By Andrew Ingold
Head Porsche 7 series review
No images available
Overview
Overview: The 7 Series is a high‑performance, giant‑slalom–inspired carving ski built primarily for groomed slopes and advanced to expert carvers. It focuses on speed, edge hold and precision rather than all‑mountain versatility. The ski feels immediately responsive and powerful underfoot, with race‑influenced geometry and a stiff flex that rewards solid technique. If you want race‑like feedback and stability at speed, the 7 Series delivers; if you want a forgiving starter carving ski or a do‑everything resort ski, this is not the best match.
On-snow performance
On‑snow performance: On piste the 7 Series excels at fast, committed turns. The Speed Rocker tip enables quick turn initiation while camber underfoot maintains bite and rebound for strong exit acceleration. In short, aggressive carves the ski is snappy; in longer GS lines it stays stable and composed thanks to the stiff layup. It rejects chatter well on firm snow, although the overall stiffness means poor snow or chop will feel demanding. This ski rewards speed and commitment more than tentative, skittish skiing.
Construction and specs explained
Construction and specs explained: The 7 Series features a World Cup sandwich build with a full wood core, Carbon and Titanal reinforcement, plus a graphene layer for optimized weight distribution. Key specs: Speed Rocker (camber through most of the ski with a speed‑oriented tip rocker) for fast initiation; tip 124 mm (helps bite and quick turn pick‑up); waist 70 mm (narrow center for fast edge‑to‑edge transitions and focused carving); tail 109 mm (supports stability and release); radius 13.1 m at 170 cm (longer, GS‑style turns at that length); weight 4,420 g (170 cm, without binding) indicating a substantial, stable ski. Available lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177 cm.
Comparisons and who it suits
Comparisons and who it suits: The 7 Series sits among other GS‑inspired piste racers and stands out for its race material mix and electronic damping system (EMC). Compared with more accessible carving skis it is stiffer and less forgiving, but significantly more stable at speed and in aggressive technique. Ideal buyers are strong carve‑focused skiers who spend most of their time on groomers and want a ski that behaves like a training/race tool rather than a relaxed all‑mountain partner.
Verdict and buying tips
Verdict and buying tips: The 7 Series is a specialist ski that delivers on stability, precision and high‑speed confidence. Pros: exceptional edge hold, refined vibration control and purposeful geometry. Cons: narrow waist limits off‑piste versatility, and the stiff flex requires solid technique. Buying tip: choose length depending on your style — shorter for quicker turns, longer for top‑end stability — and fit bindings with an appropriate DIN range and release characteristics to match the ski's intended race‑like behavior.