In the world of women's skis, the Völkl Secret 96 and the Head Kore 97 W are two top contenders for the 2023 season. Both skis are designed for advanced skiers and offer a versatile, all-mountain experience. The Völkl Secret 96 is a powerhouse, known for its ability to handle all conditions with ease, while the Head Kore 97 W is celebrated for its lightweight construction and agility. However, the Völkl Secret 96 takes the crown for its superior performance in challenging conditions and its ability to reward its pilot with unparalleled precision and stability. The Head Kore 97 W, on the other hand, is a great pick for those looking for a lightweight ski that can handle a variety of conditions but may not be as damp or stable at high speeds.

Völkl Secret 96 Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The Völkl Secret 96 is a ski that's designed for the advanced skier who loves to tackle all conditions. It's a versatile ski that can handle everything from heavy wet snow to fluffy powder days. The Secret 96 is a driver, known for its exceptional handling at high speeds without any chatter, thanks to its new Carbon Tips.

One of the standout features of the Secret 96 is its triple turn radius. This allows you to carve short quick turns or long, wide turns, depending on your preference. It's a durable ski that can carve and turn through any type of snow, making it a great choice for a one-ski quiver.

The Secret 96 is also known for its versatility. It's wide enough to have float in powder, but narrow enough that it can get on edge. This makes it a great choice for skiers who like to ski anywhere where there's a chance the conditions might be less than "perfect".

However, the Secret 96 is not for everyone. It's designed for an advanced skier who's ready to drive and charge with this ski. It's a demanding ski that craves to be driven by its skier, but has the highest top end out of any of these skis, and has the highest potential to reward its pilot.

Head Kore 97 W Skis · Women's · 2023 summary

The Head Kore 97 W is a ski that's been getting rave reviews across the entire ski industry. It's designed for intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers who want a ski that's capable of making quick cutting turns through moguls and trees, laying down crisp carves, and still having plenty of float for the powder days.

One of the standout features of the Head Kore 97 W is its Graphene core material. Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon that's flexible, light, and incredibly strong, giving the ski a unique backbone and performance. This results in a shockingly lightweight all-mountain ski that can carve both big and long turns.

However, the Head Kore 97 W does have its drawbacks. The Graphene, for all of its benefits, lacks dampening, so it can feel bouncy at times on skied out crud. The short turn radius that makes it easy to whip around can lack stability for long drawn out high-speed GS style turns.

Despite these drawbacks, the Head Kore 97 W is a ski that's beloved by many and is a great pick for a one ski quiver for the right skiers, for the right reasons.

Similarities

Both the Völkl Secret 96 and the Head Kore 97 W are designed for advanced skiers and are celebrated for their all-mountain versatility. They both offer the ability to carve short quick turns or long, wide turns, making them adaptable to a variety of skiing styles and conditions. Both skis are also designed to be a one-ski quiver, capable of handling everything from groomers to powder days. They are both celebrated for their performance and have received rave reviews from skiers and industry experts alike.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both skis are designed for advanced skiers, they cater to slightly different personas. The Völkl Secret 96 is a powerhouse, designed for the skier who loves to charge hard and fast in all conditions. It's a demanding ski that rewards its pilot with unparalleled precision and stability. This ski is perfect for the confident skier who knows exactly where they want to go and isn't afraid to push the limits.

On the other hand, the Head Kore 97 W is a great pick for those looking for a lightweight ski that can handle a variety of conditions. It's ideal for the skier who values agility and quick turns, but may not be as damp or stable at high speeds. This ski is perfect for the skier who values a lightweight construction and the unique performance offered by the Graphene core material.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to versatility, both skis perform well, but the Völkl Secret 96 takes the edge with its ability to handle all conditions with ease. For performance in challenging conditions, the Völkl Secret 96 is the clear winner, with its superior stability and precision. In terms of weight and agility, the Head Kore 97 W takes the crown with its lightweight Graphene core material. However, when it comes to stability at high speeds, the Völkl Secret 96 outperforms the Head Kore 97 W.

Overall, while both skis are excellent choices for advanced skiers, the Völkl Secret 96 comes out on top for its superior performance in challenging conditions and its ability to reward its pilot with unparalleled precision and stability.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Völkl Secret 96 and the Head Kore 97 W are top contenders in the world of women's skis for the 2023 season. They both offer a versatile, all-mountain experience for advanced skiers. However, the Völkl Secret 96 stands out for its superior performance in challenging conditions and its ability to reward its pilot with unparalleled precision and stability. The Head Kore 97 W, on the other hand, is a great pick for those looking for a lightweight ski that can handle a variety of conditions but may not be as damp or stable at high speeds. Ultimately, the choice between the two will come down to personal preference and skiing style.