The 2023 Head Absolut Joy is a great choice for beginner and intermediate skiers who are looking for an easy-going pair of skis to get them from the top to the bottom with ease and confidence. These would make a great first pair of skis for a skier who has rented or leased in the past and wants to step it up a bit. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction, the Head Absolut Joy certainly lives up to its name, allowing skiers to have an absolute blast out there on the hill without having to worry too much about their gear and equipment.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber
CORE MATERIALS
ERA 3.0, Graphene
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Groomers, All Mountain
Built with a wood composite core and a strip of graphene, these skis are light and energetic. The Graphene gives them a bit higher-end of a feel while the composite wood is predictable and durable. It’s a fairly simple construction, while the camber gives the ski a lot of energy and grip. It does have tip and tail rocker, but that’s mainly there for on-trail smoothness rather than off-trail or powder performance. At 79 mm underfoot, nobody’s going to mistake this ski for a powder board—it’s certainly better suited for groomers and on-trail performance. In the 163 cm length, these skis generate a 13.2-meter turn radius, which is on the short side for sure, but that gives skiers of this level the opportunity and the confidence to create clean and round arcs while keeping the ski smooth and stable. Available in sizes 143 through 168, there’s a big range of skiers who can find some comfort and fun on these things.
Kerry Douglas-Pearce skied the 163, and noted that it felt like it was on the short side, which is understandable given the light weight and quick/agile nature of the ski. She gave it top marks of 5’s out of 5 for stability, quickness, and maneuverability, with 4’s for playfulness, forgiveness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression. Suffice it to say, Kerry had a good time on this Absolut Joy, calling it “Fantastic on hard packed snow and lends itself to any turning radius. Stable, versatile and smooth - a great all mountain ski for intermediate to advanced skiers.” It’s great to see that Kerry had a good experience in terms of the all-mountain and well-rounded nature of these skis.
Whether you’re looking to get into your first pair of skis or are interested in something light, fun, and easy to use, the Head Absolut Joy has something for you. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction, the Absolut Joy is a fantastic choice for beginner and intermediate skiers who spend most of their time on smooth and groomed surfaces.
