If you love the JJ, but want juat a bit more ski, check out the AK. The 195cm only AK JJ is longer, wider and stiffer than Regular JJ, and is just the ticket for big strong skiers looking for steep lines, deep pow, and big drops.

The ARV is a Armada standby; a solid all mountain twintip with standard camber. It is super fun lapping park or carving up the whole mountain. It has enough width for pow days, and plenty of grip for firm days. In a nutshell, it's a great one ski quiver for someone who loves the top as much as the park.

Bubba is the widest ski Armada makes, and it's mission is pretty simple: destroy powder, and do it fast. It's kind of an updated ARG with longer running surface and more user friendliness. If you want everyday versatility look at at TST, or maybe a JJ. This ski is for the deep days.

The JJ is one of the skis that is redefining our sport. It's EST construction offers the best of both worlds: rocker tip and tail, with standard camber/sidecut underfoot. This makes the JJ awesome for surfing soft snow, but very skiable on the groomed. The JJ is very light for its size, and surprisingly quick. The JJ is probably the most copied ski on the market, and for a good reason. The JJ just plain rips!

By far one of the coolest skis around, the Armada TST just plain rocks. We like to think of it as a narrower JJ without the tail rocker, making it a great everyday ski that can still dominate in the powder. Look at it this way; everyday may not be a JJ day, but everyday is a TST day.

The TSTW was a huge favorite of our testers. The girls found it to be quick and responsive, but also versatile and forgiving. All agreed it is a great everyday all mountain ski, and was a blast even on the firm snow and hard bumps during the test.

The Armada VJJ was one of last season's most anticipated skis; a women's JJ with sizes down to 165. Our testers had a great time skiing it on hardpack and crud, but it really shines in the powder. Everybody liked going fast on it, and found the standard sidecut and camber underfoot very solid and stable. In the crud the rocker smoothed everything out and made junk snow fun. Pronounced v-jay-jay.

For good skiers, the Black Pearl may be the most versatile all mountain ski around. It excels in all terrain and turn sizes, and gets more responsive with speed. Like the men's "Flip Core" skis, the Pearl's tip and tail rocker makes it playful and maneuverable without compromising stability or responsiveness.

Bonafide is the Flip Core ski most experts will want to check out. With "Flip Core" construction, twin titanal layers and a 98mm waist Bonafide is solid and playful at the same time. Our team really liked how quick and lively it was, and was astounded by how fast and hard you could ski it. The Bonafide is great ski for ripping up big steep mountains regardless of snow condition.

The Cochise is a great example of just how versatile a rockered fat ski can be. Combine a 108mm waist with tip and tail rockered metal laminate construction, and you get a big ski that rips just as hard on firm snow as it does in powder. Thanks to Blizzard’s"Flip Core" construction the “Cheese” is surprisingly quick in and out of the turn, and very playful for such a powerful ski. The Cochise is not the most forgiving ski, but for hard charging experts, it may be the most versatile and rewarding.

Gunsmoke was a big winner at our ski test. Even though we only skied on firm snow, the Gunsmoke was a complete blast. With a wide waist you expect great off piste performance, but everyone was stoked with it's playful performance even rock hard groomers and in bumps.It is a great everyday Mammoth ski for skiers that do it all; powder, groomers, park, trees, switch, Etc... Simple an amazingly versatile all mountain twin tip.

The M Power FS IQ is way more fun than it sounds. With just a touch of rocker, this ski takes the all mountain carver to versatile new heights. It's great for tippin' and rippin' on the groomed, but more than happy to mix it up off-piste. The M Power is smooth and powerful, but also quite lively and nimble.

The Blizzard Samba is our female testers favorite ski for the 12/13 season. It is stiff and wide but nimble and versatile. The Samba is great on firm snow where it performs like an obese GS ski, but plenty wide enough to hunt freshies on a storm day. Its combination of width and beef reward a stronger skier who does not need a super forgiving ski.

There is probably no ski closer to the hearts of our staff than the Elan 888. When it first came out the "Triple 8" was a breakthrough in construction and performance. Its pioneering thin aluminum construction has moved on to power skis like the Elan 999 alu and the Volkl Mantra/Kendo/Aura family. This simple yet rare design offers very smooth and balanced performance with plenty of grip and responsiveness. One of the key elements is the thin tip that slices through the chunks and crud without getting deflected. This effect is now enhanced by a touch of tip rocker that loosens it up while maintaining its hook up into the turn. Of course, a bit of tip rocker also enhanced 888's bump and soft snow performance. The Triple 8 is one of our favorite skis ever.

