What’s new for 2026-27: all-mountain and freeride skis

Most new-season changes are fresh paint. This year a few brands went further. Here are four updates on the all-mountain and freeride wall worth knowing about before you demo or buy.

K2 Mindbender: less metal, same backbone

K2 has trimmed the Mindbender family to four skis: the 88, 96, 101 and 111. Instead of full sheets of metal, each one pairs two strips of titanal with a light aspen and paulownia core, plus small weighted inserts over the edges that K2 calls Dark Matter. K2 says the new build uses about 20 percent less metal, is about 10 percent lighter, and grips and starts turns better than before. The 88 and 96 lean toward firm snow and groomers / on-piste skiing. The 101 and 111 are built for freeride chargers.

Armada AntiMatter replaces Declivity and Reliance

Armada’s new AntiMatter collection takes over from its Declivity and Reliance skis. The AntiMatter 100 and 114 are all new, with partial titanal layers Armada calls Speedmetal: full width underfoot, then tapered toward the tip and tail so the ends stay lively. There is also an AntiMatter 75, a firm-snow carver sold with bindings mounted. Most of the other widths carry over from last season under the new name, so check the spec sheet before you assume a ski has changed.

Blizzard Canvas: a new playful line

Blizzard’s Canvas 100, 108 and 118 are twin tips for skiers who butter, pivot and pop off side hits rather than charge straight lines. Retailers describe them as lighter than Blizzard’s metal chargers. US list prices are $850, $975 and $1,100.

Rossignol: new names, familiar skis

If you are looking for the Rossignol Sender Soul, it is now simply the Soul, in 92 and 102 widths. The Sender Free is now the Sender, in 100 and 110. Christy Sports describes these as name changes on the same skis, so last season’s reviews are still a useful guide.