Scott Sea 116 – Review

Scott’s SEA 116 is a playful, freeride powder ski with real backbone. At 116 mm underfoot with pronounced tip-and-tail rocker (Spin Tech 3D), a full poplar core, and a Titanal plate underfoot, it’s built to float, pivot, and stomp landings while staying composed when the snow gets chopped.

Who is it for?

Riders who want a surfy, pivoty feel in deep snow but still value stability in chop and on landings.
Freeriders who lap trees and natural features, and want a ski that’s easy to throw sideways and ski switch in soft snow.
Not ideal for: Carve-first skiers on hardpack, or tourers prioritizing ultralight setups.

On-snow performance

Powder: Spin Tech 3D rocker keeps the tips planing and the tails loose enough to smear without wheelie-ing. The 116 mm waist delivers easy float for most storm days.
Trees & steeps: Shorter effective edge and the 3D tip/tail shape make for quick pivots, slashes, and corrections in tight lines.
Crud & chop: The Titanal underfoot and full sidewalls provide damping and bite. More composed than pure pow-park skis like the Bent 120 when the resort gets tracked.
Groomers: For a 116, it arcs decent medium-radius turns on soft to mixed snow (20–22 m radius). Don’t expect strong edge hold on true ice.

Design & construction insights

Full-length poplar core carried deep into the tips for a smooth, poppy flex.
Air Tec core milling trims weight without hollowing the ride.
Titanal reinforcement underfoot adds landing support and calmness without killing playfulness.
Full sidewall Sandwich Powder construction for durability and edge grip.

Size guidance

174 cm: Lighter/smaller riders or tight-trees, lower-speed play.
182 cm: The sweet spot for many—balanced stability and agility.
190 cm: High speed, open terrain, heavier or more aggressive skiers.

Comparisons

Armada ARV 116 JJ: The JJ feels looser and surfier; the Sea 116 is calmer underfoot with better chop composure.
Atomic Bent 120: The Bent is lighter and ultra-playful; the Sea 116 is more stable at speed and on landings.
Black Crows Anima: The Anima is more directional and a better charger; the Sea 116 pivots easier and feels more playful.
Salomon QST Blank (112): The Blank is stronger on firm and more all-round; the Sea 116 floats better on the deepest days.

Key takeaways

Surfy yet stable: Playful tails with notable landing and chop stability.
Easy to pivot: 3D tip/tail shape makes slashes and speed control effortless.
Not a hard-snow specialist: Competent, but 116 mm won’t bite on glare ice.
Not an ultralight: Reasonable weight for damping; heavy for big vert touring.

Specs explained

Rocker profile: Spin Tech 3D Freeride tip-and-tail rocker—promotes float, quick pivots, and switch/landing support in soft snow.
Dimensions (tip/waist/tail): 174: 141/115/130 mm; 182 & 190: 143/115/132 mm—width for float with slightly narrower tails to release turns and slash.
Radius: 20 m (174), 21 m (182), 22 m (190)—medium-radius that balances playfulness in pow with stability at speed.
Weight (per ski, listed): ~1920 g (174), 2160 g (182), 2240 g (190). Retailers report ~2130–2300 g for 190—expect small variation. Weight aids damping; not ideal for long tours.
Lengths: 174, 182, 190 cm—size up for stability/open faces; size down for trees and freestyle feel.
Construction: Sandwich Powder build with poplar core, fiberglass, Titanal underfoot, full sidewall, and Air Tec milling—blend of pop, durability, and composure.

Pros and cons

Pros: Excellent float and pivot; calmer than many pow-freestyle skis in chop; durable, confidence-inspiring underfoot.
Cons: Wide and average grip on firm; not optimized for long touring; not the stiffest big-mountain charger.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How does the Scott Sea 116 compare to the Atomic Bent 120?
A: The Bent 120 is lighter and looser with a very surfy feel—great for butters and playful lines. The Scott Sea 116 is more composed in chop and on landings, offering more confidence at speed.

Q: Is the Scott Sea 116 good on groomers?
A: For a 116 mm ski, it handles soft to mixed groomers respectably with medium-radius turns. On icy mornings, a narrower all-mountain ski will be better.

Q: Can I tour on the Sea 116?
A: You can with hybrid/pin bindings, but it’s not ultralight. For frequent, long vert tours, consider a lighter pow-specific touring ski.

Q: What length should I choose?
A: Chin-to-nose (trees/play) suggests 174–182; eye-height or longer (stability/speed) suggests 182–190. Heavier/aggressive riders tend to prefer 190 cm.