This article was first published by SkiMag.com.
The Scores (out of 10)
- Overall Score: 7.41
- Rank: #7
- Flotation: 8.07
- Playfulness: 7.07
- Responsiveness: 7.27
- Quickness: 7.07
- Crud Performance: 7.47
- Stability at Speed: 7.4
- Forgiveness: 7.07
- Versatility: 7.07
The Specs
- Price: $749
- Lengths: 171, 178, 185, 192
- Dimensions: 144-112-134
- Radius: 20m
- Level: Intermediate, Advanced
In a Nutshell
- Pros: Flotation (#3), Crud Performance (#8)
- Cons: Versatility (#14), Stability at Speed (#15)
Typically, a top sheet doesn’t tell us much about a ski’s performance, but in the case of the Hemi 112, which features bright, loud, playful graphics by artist and skier Evan Whitehead, the look indicates exactly how this all-new powder ski performs. It’s a floaty, carvy, “I-got-up-early-for-this” powder day destroyer.
This is the perfect ski to turn your next powder day into a playground, and it’s bound to give you an ego boost to boot. “Feel free to get the slightly bigger ski than you are used to,” said Otto Gibbons, hardgoods manager at Sturtevant’s Ski Shop in Bellevue, Wash. “Take all the float you want while still keeping the ability to throw the ski opposite across the hill at a moment’s notice.”
We all agree: The Hemi can get a little loose when pinned in the fast lane but makes up for it with pow slashing ability and creative expression. “This is a jibby, playful powder ski perfect for someone who has no interest in powering a ski but just wants to enjoy the snow on a predictable ski,” said Brady Newton, a former World Cup ski racer.
Read more: Learn about how the Hemi 112 stacked up against the competition
Just as fun off-piste as in big, inbounds powder fields, you have to keep the ski on the snow as you roll intp the edge-to-edge transition (don’t try to pop off the snow into the next turn, or you lose stability). The tail releases easily for its length, which makes it so much fun, but it can be a bit squirrelly in variable snow at speed. Keep your head up, and your knees flexed when you’re not in the soft stuff.
“I was surprised at how nimble the ski was for its length,” said Gibbons. “It’s easy to hook the tip into the turn and allow the ski’s tail to swing easily behind when maneuvering through tight terrain. You can break out of the turn and change direction surprisingly easily.”
Related: Our gear editor’s favorite tools for waxing her skis at home
We also noticed the impressive edge hold on hardpack and ice, especially considering this ski with a lightweight aspen and paulownia wood core is 112mm underfoot. (LibTech calls this grip MagnaTraction.) This construction gives this big rig its nimble feel on your best snow days of the year.
