Bergstolz Freeride Ski Test 2025/26 | Hochfügen

Freeride ski test from Bergstolz

The ski test by the legendary German-language Bergstolz magazine is the pinnacle of the Freeride Testival series, which tours the Austrian Alps in four stops throughout the winter. There, all the important new freeride skis for the coming season can be extensively tested free of charge and all kinds of other adventures on the mountain can be experienced.

As you know, PowderGuide will also be on site at the Freeride Testivals this year and is looking forward to welcoming you to the Powder Collective booth to chill out and chat - and of course to handing out great prizes to the winners of our snow depth prediction game! On the weekend of March 21/22, 2025, you have the last chance this winter to test the new equipment for the 2026/27 season for free on the Stubai Glacier.

After the last stop, all brands will put their equipment together. A number of ski testers will be on the mountain for three days to evaluate the skis according to certain criteria and in different categories. At last year's ski test, six PowderGuide'ers were on site and tested a few models in the best deep snow conditions - there had just been 40 cm of fresh snow at the start and it just wouldn't stop snowing. The setting was therefore perfect for really challenging the equipment.

Tests were carried out in the categories "Every day - everywhere" (all-mountain - powder and piste), "Snow Queens" (for women of all levels and styles), "Up & Beyond" (efficient uphill, fun downhill) and "The Real Fat Shady" (really wide slats for the real deep days). You can find details of all the skis and results under the links provided at Bergstolz. We picked out a few models and report on our impressions here!

Contrary to her convictions, Johanna also tried out lighter skis, Vanessa didn't want to give hers away, Martin always goes for the longest and widest models and Timo and Moritz were on the lookout for the one-quiver ski for piste and all conditions. Enjoy reading and find out more!

Johanna concentrated on the brands with a B:

Black Diamond Impulse Ti 104

Very light. In contrast to the skis I normally reach for, the Black Diamond Impulse Ti 104 is a real lightweight, even though it is reinforced with Titanal. To say it up front: The Black Diamond Impulse 104 is a performing lightweight and therefore a really light freeride weapon. I was (unfortunately) unable to maintain my skepticism towards very light skis.

I was able to test the Black Diamond Impulse Ti with a width of 104 mm and a length of 172 cm on an extended ski/mountain tour. As already mentioned, the ski is extremely light and therefore hardly noticeable on the way up. Thanks to the Titanal reinforcement, it also offers enough edge hold to master even icy passages. In combination with a Plum binding, the ultralight setup was ready and just the right equipment for 1,500 vertical meters with 700 vertical meters of bootpack.

You can also enjoy longer turns in open terrain, as the wide shovel provides plenty of lift. I assume that the narrower version rides in a similar way and is suitable for people who want to pay even more attention to weight and are more likely to be out and about in firn or steep terrain. I wouldn't go much narrower for real deep snow.

It should also be noted that the ski is more tour-oriented and not the ultimate freeride weapon in the quiver. Nevertheless, it is a very good ski that combines a lot of fun with a relaxed ascent.

Black Crows Atris Birdie

Not quite as light, but a little more playful. The Black Crows Artis Birdie is available for both men and women in a 105 mm waist width. In my opinion, it's worth taking a look at the women's side, as the color of the sidewall (pink) matches the topsheet a little better than on the men's side.

Be that as it may, the ski in combination with the ATK Crest 8 is a wonderful model that is light enough to be a loyal companion on extended ski tours. At 3,900 g, it is only 270 g heavier than the Black Diamond and the freeride tail allows for a more playful ride.

So far I have been able to test the ski on several short and long ski tours. It offers enough edge hold on the ascent and the mounting point is no obstacle even with well stretched hips.

However, it is clearly made for downhill skiing and feels most at home here. Its very pleasant pop encourages a slightly "bouncy" skiing style, which fortunately plays into my hands. The ski is easy to get around corners, especially if you're doing the high-low movement anyway. Even at high speeds, the ski runs smoothly and conveys safety.

It is also recommended in combination with a freeride binding and, above all, is a little wonder of skiing fun.

The Blizzard Sheeva 11 was never given back by Vanessa:

Blizzard Sheeva 11

I skied the Blizzard Sheeva 11 with a height of 174 cm. I would describe my skiing level as advanced on the piste, with solid off-piste experience, even though I definitely still have room for improvement technically. All the more exciting was the impression of how accessible and at the same time powerful this wide freeride ski presents itself.

I particularly noticed the very efficient power transmission. Especially on longer, winding descents, my legs tired much less than with other skis in this category. The Sheeva 11 is surprisingly effortless and actively supports the skier instead of requiring constant pressure. This makes it particularly comfortable for long powder runs or extended freeride days.

Despite its generous center width of 112 mm, the ski is surprisingly light and agile. Edge changes are easy and require little effort. It is easy to vary between short, controlled turns and longer, flowing turns. This versatility conveys a lot of confidence - both on the piste and off-piste.

