Black Diamond’s new Carbon Megawatt is just as fun and playful as the regular Megawatt—we reviewed it favorably in last year’s Winter Buyer’s Guide—except now it’s even lighter. In fact, the touring-specific Carbon Megawatt is one of the coolest new skis we’ve seen at this year’s show. You get the massive surface area (152-125-130) of the regular ski, with a rockered tip and gently rockered tail, all in a much lighter package. The 188-cm version tips the scales at 9 pounds 5 ounces—just about two pounds lighter than the non-carbon version—which is pretty impressive for a ski of this girth. Black Diamond tweaked the shape of the ski a bit, reverting to dimensions last seen in the Megawatt two years ago. That change should please aficionados who weren’t thrilled with last year’s dimensions. Inside, a Paulownia wood core is reinforced with carbon fiber for a snappier feel on firmer snow. But make no mistake: the Carbon Megawatt is happiest surfing atop soft snow. Which, of course, is where we’re happiest, too. Available next fall.
