Most skiers own one pair of skis, and that pair has to do everything: rip groomed runs at 8am, survive scraped-off hardpack by lunch, and still float if a storm rolls through overnight. VAN DEER-Red Bull Sports thinks its H-POWER 89 answers that brief, and the story behind it is worth a look if you're gearing up for the season.

The brand is the project of Marcel Hirscher, the Austrian slalom and giant slalom great who walked away from racing with eight overall World Cup titles and promptly started building skis. He launched the company with Red Bull's backing in 2022, initially focused on piste and touring models. The H-POWER 89 is his play for the all-mountain resort skier, developed and tested specifically on US snow for the American market.

Under the hood, it's a poplar-beech wood core reinforced with two layers of titanal, plus full ABS sidewalls and racing-style edges. In plain terms: race-derived grip and stability for icy or firm conditions, with an 89mm waist wide enough to keep you from sinking on a fresh powder morning. The brand says the ski delivers immediate power transmission and quick, precise response, whether you're laying down carves or picking through bumps and trees. It slots into a family alongside the narrower H-POWER 78 and 68 for skiers who mostly stick to groomers.

One detail that sets the company apart is where and how it builds. The skis come out of Scheffau am Tennengebirge, a small village in the Austrian Alps, where production runs in small batches and planks spend extra time in the press for a stronger bond. It's the kind of craftsmanship argument you'd expect from a former racer obsessive about equipment — and, it must be said, this piece originates as sponsored content from the brand itself, so treat the superlatives accordingly.

Why does this matter for a ski holiday? Because the resort ski you rent or buy shapes more of your trip than almost any other gear decision. A ski that grips on ice opens up East Coast and early-season trips; one with enough waist width handles a Rockies storm cycle; something durable survives a full season of hard use. If you're in the market for a single do-it-all pair this winter, the H-POWER 89 — and the growing wave of race-bred skis from ex-athletes like Hirscher — deserves a spot on your demo list. The smart move is still to try before you buy: most major resorts now offer demo days where you can test exactly this category of ski on the snow you actually ride.

Ski Magazine