Peak 98 — Review

The Peak 98, developed with Bode Miller, is a directional all-mountain ski built for skiers who spend most of their day on and around the groomers but still want a ski that can wander off-piste. Peak positions it roughly 70% on-trail and 30% off-trail, and everything about the build reflects that balance. With a 98 mm waist, twin full sheets of Titanal and a long 23.5 m radius, it is a damp, planted, do-most-things ski that leans frontside rather than a dedicated powder tool. The signature KeyHole Technology in the forebody is what keeps this heavy metal build from feeling demanding at turn entry.

On firm snow and ice the Peak 98 is quiet and stable. The two Titanal sheets and the substantial 1918 g/ski weight at 178 damp chatter and hold an edge when the pitch steepens, and the 23.5 m radius rewards longer, faster arcs rather than quick slashes. The KeyHole cutaway over the forebody softens turn initiation, so despite the metal-heavy layup the tip engages progressively instead of hooking, which makes the ski more forgiving on entry than its build suggests. Off-piste it manages soft snow and variable conditions competently, but the frontside bias and long radius mean float in deeper snow is average rather than a strength. This is a carve-first ski that tolerates the rest of the mountain, not the other way around.

The core is a Paulownia-and-Ash blend sandwiched between two full sheets of Titanal, giving the ski its damp, stable character. Peak's patented KeyHole Technology is an oval cutaway in the upper Titanal layer over the forebody: it removes a small amount of metal to soften turn initiation while the rest of the ski stays damp and stable on edge. The profile is a directional all-mountain camber with a rockered tip. At 178 cm the sidecut is 128 / 98 / 116 mm with an independently measured 23.5 m radius, and the ski weighs 1918 g per ski. Lengths run 160, 168, 178, 184 and 190 cm. It is directional through and through — not a park ski, and with no touring provisions, not a backcountry tool.

The Peak 98 suits advanced, directional skiers who ski hard on-piste and want stability and quiet at speed, with just enough width to handle a soft-snow detour. It asks for speed and effort to come alive, so it is less rewarding for lighter or slower skiers. Cross-shop it against the K2 Mindbender 99Ti, a Titanal-Y-beam directional all-mountain ski, and the Nordica Enforcer 100, a heavy metal all-mountain charger with a similar planted feel. If you want the same all-mountain footprint at much lower weight, the metal-topped Head Kore 100 Ti is the lighter reference point. For a narrower, even more frontside-focused ride from the same maker, look at the Peak 88.

Pros

• Damp and stable at speed and on ice thanks to twin Titanal sheets.
• KeyHole forebody keeps turn entry forgiving despite the heavy build.
• Long 23.5 m radius rewards fast, confident arcs on groomers.
• Broad length range from 160 to 190 cm.
• Handles the whole mountain from a frontside-first base.

Cons

• Heavy Titanal build and long radius demand speed and effort to shine.
• Frontside bias means only average float in deeper snow.
• No touring provisions, so it is poorly suited to the backcountry.
• Strictly directional, not a park or switch ski.

Verdict: The Peak 98 is a damp, planted frontside-leaning all-mountain ski for advanced directional skiers who want stability and quiet at speed. Its twin Titanal sheets and long radius make it a confident carver, while the KeyHole forebody keeps turn entry approachable. Ask it to float deep snow or tour and it shows its limits, but as a 70/30 do-most-things ski built around the groomers, it delivers exactly what it promises.