2024 Head Kore 99 - SkiEssentials.com Ski Test

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[@nakyisnotavailable4]

Great review guys! Here are my 5 cents: I am 5'9 (175cm in metrics) with 80kg (175 lb), but pretty aggressive skier. I ride KORE 99 2019/2020 180cm (with tech Marker Kingpin binding). I am going to switch to 2023/2024 177cm with Shift. Skis are stiff as hell, what I like a lot and are great, especially in our central European conditions - mostly frozen, unfrozen, refrozen, icy, wind-packing snow with some soft pillows here and there and with occasional powder days (like 2-3 per season). And I love charging with bigger turns (on the nice plains), but also having fun among threes, couloirs and bumps. I would go with Katana or Enforcer or Rustler, but the weight (going top) would kill me on those. That is why I choose KORE. For mentioned conditions and my skiing style, these are the best skis I could find and I am sticking with it (was riding Atomic Vantage, local Forest Skis brand, K2 Wayback and Blizzard Rustler 11 for powder days). KORE just hold on ice, do not tremble on groomers and in higher speed, very agile on short turns, stamp through the hard-pack (obviously not like Enforcer, but probably best in this weight class) and float in the powder. However, if you are not a strong skier and do not push properly, KORE can quite punish you (shoot you off) in short and hard turns.

[@audas]

167cm, 82kg and 52 years old (this matters). I can throw in some fast short turns on super hard packed ice with snow machine made bumps - then when I get tired, charge straight over the entire thing with turns at will with the piste barely having any say in the matter. Hard packed Aussie conditions need carvers - but you simply can not ski "over" those bumps, crud and chop with carvers. You need to turn. The tired legs need to charge. It takes confidence, aggression etc but the lightness of these Kores combined with their stability was awesome.

[@chrisgravel7157]

Great stuff Bob. Going into second season on this ski and agree its a bit of a unicorn. Light, stiff, super powerful yet easy to ski. If you dont push it and take it easy it will work fine but its much better in the hands of someone who is heavy/fast/strong enough to bend it. Give it something to push against and it will light up a groomer and then wiggle through day after dump trees like a total champ. Good in boot deep pow, a bit unforgiing in refrozen or really firm/choppy conditions.

[@SkiEssentials]

Great feedback, agree totally!

[@Spaeckli]

Got the Kore 99 2022 for 250.- with bindings, brand new on clearance what a deal, i'm impressed with the on piste performance and even off piste they're solid. A little stiff, but still amazing 💪🏾

[@SkiEssentials]

Great deal!

[@basil.g_photo]

also im looking at the maverick 95 and putting a Hybrid binding on that (I tested the 88ti and loved its energy super confidence boosting ski felt like I could send anything on them) haven't had a chance to get my hands on the 95 though.

[@basil.g_photo]

hey love your stuff been watching your reviews for years now! I'm an instructor currently out in Canada but I travel every few seasons, im 5ft 9" or just under and weight 77-82kg depending on how much im training/stuffing my face, I've skied the 93 @ 172cm from 2019/20 season (no top sheet) loved it have found some chatter at high speed on mixed terrain. my partner has the Hustle 10 with shift binding I didn't like it so thoughts on putting a Shift or Pt Duke on kore 99 (im 90% inbound)

[@frichougregory1737]

Hi guys, thank you for your reviews, I like them! Have you tried different mounting points for the bindings? I have the feeling that the recommended point is sitting backwards? I'm considering moving the binding forward by 1cm, what do you think?

[@SkiEssentials]

Give it a shot! Let us know how it feels. We did not move the bindings around.

[@Poksutin]

i tested head kore 93 today and compared those to my 2014 bonafides and they are REALLY similar..tail felt bit different but those were super good and powerfull skis :) these type of skis really require some momentum. i feel that these needed 60+km/h to start working and im 110kg 186cm :)

[@SkiEssentials]

I'm a huge Kore 93 fan and love hearing other people's experiences on them. I'm constantly impressed with what they can do.

