Head Super Joy — Review

The Head Super Joy is the advanced piste-carver in Head's women's Joy collection: 75 mm waist, poplar wood core reinforced with carbon, Allride Rocker and a 14.0 m radius at 163 cm. It sits above the Real Joy in stiffness and edge bite, aimed at confident frontside skiers who want to lay long, clean arcs. Joy 11 GW SLR system binding on Power Rail is included.

The Super Joy is the most demanding 75 mm Joy on the line and the one that rewards the most. Carbon stringers in the poplar core add a noticeably stiffer torsion and longitudinal flex than the Real Joy — the ski stays quiet at higher carving speed and holds a high edge angle without folding. The 14.0 m radius lets you stretch a turn well past mid-length on wider pistes, and the Allride Rocker keeps initiation clean enough that you don't pay for the stiffness with a heavy initiation feel. Off-piste it is still a frontside ski: the chassis dampening helps in chop next to the run, but a 75 mm waist with this stiffness is not a soft-snow tool.

A poplar wood core with embedded carbon stringers, ERA 3.0 / KERS rebound assistance system, and Graphene reinforcement layers. Power Sidewall Jacket Construction supports the edge underfoot. Sidecut 120 / 75 / 106 mm and 14.0 m radius. Lengths: 143 / 148 / 153 / 158 / 163 / 168 (six lengths, widest range in the Joy line). Weight at 163 cm is approximately 1635 g per ski. Joy 11 GW SLR alpine binding on Power Rail mount.

A confident-advanced woman who skis pistes hard, carves at speed, and wants a single ski that takes a high-angle GS-style turn without protest. Compared to the Elan Primetime n3 w it is a touch softer through the running length but more stable at the limit thanks to wider waist and longer sidecut radius. Against the Elan Element 78 Ti w RS the Super Joy carves with more spring and less straight-line stability — the Element 78 Ti w RS feels more locked-in but less playful turn-to-turn. Skiers who tour, or who want more off-piste in the package, will be happier with a wider sibling or a different ski entirely.

Pros

• Carbon-reinforced poplar core holds a high edge angle.
• 14.0 m radius rewards proper GS-style arcs on wide piste.
• ERA 3.0 / KERS rebound gives a snappy exit out of a turn.
• Six lengths up to 168 cm — only Joy with that range.
• Joy 11 GW SLR system handles harder driving than the Joy 9.

Cons

• Demands a confident driver to make the chassis sing.
• 75 mm waist still leaves it weak in soft snow.
• Heavier than the Real Joy by ~400 g per ski.
• System mount removes any future touring option.

Verdict: The strongest piste ski in the women's Joy line — a clear advanced-tier carver that rewards effort with bite, hold and a sharp rebound. Pick the Real Joy if you want something gentler, or step wider for an all-mountain.