2012-2013 MOMENT Bella, 172cm

Even though going fast on groomers is really fun, we decided to test our skills and our skis on the ungroomed trails of the West Basin, Highline Ridge, and, a personal favorite, Reforma The snow was hardpacked and firm with some bumps, but it wasn’t too icy.

The Bellas were quick and maneuverable on the steep bumps down Reforma. At the bottom of the run, there was a final steep section of hard chop. I pointed the skis straight down, and I felt completely stable plowing through the crud. There was no chatter whatsoever.

Later in the day we hiked to Stauffenberg, a steep, narrow shoot in the West Basin. Getting in to Stauffenberg while avoiding some rocks around the entrance required some quick hop turns. Again, the Bellas performed well, and though the terrain was steep, I felt comfortable given the solid ski under me.

As I mentioned, the Bellas are a stiffer ski, but I also found them to be surprisingly forgiving. In situations where I was in the backseat, the ski wouldn’t just take off; with a quick move forward, I could easily regain control. This could be due to the ski’s softer flex at the tip and tail, with a stiff flex underfoot.

I liked the Bella’s varying flex pattern for most situations. On more demanding terrain, I was able to adjust my speed and turn size without any issue. When I hit some ice back in Summit County, however, the ski’s shape made it more difficult to handle. When I tried to carve on icier snow, the ski’s tails would repeatedly slide out. It was a little disconcerting, and I assumed my edges were really dull. When I checked them later, though, they were sharp enough to have held. I think the combination of the soft tail and the rockered profile (decreasing the amount of ski in contact with the snow) does not provide enough contact length for the ski to engage and grip on slicker snow. Hopefully, I will not be skiing on too much more ice this season, but it is something to consider if you are on the East Coast.

Although the Bellas struggled on ice, they excelled in all other conditions. They are also durable skis. It was difficult to avoid hitting any rocks, yet when I fearfully checked the bottom of the ski, I found only small scratches.

Moment is committed to making products with high-quality, lasting materials, so the Bella has an impressive construction. Their 4001 DuraSurf sintered base is said to be able to “take a beating while staying fast,” versus a less resilient extruded base. The Bellas also have Ultra-High Molecular Weight (UHMW) Polyethylene sidewalls for decreased weight but increased durability, and sublimated graphics to resist cracking. They claim it’s tough; so far, I’d agree.

After having so much fun on the Bellas in hardpacked conditions, I am looking forward to skiing them in softer snow and powder. For an all-mountain women’s ski, I’m inclined to think that Moment has created one of the best products on the market. It’s fun, responsive, and stable. The Bellas are the slimmed down, female version of the Bibby Pro, though only slightly softer. One of my guy friends took a run on them and was pleasantly surprised. For his first run on a women’s ski, he said he expected a noodle, but instead found the Bellas to be really solid.

Given all of my praise of the Bella, I will definitely caution skiers against it if they do not think they can handle its stiffness. If you are not willing or able to work the ski, it probably won’t be very fun. When I tried to make more sliding turns without putting in a lot of effort, the skis were not very enjoyable.

The Bella is the perfect ski for strong, intermediate to expert women who are ready to charge in all conditions. As soon as we get fresh snow, I will fill you in on their powder performance.

Go to Morgan Sweeney’s 2nd Look at the MOMENT Bella