I have taken this ski out on many backcountry excursions in Montana and Colorado and have to say that this is the most fun and versatile pair I would ever want when I'm going for long distances in dreamy snow. This ski is fun on slush, chop, and powder, although more reliable in the softer snow. I am a confident lover of this incredibly intuitively turning lightweight ski, and the red textured top sheet is a beacon of admirability among my friends. The only bad experience I had with them is speed-checking too deeply into a bed of rocks in Yellowstone and walking away with a 14-inch total core shot in the airy wood center that the local ski techs had to spend a week fixing with multiple layers of epoxy. Other than that, these are a perfect companion for the seasoned winter adventurer looking for their next setup.