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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
FREERIDE 98 — advanced skiers who already own something narrow and want one wider ski for everything else at the resort: groomers in the morning, chopped-up snow by two o'clock, a run off the side of the piste when they find one. H-Power 78 — skiers who spend most of the day on piste but keep drifting off it - groomers into fresh snow, a few side hits, cut-up afternoon snow - and who want race feel without committing to a race ski. Check the radar chart below to see where each one wins.
Each row compares all skis on one dimension. 🏆 marks the highest score.
| Dimension | FREERIDE 98 | H-Power 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 7 | 8🏆 |
| Park | 1🏆 | 1🏆 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 4🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 3 | 5🏆 |
| Stability | 8🏆 | 8🏆 |
| Powder | 4🏆 | 3 |
Advanced skiers who already own something narrow and want one wider ski for everything else at the resort: groomers in the morning, chopped-up snow by two o'clock, a run off the side of the piste when they find one. It suits skiers who ski fast enough to want two full sheets of metal working for them rather than against them, and skiers who want a flat ski and their own choice of binding. PTO stocks all four lengths, so you can come in and stand next to them.
Four skiers should look elsewhere. If deep snow is the point of the purchase, the FREERIDE 108 is what Van Deer built for that, at exactly the same price. If you are a beginner or a soft intermediate, 98 mm on two full Titanal sheets is a demanding platform - Van Deer states no ability level, so that read is ours, but it is not a close call. If you want a quick, tight turn on a groomer, 16 to 19 m at this width will not make it: go narrow, to the PRO or the H-POWER 68. And if you want something light and playful underfoot, a two-sheet metal build is not that. One more, and it matters at this price: nobody independent has published a test of how this ski skis, so if you want a ride report before you buy, there is none to read.
Skiers who spend most of the day on piste but keep drifting off it - groomers into fresh snow, a few side hits, cut-up afternoon snow - and who want race feel without committing to a race ski. An ambitious intermediate has room to grow into it; a skier who already carves well still finds ceiling above them. Pick the length by turn shape: 159 or 167 cm for quick, tight arcs, 175 or 183 cm for speed and space.
Beginners: the H-Power 78 is firm and race-derived, and it will not make the turn for you. If you never leave the hardpack, do not buy it - the narrower H-Power 68 grips harder and changes edge quicker, and you would be paying for ten millimetres you never use. If you chase deep snow or spend real time off-piste, 78 mm is not enough ski; go to the H-Power 89 or the Freeride line. And a racer chasing maximum rebound should buy an actual race ski - the SL, the GS or the PRO - not the friendly middle of the H-Power line.
The FREERIDE 98 is best for advanced skiers who already own something narrow and want one wider ski for everything else at the resort: groomers in. The H-Power 78 is best for skiers who spend most of the day on piste but keep drifting off it - groomers into fresh snow, a few side hits, cut-up. The right choice depends on your primary terrain, ability level, and riding style.
The Van Deer FREERIDE 98 scores highest in Stability at 8/10, making it the strongest all-mountain option. It handles groomers, chop, and variable conditions without losing composure, so it's the best single-ski choice for skiers who want one pair for the whole mountain.
The Van Deer H-Power 78 leads in Carving with a PTO score of 8/10. Its edge grip on hard snow and groomed runs is the strongest in this comparison.
The Van Deer H-Power 78 is the most forgiving option with a Forgiveness score of 5/10. It doesn't punish imperfect technique, making it the easiest ski to progress on among these.
Not sure? Ask us.