The Elan 999 Alu defines the big mountain category. Its metal-topped construction provides a smooth and responsive ride, while the lower profile tip and rocker cut through anything. Considering the 999's beefy metal construction and relative girth, it is actually quite playful and nimble. Many skis claim to be the perfect quiver of one; for strong skiers, the "Triple 9 Alu" really is.

The Inspire from Elan is one of the easiest turners out there. It’s very quick into the turn, and forgiving all the way. It prefers shorter arcs, but will step it up for longer turns and higher speeds when you need it to. Smooth and nimble the Inspire is a feel good ski for carving up the groomed.

And the winner is...Domino! Elan's new twin tip is our overall tester favorite ski for the 12/13 season. No matter where they skied it, everybody had a great time on the Domino. It carved all over firm groomed runs, and was a playful delight in bumps and crud. It's plenty powerful, but very user friendly and super versatile. The Domino put a smile on everybody's face; it's a ski you have to try!

Here is a ski that our girls have been waiting for; an 888 Alu for ladies complete with metal topped construction. Our testers loved the positive feel, and smooth strong grip. The rockered tip helps keep it forgiving, but this is one of the burlier skis we carry, and may surprise some with its stiff flex. Advanced and expert skiers need look no further for a versatile and high performance ski; the Zeal delivers. It was our test team's favorite ladies ski last year. Love it!

K2 has a long history of making great all mountain twins, and the Recoil is no exception. It's a well-balanced ski: smooth and solid, yet light and playful thanks in part to moderate tip and tail rocker. It has good edge grip, and a springy feel, especially in the tail. Wes and Preston had a blast skiing it in gullies and soft bumps at Alpine Meadows, and Hunter loved it at Mammoth.

The Aftershock is the most versatile ski in K2's All Mountain Performance line (AMP). It has the same construction and tip rocker as the Rictor, and shares its well balanced performance. Aftershock's wider footprint adds platform and stability off piste, without sacrificing carving performance on groomed runs. This is another K2 ski with a huge sweet spot and great user friendly handling. Click in and got ski anywhere.

Charger is the narrowest and least rockered of the AMP skis, but that doesn't keep it from taking on the whole mountain. It's lightning quick and super responsive without being twitchy or unstable. We like it for arcing it out in firmer conditions and tight spots, not to mention bumping. It?s slightly rockered tip gives it a playful edge not traditionally found in narrow carve skis, and surprising all-mountain versatility.

Some skis are just right; you hop on them and everything works. K2 knows how to find the perfect balance between user friendliness and performance better than anyone, and Rictor exemplifies this. It's a smooth and versatile carver with plenty of energy and a huge sweet spot. The Rictor's tip rocker gives it smooth turn initiation and increased maneuverability. It may not hook up across the hill like some more shaped and rocker-free skis, but it's easy handling makes a hero out of everyone. Lovers of the old Recon will find Rictor to be more responsive, with better grip, and more apt in variable snow.

Finally, a true powder ski for kids. 100mm waist? Check. Rocker? Check. Cool graphics? Oh yeah!

Every groms favorite ski gets even better this year, thanks to "all terrain" rocker in the tip.

The latest MissDemeanor is the most versatile yet, thanks to a wider waist and a bit of rocker tip and tail. This bad girl is smooth and confident, without losing the lively fun edge that she's known for. Whether you get MissD for the powder, the park, or just looting the whole mountain, you count on her for the kind of fun that a good girl just can't deliver.

This is the K2 that many have been waiting for; a 117mm underfoot twin with plenty of rocker and ladies construction and sizes. On the snow MissD delivered in a big way. We expected her to rock in the soft stuff, but everyone was blown away by her performance on hard snow and even on the groomed runs where the team had no problem rolling her up on edge. We would not expect a ski this wide to be nimble but short turns were easy and slushy bumps fun. Buy her for powder, but don't be surprised if you ski her every day.