At higher speeds, the ski remains pleasantly stable and calm without appearing sluggish. The Sheeva 11 really comes into its own in deep snow. The buoyancy is excellent and steering through the powder is very intuitive. It offers a balanced ratio of stability and maneuverability, which ensures a safe yet playful skiing experience, especially in open terrain.

Conclusion

The Blizzard Sheeva 11 is a very accessible yet powerful freeride ski that impresses with surprising agility despite its width. It offers strong flotation in powder, stable handling characteristics at speed and an effortless ride. It is a particularly convincing companion for advanced female skiers who want to develop their off-piste skills.

Timo has chosen skis from DPS and Faction:

DPS Wailer 107

The DPS Wailer 107 in 184 cm was skied in all imaginable conditions within one day. In the morning, Ullr had brought us about 50 cm of fresh snow. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. At lunchtime, we switched to the piste, as some of the exposures were already very wet due to the early April sunshine. At first we had top-grip slopes, then slush runs at the end. The ski performed incredibly well in all these variants.

For me, it is THE all-mountain ski! It had enough float on wide powder slopes and could be maneuvered effortlessly through narrow passages and forests. On the piste, the Carbon Wallier was playful, it was easy to turn, but also great on the edge. Even on longer turns, the super-light ski remained absolutely stable, which is probably due to the carbon construction. Although the ski is so stable on the edge and runs smoothly even at high speeds, it doesn't feel hard as a board. On the contrary: it shines with a lot of comfort when the slope becomes more choppy. It swallows the odd bump, glides playfully over slush and is simply great fun - regardless of the terrain, snow conditions and time of day.

I know exactly which ski I want to ride again at the next test festivals: the DPS Carbon Wallier with 107 mm width.

Faction Dancer 2

Even after the first few meters, you notice how familiar the Faction Dancer 2 SC feels in 187 cm and with a center width of 107 mm. The ski stands calmly on the piste, can be placed cleanly on the edge and immediately conveys the feeling of knowing exactly what is happening underfoot. Medium and longer carving turns in particular are a real pleasure - the ski pulls stably through the turn and remains pleasantly controllable even when you pick up the pace a little.

What I particularly liked about it: It feels sporty, but not demanding. Edge changes are easy and even after a few faster runs you don't feel tired. The ski is precise without being nervous or too stiff - a mixture that makes it very accessible.

I also briefly skied the Dancer 2 SC off-piste in tracked snow. Here it proves to be solid and easy to control, even though its clear focus is on the piste. The performance is definitely sufficient for short trips off-piste, but it really feels at home on hard surfaces and in clean turns.

My impression after half a day: A very fun, sporty piste ski with a strong carving character that conveys a lot of confidence and is ideal for skiers who are looking for dynamics without having to ski at the limit all the time.

Martin immediately grabbed the longest and widest slats:

Black Crows Draco Freebird

I immediately noticed the light weight in combination with the relatively smooth ride. However, the outstanding feature of the Black Crows Draco Freebird in 189 cm was its maneuverability, whether on the piste, in deep snow or tracked terrain, it could be turned incredibly quickly to reduce speed.

I think the combination of rocker, short classic camber and the straight sidecut is responsible for this maneuverability. When you consider that Nikolai Schirmer was involved in the development of this model, it makes all the more sense, because in my experience the ski was particularly good at two things: fast straight lines with few changes of direction and efficient turning of the ski for fat sprays.

However, I personally found round, long radii or classic carving a little more difficult. Overall, however, it was a very fun ski. The aforementioned maneuverability in combination with the light weight despite a center width of 110 mm definitely makes it special and gives it a unique selling point.

A ski for high speed and stability, regardless of the snow. The exceptionally good edge grip is particularly evident in long radii, as the skis never really fluttered or flipped. The ski also cut a fine figure in powder, with the front rocker allowing the shovels to emerge well from deeper snow.

I think the ski is a good all-rounder that you can have fun with on any snow. However, it might be a little too brute for playful skiers who like to wedel at lower speeds or through narrow trees. Visually, I find the simple, orange design very appealing. My tip: In my opinion, the ideal mounting point is slightly before the point specified by Faction.

Looking ahead to the 2026/27 equipment

At the first three stops of the Freeride Testival, we were able to test a whole range of models from next year's collections. You are welcome to support us at the last stop on the Stubai Glacier on the weekend of March 21/22, 2026 and strap a few powder boards under your ski boots yourself!

Otherwise, let us know in the comments which skis you would like us to test. After the test festival stop in Stubai at the end of March, the big Bergstolz ski test will take place again, where we will be back with a team of testers! We promise to be ready with our impressions a little earlier next winter!

Let us know which skis you are interested in!