deeper, and also you’ll discover that particulars like a large 27-meter flip radius paired with tremendous stiff dual-metal building made these formidable freeride weapons. Even in the present day, hop in Jackson’s tram line on a storm day, and also you’ll in all probability nonetheless see a number of previous heads from the Jackson Gap Air Drive rocking these to go get First Tracks OB.

4FRNT Hoji

Born from the 4FRNT Renegade and EHP (Eric Hjorleifson Professional), the 4FRNT Hoji was the direct results of Hjorleifson’s mad scientist strategy to ski design in 2012. Getting down to make one of the best big-mountain powder ski he might, a software to permit him to carve, slash, and carry immense pace by way of the technical backcountry terrain he frequented in BC. The key ingredient within the Hoji is full reverse camber that’s matched with the sidecut radius to create a ski that might successfully carve powder. Regardless of the large 30-meter flip radius and 112mm waist, the Hojis have put a smile on many a powder skier’s face each within the backcountry and inbounds for the uniquely drifty sensation and nimble maneuverability they provide on snow. Fortunate for you, 4FRNT nonetheless sells the Hoji in the present day, and it is higher than ever.

Line Skis Sir Francis Bacon

Ski design mastermind and prolific PNW-based freeskier Eric Pollard’s most interesting work was undoubtedly the Line Skis Sir Francis Bacon. Beginning approach again in 2007, the Bacons by no means caught to a single design, as an alternative altering dimensions and character as Pollard’s snowboarding developed from the park into the backcountry. Initially beginning as a fats and floppy backcountry powder ski, considerably akin to the Atomic Bent Chetler (unsurprisingly, Chris and Eric skied quite a bit collectively, principally backward in deep snow), it quickly shifted gears to change into an excellent playful and enjoyable all-mountain freestyle ski. With many whimsical topsheets that highlighted Pollard’s artwork, these have been a kind of skis that proverbially “turned the entire mountain right into a playground.” Even after Pollard parted methods with Line Skis to discovered Season Gear, the design and title nonetheless reside on in the present day.

Associated: Evaluate: Line Bacon 122

Line Skis Pescado

Fishtail skis weren’t invented by Eric Pollard, however he positive made them cool with the Line Pescado in 2016. Designed as a directional powder-surfing software that wasn’t only a one-trick deep snow pony, the Pescado eschewed the pivot, turn-on-a-dime, reverse-camber and reverse-sidecut development of the earlier decade. As an alternative, these went all-in on directional snowboarding, with the fish tail bringing a locked-in however surfy really feel to powder skiers in every single place, and made snowboarding low-angle powder an absolute blast. Excellent news, they’re nonetheless in Line’s catalog in the present day.

Volant Spatula

Shane McConkey was behind the paradigm-changing design of multiple ski, however the Volant Spatula was one of many first. Even in the present day, these items could be straight-up weird, however in 2001, they caused some severe revolutions in how ski designers thought of using deep snow. Designed by McConkey and Volant engineer Peter Turner, the Spatula was the primary ski with each reverse sidecut and reverse camber, impressed immediately by the form of water skis. It grew to become McConkey’s go-to for big-mountain antics and was featured in lots of movie components. They have been extremely heavy, very lengthy, and featured a metallic topsheet and enabled a brand new approach of snowboarding powder that didn’t contain carving or small turns, and have been shipped with a observe from Shane himself that defined find out how to use them.

Associated: Greatest All Mountain Skis of 2025

DPS Spoon

A direct descendant of the Volant Spatula, DPS skis launched one of many strangest skis we’ve ever seen in 2013: the Spoon. When DPS’s designers Stephan Drake and Cyrille Boinay (initially underneath the title DB Skis) launched their first ski the Tabla Rasa in 2003, they have been trying to find the final word powder snowboarding sensation. Finally teaming up with Peter Turner and integrating carbon fiber and different space-age tech, DPS wished to create highly-specialized backcountry instruments. A decade later, with the primary Spoon, that design had developed into a completely three-dimensional ski, together with a boat-hull-like tip form with bumps alongside the sting fore and aft of the binding, aggressive reverse camber, a horizontally rockered convex base, and reverse sidecut. As if that wasn’t sufficient, it boasted a waist width of 148mm. Groomers? By no means heard of ‘em.

Armada JJ

Born from the identical period because the Rossignol S7 and different “refined” powder shapes, Armada got down to create a fats ski that made powder snowboarding simple for the lots. Legends of the game JP Auclair and Julien Regnier put their minds collectively to create the unique and oft-imitated form of a tapered powder twin tip, 2008’s unique Armada JJ. The title stood for JP and Julien and made resort powder snowboarding really easy that it led to hypothesis that locals’ favourite stashes have been getting tracked out due to it. 

