2023 Head Power Joy

As the strongest and most carving-oriented of the Joy line, the 2023 Head Power Joy grips tight to the ice and powers through carves with ease and aplomb. This 68-mm waisted carving machine generates a 12.7-meter turn radius in the 163, so it’s meant to carve on a dime and rip you into the next turn. It’s not just the shape that makes it such a powerful ski, but also the construction. Built with Head’s World Cup Sandwich Cap Construction, these skis get a wood core with two sheets of metal that gives the ski a ton of dampness and power. More like a Supershape than the rest of the Joy skis, the Power Joy also has Head’s Energy Management Circuit that filters out unwanted vibrations to create a silky-smooth ride. With some tip rocker for initiation, the smoothness of the ski gets taken to the next level. If you’re looking for something strong and capable, but with a shorter radius and a lighter weight, the Head Power Joy should be squarely at the top of the list.

Brooke Mars skied the 163, noting it was perfect for her. She scored it top marks of 5’s out of 5 for overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, quickness, maneuverability, and stability. versatility and forgiveness got 4’s while flotation got a lowly 3, which isn’t terribly shocking given the 68 mm waist width. Brooke queries that “If you’ve ever wondered what somebody means by a quick maneuverable ski, these will show you right off the bat. They’re quick to respond and hold an edge on the firmest snow pack. I’m a big fan of these skis and they’re perfect for the medium level aggressive skier. These made me confident I could ski any of the conditions today without washing out.” That is a great feeling coming from Brooke, and confidence is a huge part of the equation.

Diane Ashworth skied the 163 as well, noting that it was just right for her. She scored it 5’s out of 5 for overall impression and stability, with 4’s for torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Not shocking, we see 2’s for flotation and forgiveness, as the style of this ski certainly leans to the hard and fast side of the spectrum. Diane calls this a “Quick, stiff carver. Very playful and fun in carved turns but requires some precision to put it on edge. I would recommend it for more advanced skiers for this reason, it feels a bit dull in skidded/steered turns. Great grip on hard snow and stable enough to cut through some soft sugar. It is very fun for hard snow days and seems to be stable in light chop.” That ability to make those short carves is a whole lot of fun, and Diane is certainly picking up on that here.

For a more advanced ski with a tight balance point and a shorter arc, the Head Power Joy makes a lot of sense for skiers who spend most/all of their time on groomed and firm terrain. If you like a tighter turn and a stiffer ski with a slalom feel to it, this Power Joy is an excellent option if you want something a bit lighter and more user-friendly than a tuned-down race ski.