These New Skis and Boots Can Instantly Improve Your Technique and Confidence

Almost half of the 13 million Americans who skied last season either were first-timers or hadn’t been in a while, and manufacturers are responding with gear that instantly (and effortlessly!) improves technique. These pieces of equipment may not take you from zero to hero overnight, but they just might help you turn squares into diamonds.

Nordica Enforcer 99: The new 99 has all the top-end performance DNA of its predecessors but adds a versatility boost. A sharper rise in the tip gives it more stability across all conditions—from groomers and powder to bumped-up glades and ice—while its overall shape allows the ski to change the arc of a turn with just the slightest bit of pressure from your shins. A new pulse core (the underfoot layer of rubber) dampens the ski so you can blow through choppy terrain without punishing your legs. It’s a combination of power and finesse that makes this the Goldilocks of all-mountain, all-condition skis. From $800