Armada ARG

There should have been one thing within the water within the late 2000s as a result of the reverse camber, reverse sidecut factor was actually stylish. After knocking it out of the park with the JJ, Armada joined the experimental fray with the unique ARG, their fattest, most powder-specific software. The rocker profile resembled a banana, and the reverse sidecut allowed nearly automated flip initiation in deep snow. This wasn’t ever meant to be a resort ski; as an alternative, it was expressly designed for use within the backcountry whereas heli-skiing or cat snowboarding—however the tiniest part of sidecut immediately underneath the binding allowed for infrequent snowboarding on laborious snow. The unique was even known as the “La Gorda.” At the moment, Armada provides the refined ARG 2 and ARG 2 UL skis that supply a contemporary tackle the matter, and are nonetheless often seen beneath Armada athlete staff riders like Tanner Corridor and Todd Ligare.

Rossignol S7

After producers went wild within the mid aughts, making powder snowboarding extra approachable for mere mortals grew to become the brand new title of the sport. Resorts have been opening extra terrain, lift-access “sidecountry” snowboarding was rising in reputation, however taking a reverse sidecut ski to the resort nonetheless wasn’t actually that enjoyable. In the meantime, Rossignol and its athlete staff (together with Sage Cattabriga-Alosa) have been quietly refining their tackle a powder twin-tip ski that was truly usable exterior of BC or Alaska. When the Rossignol S7 was launched in 2007, they opened the powder snowboarding doorways to the lots, shortly changing into some of the fashionable extensive skis ever made. The gentle flex, pronounced rocker, and quick flip radius made snowboarding deep snow simple and intuitive.

Faction Candide 3.0

When Candide Thovex joined the ranks of the Faction Skis athlete staff in 2012, one of many first issues he got down to do was assist create a signature sequence of skis bearing his title and catering on to skiers desirous to emulate his unmistakable type. The ensuing Faction Candides (obtainable in varied waist widths, however all that includes kind of the identical form and building) shortly grew to become a cult favourite. Made well-known by way of Thovex’s “One in every of These Days” movies, the Candide sequence additionally made progressive use of light-weight balsa wooden to create a really uniquely chatter-free trip really feel. Sadly, given the aggressive intentions of the ski, lots of them broke underneath the ft of keen Candide imitators, however the pleasure didn’t appear to fade.

WNDR Alpine Intention 110

When prolific ski business model builder and ski designer Matt Sterbenz stepped down from his main position at 4FRNT Skis in 2016, the rumor mill was swirling. A number of months later, he resurfaced with a cryptic new job title at a biotech firm that no person had ever heard of. In fact, being Sterbenz, he was there to begin a brand new ski firm: WNDR Alpine. The primary ski within the lineup, the WNDR Alpine Intention 110 didn’t look loopy from a form or efficiency perspective, however had a trick up its sleeve. It was designed utilizing a model new algae-based materials that WNDR’s dad or mum firm Checkerspot had been quietly engaged on exterior the purview of ski bummery. The Intention 110 was expressly designed to discover find out how to enhance sustainability within the ski business. As an alternative of utilizing petroleum-based supplies for the sidewall and core building, WNDR leaned closely on bio-based and recycled supplies, finally making a ski that didn’t carry out any otherwise than what skiers had grown to like. At the moment, WNDR shares the tech with different manufacturers and has gone as far as to even manufacture the Intention at a brand new ski manufacturing facility in Dubai, of all locations.

Associated: These Are The Greatest Powder Skis of 2025

Honorable Mentions

Armada B-Canine Edgeless (2025): Designed expressly with city snowboarding in thoughts, Phil Casabon’s pro-model Armada has no metallic edges!

Armada Whitewalker 121 (2025): Sammy Carlson’s pro-model Armada, want we are saying extra?

Armada VJJ (2012): Armada’s first ladies’s-specific model of the venerable JJ twin-tip powder skis, full with a hilarious title.

Blizzard Spur (2014): An Alaska-ready carbon “touring” ski that was solely obtainable in a 189cm size with a 28m radius.

Blizzard Cochise (2011): Probably the most fashionable skis of the mid-2010s that launched Blizzard’s progressive FlipCore rocker building.

Kästle BMX 108 (2014): One of many first purpose-built freetouring skis.

K2 Seth Pistol (2005): Seth Morrison’s first K2 professional mannequin twin-tip that turned freeskiing punk rock.

K2 obSETHed (2012): Peak Seth Morrison–a large ski with an aggressive topsheet to go all-in on the most important, baddest, and most imaginative traces in Alaska.

Liberty Mutant (2012): How’s a 145mm waist width for the powder days of your goals?

Line Elizabeth (2009): Eric Pollard’s Line professional mannequin “powder” ski that was truly only a park ski in disguise.

Nordica Soul Rider (2013): Each park rat’s favourite buttery all-mountain ski.

Olin Mark VI (1981): James Bond skied these down Cortina’s bobsled observe in For Your Eyes Solely to flee some villains.

Rossignol Soul 7 (2013): Each dad’s favourite all-mountain ski.

Salomon Pocket Rocket (2005): Salomon’s first “fats” twin tip born from the TenEighty.

Salomon Czar (2009): Salomon will get twin-rocker proper for the primary time in a backcountry freestyle ski.

Salomon Shogun (2009): A fan-favorite inbounds freeride ripper from the period.

Völkl Chopstick (2009): Symmetrical sidecut and a 128mm waist made for one hilarious ski.

Völkl Mantra (2007): Do you know that these crud busters was a freestyle twin-tip?

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