[@samokham]

Hello. Thank you for a great review again. Are there any other skis around 100 width with similar weight, stiffness, but with a bit longer radius? Thank you very much.

[@SkiEssentials]

I'd say the Atomic Maverick 100 Ti at 19.2-meters in the 180 is a good bet here.

[@samokham]

@@SkiEssentials Thank you very much. How less stiff is Scott pure mission 98ti?

[@SkiEssentials]

@@samokham It's middle-stiff. Less burly than the Mantra/Bonafide realm. We have a friend with a race background who skis the Mission 98 like it's a WC GS ski, so the performance can be there if the skills are. Most skiers will view the Mission 98 as a lighter, more versatile all-mountain ski.

[@samokham]

@@SkiEssentials Great, thank you.

[@bertrandverlhac9388]

How would it compare with the now discontinued Mantra V Werks? It seems very similar.

[@SkiEssentials]

I think you're on the right track here. The V.Werks had such a thin sidewall profile, it's tough to make such a direct comparison, though. Carbon being the main powering agent though, does give these skis similar energy and rebound. I do think the Kore is more stable and predictable overall.

[@Mark5ive5]

What is a “heavier” and a “lighter” skier as this definitely varies by sport

[@SkiEssentials]

I think of heavier skiers as approaching and going beyond the 200 pound mark. Lighter skiers are 160 and lighter, and from 160 to about 200, y'all average.

[@stevek9943]

Hi guys, great review! I am 5'9 but on the heavier side at 200-210. Moderately aggressive skier and would be using these as more of a soft snow ski to complement a carver. Would you recommend these in the 170 or 177?

[@SkiEssentials]

I'd go 170 in that ski. Going over head high on the Kore I don't think is a great idea due to the stiffness.

[@joehasenauer1288]

I am used to metal laminates, Blizzard Brahma 88's. The light weight intrigues me. At 5'10" , 187lbs. and 80-20 groomers to off listening how would the Kore line work for me, an advanced skier.

[@SkiEssentials]

It's a different feel than the metallic Brahma. If you can get it up on a higher edge angle and flex the ski, it's a lot more composed. If you go fast and let it slide, there's more chatter.

[@geirheggertveit]

Great reviews at your channel! 👌Would be interesting to hear an opinion on the Elan Ripstick 96/106 Black Edition compared to the Head Kore 99/105 skis, and similarities and differences between these. To me they seems to attract pretty much the same kind of skiers/arenas. What is your take on this? 🤔

[@SkiEssentials]

Agree 100%. Both carbon-powered skis that are light and agile while still having high performance ceilings. The Kore skis are more consistent from tip to tail, and that's one of the reasons I like them a bit better at my size of 6/2 225. The Elan is fine, but the shovel is slightly flexible for manky and choppy snow conditions whereas the Kore cuts right through with no complaints. As a heavier skier, I like the stiffness and responsive nature of the Kore, but that doesn't mean I dislike the Ripstick Black--very versatile and highly sophisticated skis for sure.

[@Jdawg004]

Hey guys just got a Duke PT 12 wondering if this ski would be alike to the Enforcer Unlimited but with more power and precision while maintaining solid touring capabilities? I have Rustler 11’s with Duke PT 16 just a little bit overkill for conditions where I live. Cheers!

[@SkiEssentials]

Yes we talk about the Kore being a great option for a hybrid binding like this. The carbon is more powerful and responsive in the Kore than it is the Enforcer Unlimited, and it's still quite light so should be a great setup!

[@rubenantunes1603]

How this compare to the navis freebird?

[@SkiEssentials]

The Kore is considerably stiffer, and more on-piste oriented than the Navis, which has a bit more rounded of a taper shape in the shovel while having a flatter tail which is more borne from touring.

[@oscarsoderstrom7992]

Are they hard to butter with?

[@SkiEssentials]

Yup! these skis are pretty darn stiff and not very butterable.