Q: How much ski can you get for $299? A: A whole lot more than you expect. Even though K2 markets the Press as a durable twin for impoverished jibbers, we think its a great everyday ski. The Press features K2's "jib rocker"; a combination of moderate tip and tail rocker with flat camber under foot designed to give it plenty of "pop" and make buttering a breeze. It certainly shines in the park, but us non- jibbers really like how lively it is for quick turns and bumps. Bonus: it glows in the dark.

Seth Morrison’s latest Pro Model reflects his own evolution as a skier. Having spent the last couple seasons skiing steep technical lines in Chamonix instead of heli descents in AK, Seth’s new ski is less surfy and more precise. With a substantially stiffer and less rockered tail, Sideseth is more versatile than the obSETHed it replaces. Of course, it still loves to tear up the pow but expect more versatility in all conditions especially in variable soft snow and hardpack. Our staff has loved every Seth Pro Model, and Sideseth raises the bar once again. It is one of our favorite skis for this season.

Every year one ski stands out at the test; last year it was the Sideshow. We think it's the best all mountain ski K2 has ever made, and that is saying a lot! Everyone commented on its light weight and how well it carved on hard snow, but it really stood out on the just plain fun factor. Its light weight metal laminate construction with moderate tip rocker gives it a livelier feel than K2's AMP skis, and provides more response and precision than the Factory Team twin tips. At 90mm underfoot, its narrow enough to carve it up on firm snow, but wide enough to be in the game on a powder day. Like all of K2's Backside skis, the Sideshow is made with backcountry utility in mind, so put a Barron on it and ski it every day in bounds or out.

The Burnin' Luv lives on as the aptly named Superburnin. With a new sidewall construction, this carving machine is more precise and powerful than ever, but still easy and forgiving with a smooth round flex. This has always been a big favorite of our staff, and a reminder of just how much fun a narrower ski can be. With its slight tip rocker Burnin is much more versatile than you would expect, and a great everyday ski for good skiers who want a quick ski with the power and stability of metal laminate construction.

Easy to turn, and easy to like was how Susan nutshelled the user friendly Free. Aerin agreed noting how you could stand on it anywhere. Cara though it was a touch stiffer than the old Free Luv thanks to its new sidewall construction and liked it best for short to medium turns. All of our team liked the big sweet spot, versatility and great graphics.

Replacing the Lotta Luv is no easy task, but Superstitious does it. Slightly wider, and upgraded with a sidewall construction, Superstitious is both more versatile and more responsive than Lotta ever was. Our girls called it an awesome all mountain do everything ski, noting its large sweet spot, easy turn initiation and great edgehold. They also liked how easy it was to move from carve to skid, and the loose feel of the rockered tip. For our test team Superstitious is the all mountain ski by which all others are judged.

The Attraxion 6 Echo is a nimble and easy carver with plenty of grip and a fun personality. We like it best for short and medium turn where its narrow waist and tight turn radius really shine. Of course, like all Attraxion skis the 6 Echo looks good!

The highest preforming ski in the Attraxion line is the 8 Echo. It is a dynamic ride that comes to life carving up the groomers, and likes a bit of speed. We also think it is one of the best looking skis on the wall. Simply put, the 8 Echo is an atrraxtive tip and ripper for slicing up the piste.

This blunt tipped, retro graphic ski is one of our all mountain favorites. It's a smooth carver that excels all over the hill. The Avenger is equally happy tippin' and rippin' on the groomed, or blasting through the crud. Get off your old Bandit, and try out the Avenger 82 Basalt..

A rockered all mountain twin tip at a sweet price, the S3 is great for all mountain ripping, powder surfing, and side country exploration. S3 is more playful that precise, and more at home in crud than on slick groomers but it is a ski that will change the way you look at the mountain.

One of our test team’s favorite skis is the Rossignol S3W. Playful and fun, lively and versatile the S3 is a great choice for adventurous skiers who explore the whole mountain. For its width, the S3W is very nimble thanks to plenty of rocker and sidecut. It is also one of the best powder skis under 100mm wide underfoot, and complete blast in the trees. The S3W is a ski that might have you looking at the mountain in a whole new way!

The S7 is an amazing ski. The Amptek rocker combines a tapered rocker tip, standard camber and sidecut underfoot, and tail rocker for maximum soft snow versatility. In powder its wide waist and rocker allow any turn size or shape, while the sidecut and camber let you carve the groomed back to the chair. The S7 is the perfect cheater for powder neophytes, or the ultimate powder surfer for experts.

