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The Scores (out of 10)
- Overall Score: 7.14/10
- Rank: #5
- Versatility: 7.17
- Crud Performance: 7.67
- Playfulness: 6.5
- Responsiveness: 7.17
- Hard-Snow Integrity: 7.84
- Quickness: 6.5
- Stability at Speed: 7.83
- Carving: 7.5
- Flotation: 6.17
- Forgiveness: 6.67
The Specs
- Price: $850
- Lengths: 170, 177, 184
- Dimensions: 133-98-119
- Radius: 19
- Level: Intermediate to Expert
In a Nutshell
- Pros: Crud Performance (#3), Hard-Snow Integrity (#5)
- Cons: Quickness (#20), Playfulness (#13)
The Scott Pure Mission takes some notes from Jeremie Heitz鈥檚 freeride skis and distills them down to a refined all-mountain ski that is accessible for skiers of varying abilities. With its inherited freeride DNA, the Pure Mission has a knack for charging through chunder off-piste, but it can also hammer out long-radius turns on hardpack with confidence.
Scott accomplishes this magic by using a paulownia wood core with two beech stringers that cover the full length of the ski to provide torsional stiffness without adding unnecessary weight. That rigidity had testers raving about the Pure Mission鈥檚 Hard-Snow Integrity (it ranked fifth in that department), but also convinced them that the ski would be approachable for a wide variety of skiers.
While this ski didn鈥檛 score top marks in any one skill department, it ranked in the Top 5 of the all-mountain category by impressing testers with its balance of skills and accessibility. Everyone agreed that unlike many skis in the all-mountain wide category that cater more to the advanced and expert skiers, the Pure Mission is approachable to technically proficient intermediate skiers, especially on groomed terrain. Off the groomers, it takes a more skilled and aggressive skier to get this ski to cooperate in all terrain and snow conditions.
Related: See How the Scott Pure Mission Compares to Its Competition
Tester Otto Gibbons pointed out that the Pure Mission鈥檚 larger turn radius (19m) is best suited to skiers who prefer a long turn shape and feels most at home 鈥渁nywhere you can see the sky above you鈥� (read: not tight trees). This may not be the best ski for glades and bumps since testers awarded it low marks in Quickness, but if you keep it to wide open groomers and or cut-up back bowls, the Pure Mission is sure to impress with its stability and dependability.
At 98 mm underfoot and with a dense wood core, the Pure Mission isn鈥檛 the snappiest from turn to turn, but its construction does give it a predictable flex that鈥檚 easy to manage. The reliable feedback you get from pressuring the ski allows less aggressive skiers to build confidence on-piste and eventually opens the door to exploring off the beaten path.
The one, arguably subjective downside to this ski: it鈥檚 slow to transition from edge to edge, so it doesn鈥檛 encourage a particularly playful style. But not every skier wants a poppy or playful ski. Those who appreciate being able to stand centered over a ski and count on it to do their bidding without talking back will find the Pure Mission compliant. Skiers who like an energetic ski with lots of personality and rebound out of turns may want to look elsewhere.
While testers had a hard time putting their finger on what it is that sets the Pure Mission apart from the pack, all agreed it was one of the best all-rounders of the category. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a do-everything resort ski that will offend absolutely no one,鈥� said tester David Amirault. 鈥淚t just does it all well.鈥�
A self-proclaimed gear nerd when it comes to skis and mountain bikes, grew up skiing in Northern California, spending the majority of his time getting loose and sendy in terrain parks. He now lives in Colorado and calls Copper Mountain his home hill. Though he still gravitates towards playful and wide all-mountain skis, he鈥檚 developed a more open mind when it comes to skis since joining SKI鈥檚 official gear test crew five seasons ago. These days, you鈥檒l find him ripping around Copper on his trusty Nordica Enforcer 100s.