The Lowdown

As they break down gender barriers and, “shred the patriarchy,” women-led Coalition Snow continues to revolutionize the industry. The SOS, their most popular all-mountain ski, is no disappointment to that notion. Delivering smooth, steady riding from first to last chair, the SOS is nothing short of a tool for tearing up the hill. Every day is a fun day on the SOS, from crushing crud to ripping up groomers, making this jackie-of-all trades a must-try for hard-charging riders. The whole mountain is your oyster with the SOS, a ski that is almost as eager as you are to shred down the fall line, run after run. A quick favorite, this ski is determined to deliver solid days of skiing, no matter the condition. If you find yourself interested in Coalition Snow’s revolutionary SOS, stay tuned and enjoy the ride. Oh wait, I mean read. Enjoy the read. 

Ride Impressions

With a focus on being able to take on the whole mountain, I found the SOS to be smoother than butter, but a little less versatile than I had anticipated. They were extremely stable and hard-charging, with a definite need for speed. Speeding down cord or loose snow, I felt very minimal vibration when riding. (Being from the Pacific Northwest, this is no easy feat with our classic Cascade Concrete.) When taking them out, I found them to perform the best when being skied aggressively with wide-radius turns. However, the underfoot weight and overall burly nature of the ski revealed to be rather cumbersome when it came to short-radius turns and moguls.

When it comes to varying snow conditions, however,  these skis could take on whatever I threw at them. I found the rocker in the tip to effectively float me on top of the snow with the tail rocker making the exit of turns super forgiving and playful. Even though they may not be my first choice for carving, they would certainly be a top contender for a guaranteed fun day on the hill. The SOS would be extremely fun for the race-to-the-chair type of rider with an affinity for wide, relaxed turn shapes. Marketed as being like your favorite pair of blue jeans, the SOS will deliver stability and reliability all day, everyday. 

Overall, I found the SOS to excel in its ability to adapt to different conditions. It was solid everywhere on the hill, definitely fulfilling its all-mountain distinction. However, I feel that it really thrives in a high speed, loose snow, big mountain kind of environment. While it would not be my first recommendation to groomer-side, reserved riders with intentions of quick pivots and snappy turns, the SOS provides an excellent option for aggressive riders with a passion for straight lines and stability.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Who Are They For?

For the hard-charging speedster to the beginner in need of a forgiving ski, the SOS will quickly become an everyday companion. They handle incredibly smoothly no matter the condition or speed, making them an appealing option to those who rip down the hill and also those who are just developing their ski legs. If in search of large, traversing turns the SOS will not disappoint, with a friendly large turn radius and lots of amicable tail rocker. They glide through different snow conditions with ease, delivering nothing but smooth and steady runs from open ‘til close. 

From the Brand

A one ski quiver that's ready for resort and backcountry adventures 

Like a good pair of jeans will go from the trails, to the dance floor, to the bedroom floor, the award-winning SOS all-mountain ski transitions from couloirs, to groomers, to powder-filled bowls, seamlessly.