The S7W is just as wild looking as her big brother the S7. She also rips just as hard, thanks to rocker, standard camber and shape under foot and a narrow powder tip. The S7W is fearless in soft snow where it will let you go scary fast but turn on a dime. It's a surfy ski that will make a powder hound out of anyone, but also works well on piste and in soft bumps.

Squad 7 is part of a new breed of fat skis with reduced tail rocker and straighter sidecut. It is more precise and responsive than the S7 and more energetic than the Super 7. The Squad is still a sweet powder surfer, but also great at ripping variable snow and challenging terrain. 190 only, so it's not for everyone!

The Super 7 ups the performance of the S7 by adding metal laminate construction. It still has the playfulness and maneuverability, but adds just enough beef to smooth out the ride and add precision and edge hold. The 195 are pretty burly, but the 188 are just right.

Aura gets a nice makeover for this season. It gets a touch wider, and now has a bit of tip rocker. This makes an already versatile ski even better in soft snow, without losing any hook up on firm snow. Aura is a great choice for adventurous skiers looking for one ski to do it all.

The new Chiara is a great choice for skiers that love to turn. It's tip is easy to engage, and it has that great Volkl edge grip. Even though its really meant more for groomed runs, the Chiara is more than game for the occasional off piste adventure. In a nutshell the Volkl Chiara is a versatile carver with a nice light feel.

This season's Gotama is aa entirely new ski; wider, stiffer, and less rocked , making it more versatile than ever. The new "Goat" is great on hard snow and even fun in firm moguls, while still being a superlative powder ski. This is one of those skis people will buy for powder days, but end up skiing every day.

The Gotama Jr was the first junior ski with rocker, and it is still one of the best. The Goat Jr. is just as versatile as the adult version, but really shines in variable soft snow conditions. This is a ski that can really take your kids skiing to that next level.

Adding tip rocker to the Kendo sounds like a no brainer, but we were concerned about losing that nice hook-up into the turn. We should not have worried; Kendo just got better. For 12/13 it’s looser and more nimble feeling, but still way fun arcing it out on the firm stuff. With its light metal topped construction, Kendo is one of the more lively feeling skis in the category, and the new rockered tip just makes it more nimble and versatile. One of our most popular skis, the Kendo is equally fun carving the groomed or exploring the mountain.

The Kenja has been one of our most popular skis the last couple seasons. It’s a lightweight metal topped ski with plenty of sidecut and a nice hooky tip that pulls you into the turn. The 88mm waist is perfect middle ground for quickness and soft snow versatility. This season the addition of tip rocker makes it even more playful and versatile, without sacrificing that sweet hook-up at the start of the turn. Kenja is a great choice for many skiers, especially ones who want a light and lively ski that loves to carve, but is equally happy on the groomed or in the crud.

Kiku is all new this year; stiffer, slightly wider, less rockered underfoot, and more versatile than before. We have always loved Kiku in powder, but now it can tear it up every day. It is smooth and responsive, but has surprisingly good edge hold, and increased maneuverability. Sometimes ?new and improved? is just that!

The venerable Mantra got a big makeover last season. It now has a wider waist, and finally gets just the right amount of tip rocker to loosen it up without sacrificing pull into the turn. Of course it is still a supremely versatile ski; a true go anywhere do anything machine for good skiers, especially those who rip the whole mountain, not just whatever was groomed last night. Mantra continues to be a benchmark in ski design; playful, solid and versatile.

The RTM was one of the most talked-about skis in last season's test. It looks like a skiing contradiction; a hard snow carve ski with full-length rocker. On the snow, it still seemed like a contradiction to some of the crew. Quite simply this is a carve ski that can do things that no other carve ski has done well before. Sure you can tip it up and arc across the hill, but you can also keep it flat and pivot on a dime. It actually seemed like it was impossible to catch and edge on the RTM. For many skiers this could be the short-turn ski they have always been looking for, combined with a high-speed carver. Its catch-free tips and tails, plus its ability to either set an edge or pivot in a short turn, translated to game changing mogul performance. In short the RTM 84 is a unique and versatile ski that may take more than a couple runs to figure out, but could possibly change your skiing.

The Shiro Jr. is a fat rockered powder ski that will make sure you don't have to wait for your offspring on powder days. Will they wait for you? Probably not.