By Andrew Ingold
Head Kore 104 Ti W review
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Positioning & Target Skier
The Kore 104 Ti W slots into the women’s freeride/all‑mountain space as a resort‑focused daily driver with real off‑piste chops. At 105 mm underfoot, it favors soft snow and chopped powder yet still carves groomers with confidence. Advanced and expert skiers will appreciate its composed, directional feel and dependable edge grip, while strong intermediates can grow into it thanks to a supportive but not punishing flex. It’s ideal for bigger mountains and variable conditions, less for bump‑heavy days or ultralight touring missions.
Construction & Feel
Freeride Sandwich Cap construction blends a women’s‑tuned poplar/PET core with two layers of Titanal, Graphene, and a flax‑reinforced hybrid top surface. The result is a calm, damp ride that mutes vibration better than earlier, ultra‑light designs, without feeling dead. The flax coating also helps resist topsheet chipping, keeping the ski looking fresh. A partial‑twin, slightly flared tail eases release and switch finishes, while still offering supportive backbone when you drive the tail. The Structured UHM C base brings glide and durability for long, mixed‑condition resort days.
On‑Snow Performance
Tip‑tail rocker planes up easily in storm snow, and the moderately tapered shape threads trees without feeling hooky. Camber and Titanal underfoot deliver trustworthy edge hold on firm morning groomers, and the ski tracks through afternoon chop with impressive composure for its weight. The 16.7 m sidecut likes medium to longer arcs but will tighten willingly when pressed. Drawbacks: it’s not the quickest zipper‑line bump tool, and the supportive tail rewards forward, engaged stance. Skiers seeking super‑surfy, smear‑y looseness may prefer a softer, more twin‑shaped option.
Specs & What They Mean
Rocker profile: tip–tail rocker with camber adds float and pivot while preserving bite on edge. Dimensions 133‑105‑126 mm (177 cm) balance soft‑snow stability with enough sidecut for carving. Radius 16.7 m offers versatile turn shapes without feeling locked in. Weight around 1,944 g per ski (177) gives welcome damping and confidence in chop, though it’s not optimized for long tours. Available lengths 156/163/170/177 cm let most skiers size by terrain and speed: size up for stability and float, size down for maneuverability.
Comparisons & Who Should Buy
Compared with Nordica’s Santa Ana 104 Free, this ski feels a touch lighter and quicker, with slightly less bulldozer power. Versus the Salomon QST Stella 106, it’s more precise and damp, but a bit less surfy. Blizzard’s Sheeva 10 is looser and more playful on soft days; Sheeva 11 offers more float but less groomer precision. Choose the Kore 104 Ti W if you want a single, resort‑based freeride tool that stays calm at speed, carves a clean line, and remains manageable in trees, chutes, and chopped powder.