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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
H-Power 89 — intermediate-to-advanced skiers whose day genuinely splits between the groomer and everything else - firm snow early, variable terrain by midday, softer snow late - and who want one ski to carry all of it. 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 | H-Power 89 | H-Power 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 7 | 8🏆 |
| Park | 1🏆 | 1🏆 |
| Playfulness | 5🏆 | 4 |
| Forgiveness | 5🏆 | 5🏆 |
| Stability | 8🏆 | 8🏆 |
| Powder | 5🏆 | 3 |
Intermediate-to-advanced skiers whose day genuinely splits between the groomer and everything else - firm snow early, variable terrain by midday, softer snow late - and who want one ski to carry all of it. It suits a skier moving up who wants metal and stability underfoot without committing to a race ski, and it suits anyone shopping this line who has found the 68 and 78 too narrow for the off-piste days they actually ski. Length is a turn-shape choice: 159 or 167 cm for quicker, tighter turns, 175 or 183 cm for bigger, faster arcs.
Beginners: this is a firm, twin-Titanal ski on a race plate - it rewards a skier who drives it and gives back little to one who does not. It is not a forgiving first ski. Frontside-only carvers should not buy it either. If your skiing is groomers and hard snow, the narrower H-Power 68 and 78 grip harder and change edge faster, and the 89 gives up both. Powder-first skiers should walk away - 89 mm floats better than anything else in this line, but a genuinely deep day runs it out of surface area, and the Freeride 98 or 108 is the ski you actually want. And a racer chasing maximum rebound is in the wrong series: the SL, GS and PRO are the real race skis. Van Deer's own page says intermediate to advanced - treat that as a floor, not a formality.
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 H-Power 89 is best for intermediate-to-advanced skiers whose day genuinely splits between the groomer and everything else - firm snow early,. 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 H-Power 89 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 89 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.