Extrem Final Opinion 118 — Review

The Extrem Final Opinion 118 is the widest ski in the Extrem range and a new addition to the Black Edition shelf. At 118 mm underfoot with a long tip-and-tail rocker, a poplar/paulownia core, and no metal layer, it is purpose-built for deep snow and big, soft turns. Like the rest of the Extrem lineup it is hand-laid in Åre, Sweden, with the brand's race-grade base and edges adapted to a much wider, more rockered shape.

With 142 mm tips, 118 mm underfoot and a long rocker, the Final Opinion 118 is happy at the planing speed soft snow rewards. The poplar/paulownia core keeps swing weight reasonable for the size — roughly 2.0–2.1 kg per ski — and the wood-only layup leaves a forgiving flex pattern that smears, surfs and pivots without protest. The 23–24.5 m radius is intentionally long, so the ski wants to draw arcs through powder rather than carve tight lines. Edge hold on firm snow exists thanks to the 2.3 mm circumferential steel edge but is not the design priority — this is a soft-snow tool first.

Extrem's Final Opinion 118 uses a poplar/paulownia hybrid wood core wrapped in prepreg fiberglass, with the same 1.5 mm racing rubber damping inserts in tip and tail used across the range. There is no titanal and no carbon weave called out — the soft-snow character comes from wood-and-rubber damping. Sidewalls are 8.5 mm ID 2500 ABS and the steel edge is the full 2.3 × 2.2 mm circumferential profile. The base is high-density polyethylene with graphite (Isospeed 7515) and an arrow-shaped custom structure. Mount is alpine with a CNC-milled 55 × 650 mm beech binding plate; mount point sits at -50 mm from center. Black Edition is the all-black colorway sold directly by Extrem.

Strong freeride skiers chasing storms, lift-served powder days and inbounds soft-snow zones who want a handbuilt, characterful platform. Compared with the Head Kore 118 Ti the Final Opinion 118 is more playful and less locked at high speed because it forgoes titanal; against the Armada Arv 116 jj ul it is a similar wood-only freeride pow stick with a longer radius and a beefier edge; and next to the Volkl Revolt 121 it is more directional but shares the surfy character. The Black Diamond Helio Carbon 115 is a much lighter touring-biased alternative if you want to skin this width.

Pros

• Excellent float and surfy feel in deep snow.
• Wood-only construction keeps the ski lively and forgiving.
• Race-grade base and edges hold up to inbounds rocks better than carbon-only peers.
• Black Edition direct pricing relative to similarly handbuilt powder skis.

Cons

• Limited piste use — narrow underfoot bite zone and long rocker make groomers a chore.
• Two lengths only (187 / 194) — tall skiers preferred.
• Alpine plate mount limits touring conversions.
• No titanal means it can deflect in heavy variable crud at speed.

Verdict: A handbuilt, wood-cored 118 mm freeride/powder ski with character. Pick it if you live for storm days and value a forgiving, surfy feel over the locked-in metal-layered ride of mainstream pow planks.