What I Learned Testing 15 Pairs of Skis in 5 Days

Last week, alongside a crew of hardworking testers, POWDER shacked up in Grand Targhee, Wyoming. For five days straight, we skied, bullsh*tted, and dissected next season’s gear. 

While the detailed reviews of those skis won’t be released until next fall, my mind was spinning afterward, and I had some thoughts to share. For a nascent tester like myself, the experience led to a few realizations.

Some had to do with the skis themselves; others involved skiing more broadly—here's what...