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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
These skis span 2 categories (Carving, All-Mountain). Scores reflect each ski's intended use — direct comparison across all dimensions may be misleading.
PRO — advanced-to-expert skiers who live on hard snow, ski fast, and want race-room construction that is not a gate ski. 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 | PRO | H-Power 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 9🏆 | 8 |
| Park | 1🏆 | 1🏆 |
| Playfulness | 2 | 4🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 3 | 5🏆 |
| Stability | 9🏆 | 8 |
| Powder | 1 | 3🏆 |
Advanced-to-expert skiers who live on hard snow, ski fast, and want race-room construction that is not a gate ski. It suits a skier who wants the long, fast arc - 16 m at 175 cm, out to 22 m at 189 - and who wants a system ski that arrives on its plate and factory-tuned rather than a flat ski to build up. Van Deer also lists a higher-DIN Marker COMP 16 GW as a fitting option for the PRO, which it does not list for the H-Power line; whether that range is the right one for you is a fitting question for a technician.
Beginners and soft intermediates: the catalogue's easy-to-ski line is measured against a World Cup ski, not a cruiser, and this is a stiff metal build that has to be driven. Anyone who leaves the groomer: 68 mm on a race layup has no float, and soft snow makes it work - the H-Power 89 or the Freeride skis are that ski, not this one. Anyone who wants short, quick, tight-radius turns: the PRO starts at 168 cm and 13 m and never goes shorter, while the H-Power 68 runs down to 147 cm and a 10 m radius, in lengths the PRO does not make, for $50 less. And a racer who needs a homologated ski cannot use this one - Van Deer says the PRO is deliberately not FIS-bound. Look at the Race Series, and check the model and length against the current FIS list yourself, because Van Deer prints no per-model homologation for any adult ski.
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 PRO is best for advanced-to-expert skiers who live on hard snow, ski fast, and want race-room construction that is not a gate ski. 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 PRO scores highest in Stability at 9/10, 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 PRO leads in Carving with a PTO score of 9/10. 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.