It’s usually best to be a bit skeptical when a new ski company comes onto the market. It’s so much easier to claim that an innovation is game changing than it is to actually make a game changing innovation. For Peak Ski Company, that game changing innovation is KeyHole Technology, a small cutaway in the ski that creates an inflection point in the flex, allowing both for forgiving turn entry and powerful edging.
Bode Miller’s ski racing experience is what brought him the idea for KeyHole Technology, falling in love with two pairs of GS skis with a similar cutaway in the 2003/04 season. His time on the World Cup circuit is likely part of what convinced many people to trust the claims of Peak Ski Company, despite being on the market for less than a full year.
The skis weren’t hard to find around the resorts of the United States, and everyone who had them seemed to love them. But your general consumer isn’t necessarily the most trustworthy reviewer, and they might be swayed to say one thing or another simply because they spent money on the product. Review season is when we really get to know the best and worst skis of the year.
After just one year on the market, nobody expects a ski company to rank incredibly high in the reviews. This year, Peak Ski Company smashed that precedent to pieces. All six Peak Ski Company skis were marked as “Blister Recommended” in the 2023/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, but it doesn’t end there.
SKI Magazine and Outside placed all four of the company’s all-mountain/freeride skis among the best in their respective categories, and Freeskier had all five ski options submitted by Peak Skis within category top tens. To top it all off, Peak Ski Company received two major awards for their all-mountain/freetour skis in Backcountry Magazine’s 2024 Gear Guide. We’ve broken down each ski and their respective awards/rankings below.
Peak 88 by Bode
Peak Ski Company’s skinniest ski, the Peak 88 by Bode, is designed to take on the best groomer days any resort has to offer, but it’s 128mm shovel width and 106mm tail width will keep you moving through corn and off-trail alpine lines. It, of course, features the company’s Keyhole Technology, bringing in an easier turn initiation than other designs.
In the field of reviews and accolades, the Peak 88 by Bode was highly recognized by several publications. Ski Magazine and Outside placed the ski among the Best Frontside Skis of 2024, and it landed 8th place in the Best Women’s Frontside Skis of 2024. Over at Freeskier, it took 2nd place for the Best All-Mountain Skis (87-96mm) of 2024 and, in the Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, it received a “Blister Recommended” title in the Frontside Skis Category.
Peak 98 by Bode
If anything from Peak Ski’s fits that coveted “quiver-of-one” title, it’s the Peak 98 by Bode. Rip super-G turns or take your time down groomers, rip through the cruddiest off-trail snow you can find, or float through plenty deep powder (consider the Peak 104 or Peak 110 for the deepest of days). Designed for use on packed snow 50% of the time and whatever else you throw at it for the other 50%, the Peak 98 by Bode is a resort powerhouse.
Peak’s own description isn’t the only thing backing this up, either. In Ski Magazine and Outside’s 2024 tests, the Peak 98 by Bode took 3rd in the Best All-Mountain Unisex Ski category and landed in the top ten for the Best Women’s All-Mountain Skis of 2024. At Freeskier, it ranked 4th in the Best All-Mountain Skis (97-99mm) of 2024, and received a “Blister Recommended” title in the All-Mountain category in the Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide.
Peak 104 by Bode
The Peak 104 by Bode is really designed to please those of us living in the Intermountain West. East Coasters should save this guy for the deepest of powder days, but the skiers of the West can enjoy the 104 as a floaty all-mountain ski. With more of a surfy focus than the 98, the six millimeters of difference will go a long way on the deep powder days. On the not-so-deep-days, the 104 will take you through the crud and slash through trees with little concern.
The Peak 104 by Bode, like the ski before it, received a “Blister Recommended” in the All-Mountain category in the Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide, and Ski Magazine and Outside ranked this ski among the best in both the All-Mountain Wide category and the Women’s All-Mountain Wide category.
Peak 110 by Bode
Those of us looking for their next quiver ski taken out to satisfy the powder-hunger on the deepest of days can look towards the Peak 110 by Bode. If you find yourself living in those atmospheric river flowing coastal ranges, this could be your daily driver. Its 110mm width and 137mm shovel will keep you surfing through the biggest and deepest of powder fields, but you won’t be upset with its ability to rip inbounds.
Ski Magazine and Outside placed the Peak 110 in the top ten Best Women’s Powder Skis, and Freeskier placed it in the top ten Powder Skis (110-115mm). The Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide features these skis as “Blister Recommended” in the Directional Powder Ski category.
Peak 98 by Dav
You know that hike to some remarkable in-bound terrain that you’ve been looking at for years but have been too afraid to do because your skis are too heavy? Have you been trying to find a ski to toss some resort-to-AT hybrid bindings on so you can test out some backcountry terrain? That’s where the Peak 98 by Dav is meant to come in. 50% inbound, 50% backcountry.
Backcountry Magazine certainly seems to agree with Peak’s description, awarding the Peak 98 by Dav the Sport Touring Skis Editor’s Choice, and Freeskier placed among the top ten All Mountain Skis (97-99mm) of 2024. Like every other Peak Ski submitted to the Blister Review, the Peak 98 by Dav received a “Blister Recommended” title in the Backcountry Touring Category.
Peak 104 by Dav
Like the Peak 104 by Bode, this ski will take you through deep powder days, slash through trees, and rip through crud (they share the same shape and rocker profile). Unlike the Peak 104 by Bode, the Peak 104 by Dav features a more lightweight design, perfect for some resort-to-AT hybrid bindings or whatever setup you hope to use to move uphill. This ski provides plenty of fun while touring, resort skiing, or ripping some snowcat adventures.
Freeskier loved this ski, placing it fourth in the Best Big Mountain Skis (100-105mm) of 2024, and Backcountry Magazine awarded it as a Sport Touring Skis Gear Guide Select. Once again, like every ski submitted to the Blister Review by Peak Skis, the Peak 104 by Dav received a “Blister Recommended” title in the Backcountry & Resort category.
The Future of Peak Ski Company
Peak Ski Company has had a remarkable first year, but their success is likely just beginning. Back in March, the company announced that JT Holmes, the world-renowned professional skier and aerial athlete, would be joining the team as Senior Director of Business Development. Later that month, the company announced their newest innovation in ski technology, the PEAK Lôc8. For next season, each Peak Ski will include GPS tracking features, making it infinitely easier to find your skis after an ejection in deep snow, after a long mid-day lunch/drink break on the mountain, or after a hectic day of traveling through airports.
We don’t have inside knowledge for what’s next at Peak Ski Company. We don’t know what their next lineup of skis is going to look like. All we know is, if it’s anything like what they’ve done up until now, we’re excited to see it.
Related: JT Holmes Joins Peak Ski Company As Senior Director of Business Development
Black Friday Event
Peak is launching an extraordinary Black Friday event in honor of their recent triumphs. Throughout November, enjoy a remarkable $200 discount on any Peak Skis, simply by applying the code WHITEHOT at checkout. In addition, as their way of saying thanks, you’ll be gifted an additional $150 voucher, applicable towards any future purchase, be it Peak Carbon poles or another set of Peak skis.
Don’t miss out on Peak’s White Hot Black Friday Sale.
Image Credit: Peak Skis