Head Power Joy — Review

The Head Power Joy is the race-driven expert women's ski in Head's Joy collection — and the only Joy with a full titanal layer. With a 70 mm waist, a poplar wood core reinforced by titanal, a 16.2 m radius at 168 cm and a Joy 12 GW PRD system binding, it sits above the Super Joy as the most demanding and the most race-oriented carver in the line.

This is a different kind of Joy. The titanal layer locks the chassis down at high carving speed — the ski stays calm into the apex of a turn even at GS-style velocity, holds a high edge angle without folding, and rewards real commitment from the driver. The Worldcup Sandwich Cap construction concentrates damping where it matters, and the Speed Rocker (early tip rise, full classic camber underfoot) bites early without compromising stability through the running length. The 16.2 m radius at 168 cm is long for a women's all-mountain — it's tuned for stretched arcs on wide piste, not quick rhythm. Off-piste it has no pretensions: 70 mm waist with race tuning is a piste-only proposition.

A poplar wood core reinforced with titanal, Worldcup Sandwich Cap construction (cap shoulders, sidewall section under foot), LYT Tech architecture, EMC for vibration damping, embedded Graphene and an RD Race Structured UHM C base for glide. Speed Rocker profile. Sidecut 113 / 70 / 98 mm. Radius varies by length: 13.1 m @ 153 cm, 14.1 m @ 158, 15.1 m @ 163, 16.2 m @ 168. Lengths: 153 / 158 / 163 / 168. Weight at 163 cm is approximately 1923 g per ski — heavier than any other Joy by a clear margin, a direct consequence of the titanal layer. Joy 12 GW PRD alpine binding (DIN 3.5-12) on Power Rail.

A confident-advanced to expert woman skier who carves piste at speed, wants race feel without committing to a true FIS race ski, and is happy to put work in to make the chassis sing. Compared to the Head Super Joy the Power Joy carves with much more authority and bite — the Super Joy is more forgiving and a touch more playful, the Power Joy a touch more locked-in and demanding. Against the Elan Primetime n4 w+ it is a more pure piste-race tool — the Primetime n4 w+ is broader-shouldered and a little more all-mountain-tolerant. Step up to the Elan Primetime n5 w black edition if you want a race-pure top-tier piste ski; the Power Joy sits one notch under in commitment level.

Pros

• Full titanal layer holds high edge angle and high carving speed.
• Race construction with Worldcup Sandwich Cap concentrates damping under foot.
• Joy 12 GW PRD system handles strong driving.
• Long radius (up to 16.2 m at 168 cm) rewards stretched arcs.
• Sharpest skill_level in the Joy line for advanced piste work.

Cons

• ~1923 g per ski makes it the heaviest Joy by a clear margin.
• 70 mm waist offers no off-piste utility at all.
• Long radius is the wrong tool for quick-turn rhythms.
• Demands a confident driver — overskied by lighter intermediates.

Verdict: The race-tier piste carver at the top of the women's Joy line — pick this if you carve hard on groomers and want the most committed ski in the family. The Super Joy is the better choice for advanced-but-not-race-focused skiing.