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The Scores (out of 10)

• Overall Score: 7.26/10
• Rank: #8
• Hard-Snow Integrity: 8.63
• Stability at Speed: 8
• Carving: 7
• Quickness: 5.75
• Responsiveness: 6.63
• Playfulness: 5.5
• Forgiveness: 5.63
• Crud Performance: 5.36
• Versatility: 6

The Specs

• Price: $1,300 (with PRD 12 GW bindings)
• Lengths: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184
• Dimensions: 133-84-115 (170)
• Radius: 15.7m (170)
• Level: Advanced, Expert

In a Nutshell

• Pros: Hard Snow Integrity, Carving
• Cons: Forgiveness, Crud Performance

Testers were polarized on the Head Supershape e-Titan—some loved it, while others felt it wasn’t versatile enough. But at the end of the day all agreed it is a solid groomer ripper that gives back what the skiers puts into it.

The ski features Head’s EMC technology, which is an electronic dampening system that is designed to reduce vibrations, and testers did notice stability and smoothness in each turn, with many calling out how nicely it moves from edge to edge. “This ski sparks arcs,” said tester Tommy Flitton. “I was surprised how smooth the energy transfer is between turns.” Tester Peter Nestor agreed. “Pleasantly surprised by the smooth edge grip,” said Nestor. “Serious tool for a serious hard snow skier.”

One of the few skis in the test without any metal in its construction, testers felt that beginners could access the power without much effort, while confident intermediate to advanced skiers could tap into that electrifying energy out of each turn. This set the e-Titan apart from more stiff and demanding skis in the test—many of which seemed to demand a resume that brags of a race background or tree trunk legs. The e-Titan is much more accessible and better suited for a larger community of groomer skiers.

Read more: See how the Supershape e-Titan stacked up against the rest of the competition

However, the e-Titan’s wider waist and stiff tip give the ski a single turn shape and it refuses to adapt to other turn shapes or styles, no matter how hard testers tried. Medium-sized turns at medium speeds were its sweet spot; if you have other ideas about how you’d like to ski, it takes some will power to force this ski. “It’s so regimented,” said tester Matt Schiller. “It fights you all the way down if you detract from its purpose.”

As a groomer-specific ski, it’s not surprising that it loves firm snow and hardpack on the frontside. What testers bemoaned is that the e-Titan lacks the versatility to meander off the groomed. “It feels like a plank under foot and it’s not nimble,” said tester Chad Jacob. “It’s impossible to maneuver through crud and piles of snow.”

But if you’re looking for a ski that can hang on the hardpack, consider this ride. Its strong and confident edge transfers and ability to carve make it a knife for those hardpack days. “The more energy you put in, the more energy comes out. I think it would be a great ski for any groomer at any resort,” said Flitton.

grew up ski racing, starting on the icy slopes of New England and finishing at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She now lives in Park City, Utah and works as the Director of Marketing & Communications at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. She also freelance writes and consults in the skiing and Olympic industry. When she’s not traveling with the team, her home mountain is Deer Valley Resort, where she loves to arc turns on groomers, but also knows all of the secret spots for days-old powder. Harkins has been testing skis since 2016 and has been a SKI gear tester for three seasons.