Well, this is an update on a broadly well-received and well-liked mid fat ski.
For me, it has been a great 'all arounder'.
Where do I like this ski? Anything between truly firm snow and deep/ heavy-deep snow (especially in glades). Yesterday we had the ideal RnR conditions on the mountain--we got 3 inches of wet heavy snow and mixed precip the rest of the day (with warmer temps)-This kind of fun and frolicking 'junk' snow is the RnR's bag. It tracks beautifully, and, as always behaves predictably. It doesn't get tossed around, can be run fast or slow, feels best in medium radius turns (though long sweepers in these conditions feel nice, too).
It is a damn near perfect patroller ski.
Part of it's charm (a big part) is something it shares with all previous 'Monster' line of head skis, the im line and the Peak series: The Ideal all mountain tail. Head makes (or made, looking at next year's line up) the best and most versatile back end of a ski in the business. That sort-of turned up, round design, that still has some kick, but allows for easy releasing, drifting, relaxed bump skiing, backward skiing, spinning--all while grabbing when you want it....is just plain money, and I think has always been a big part of the versatile success of those lines. No other ski I have been on has the same delightful combination of traits that the back end of these Heads have served up since the early/ mid 2000's.
I see next year's replacements (on the discontinued RnR) have a wholly new tail design...so who knows how it will feel.
Most people compliment me on the garish graphics and I really like them.
This is a keeper ski, predictable, stable, and easy to ski with a high envelope of use.
If you are not someone who seeks out high-edge angle carving on hard snow (which I'm not) it could work as a one ski quiver, though, I'd always want a quicker hard snow ski here in southern new england and a true soft snow ski as well...but some would make this work as a 1sq just fine!