By Liam Anderson
Moment Wildcat 118
Overview
The Wildcat 118 is a wide, playful freeride ski designed to float in deep powder while remaining surprisingly controllable on firmer snow. It’s marketed as a ‘playful charger’ — intended for riders who want surfy, confident turns in variable conditions. The mustache rocker profile and progressive factory mount create a lively, pivot-friendly feel with reliable contact underfoot. For those who spend most days off-piste but sometimes cross into chopped or cruddy terrain, this ski balances buoyancy and predictability in a way few wide skis manage.
Construction and materials
Construction mixes a knot-free full-length poplar and ash core with a carbon-hybrid laminate (triaxial fiberglass plus carbon) for torsional stiffness and pop. ABS sidewalls provide edge hold and durability, while VDS rubberized damping strategically reduces chatter at speed. The 7500-series carbon-infused sintered UHMWPE base is fast and durable. Overall the layup makes the ski lively and responsive without being nervous; it’s engineered to deliver energetic turn initiation and solid high-speed control when needed.
Specs explained
Specs explained: the 143 mm tip, 118 mm waist and 133 mm tail give strong float in powder while keeping the ski maneuverable in tight spots. Mustache rocker means rocker in tip and tail with camber underfoot — float and easy turn initiation combined with camber’s edge grip. Effective edge increases with length (e.g., 1500 mm at 184 cm), improving stability and hold at speed. Weights per pair range from about 3.95 to 4.7 kg, which is reasonably light for a ski in this category and contributes to nimble on-snow handling.
On-snow behavior
On snow the ski is surfy and playful in deep snow, willing to be manipulated on the tips for quick, energetic turns. In chop and mixed snow the underfoot camber and carbon-hybrid layup add enough rigidity to punch through without feeling sluggish. The progressive -6 cm mount point helps keep the nose above soft snow and makes pivoting for tight turns easier. At higher speeds the VDS damping and 2.2 mm Euro edges provide confidence, though the wide waist can make hard-ice edge purchase more demanding.
Comparisons and trade-offs
Comparisons and trade-offs: against other ~118 mm freeride skis the Wildcat 118 skews more playful and surf-oriented than stiff, resort-oriented big-mountain boards. It’s livelier than many powder-specialists that rely on heavy rocker, yet more capable on firm snow than pure fat skis. Downsides include the natural challenge of maintaining edge bite on hard ice and the potential for the freeride-focused geometry to feel less precise for aggressive piste carving. For riders prioritizing float, play, and a lively feel, this ski is a compelling option.
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