If you’ve followed along here at SkiEssentials.com over the years, you’d know that we are pretty big fans of the ~98 mm twin tip. With competitors like the Rossignol Holyshred/Blackops 98, Dynastar M-Free 99, or Nordica Unleashed 98, there’s a lot of fun and versatility to be had with a wider twin like this. Liberty, like always, makes there skis stand out through their unique construction, freeride heritage, and interesting design. Built with their Speedcore Carbon wood core, the skis have a blend of bamboo and poplar wood. The bamboo is interesting because it has light, quiet, and energetic properties to it. Interestingly, since it’s so light, you have to use more of it to get the performance, so the sidewalls of the skis tend to be pretty thick and high compared to other skis that use denser wood or sheets of metal to get the dampness. But the added material to the ski makes the Helix 98 incredibly silent out there on the hill, and that leads to confidence and fun. Liberty also adds two strips of carbon to the top of the core, and these give the ski a ton of snap and stiffness that freestyle and freeride skiers really enjoy. A full fiberglass wrap and poured polyurethane sidewalls wrap up this unique build, making Liberty, and in this case, the Helix 98, stand out from the rest.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
PREFERRED TERRAIN
All Mountain, Park, Groomers
Shaping has a lot to do with the overall character and success of the ski as well. There’s not much that a 98 mm waist width can’t do, as it’s one of the more versatile shapes that we see. Add a twin-tip to the mix and you can literally take this thing anywhere. We especially like the turned-up tail for tree skiing applications, as it allows you to back out of tricky spots and continue on your way without missing a beat. Stealth Rocker puts 5% rocker into both the tips and the tails, so the majority of the ski is cambered, and that does wonders for the on-trail and carving character of the Helix 98. In the 179, the skis produce a 19.5-meter turn radius, which is right in line with what a freeride twin tip should have, and they also weigh 1850 grams per ski—again sticking with the mid-range of weight in this class.
Jeff Neagle skied the 179 and noted that “it’s true to size and works great for me.” He gave the ski a top score of 5 out of 5 for playfulness, with 4’s right behind for overall impression, versatility, flotation, quickness, and maneuverability. 3’s for stability, forgiveness, torsional stiffness, and edge hold round out Jeff’s scorecard. “This is my kind of ski for sure! Super fun both as an all-mountain ski and in the park. Carves well, skis switch well, and feels relatively light on your feet. I find that the Origin 96 outperforms the Helix in soft snow and off-piste terrain, but the Helix feels more responsive on a groomer and is certainly a better choice for someone who's going to dabble in some park skiing. It's really nice having both options. If you lean more towards being a directional skier, go Origin, but if you want a more balanced ski with more freestyle influence, go Helix. Super snappy, energetic feel. I love the amount of pop in the flex pattern of these skis. It's something Liberty has always been good at, and the Helix 98 feels like a classic Liberty. Tons of similarities with the outgoing Nordica Soul Rider, so if you want this shape with a carbon feel, it's one of the best choices on the market.”
Like most skiers out there, we’re always on the lookout for something that has an awesome blend of fun and performance, and 98 mm twin tips usually find themselves at the top of that list. Due to the interesting construction, versatile shape, and fun-loving heritage, the 2023 Liberty Helix 98 is an awesome choice for skiers in this range.
