The Secret Behind the Head Oblivion 102’s Unreal Pop and Stability

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Skis in the all mountain freestyle category are often described as buttery and playful, nimble and quick. To use a car analogy, skis in this category could be equated to a drift car. They’re extremely fun and playful, but when conditions are challenging, they have a reputation for falling short. And while many have come to love skis with this character, that style of skiing isn’t for everyone. And it certainly wasn’t the ski, Head Skis athlete, Cole Richardson, needed. Cole combines some of the most impressive freestyle chops out there with extremely hard charging skiing. Cole needed a trophy truck, and that’s what Head built with the Oblivion 102 and 118. Watch Cole ski, and you might see similarities to the way someone drives a truck in the Baja 500.

Centered in the middle of the Oblivion lineup, the 102 is a capable all mountain freestyle ski that is perhaps more comfortable when charging than competitors. And while there are skis that might provide a more surfy feel in deep snow, the Head Oblivion 102 carves out space by offering one of the most stable and confidence inspiring rides in the category.

Head Oblivion 102 Specs

• Size skied: 181 
• Lengths available: (172, 181, 189 in cm)
• Sidecut: 135mm – 102mm – 125mm
• Radius: 22m (181cm)
• Profile: Cambered Twin Tip
• Weight: 1788g (181cm)

Shape, Flex and Construction

Upon first glance, the Oblivion 102 and it’s big brother, the Oblivion 116 look like a scaled up park ski. And in some ways, that’s because that’s what they are. The Oblivion line features waist widths all the way down to 79, built for skiers like Jesper Tjäder and Evan McEachran. And while the wider skis in the Oblivion lineup pay homage to the freestyle roots in the freestyle oriented sidecut, poppy camber profile, and thick edges, the folks at Head added some serious hard charging mustard to the 102 and 116.

What stands out the most about this ski is the turn radius. At 22m, it’s clear the ski has a preference for moving in one direction, down the mountain, as fast as possible. For reference, that’s a comparable turn radius to many skis in the big mountain freeride category, while skis in the all mountain freestyle category are often closer to an 18m radius.

The ski features rocker lines, and dimensions that are similar to the narrower, true park skis in the Oblivion line. Testers noted, and weren’t surprised that this ski was super comfortable riding switch and provides an excellent landing platform. 

But what is perhaps more surprising is how the ski handled on edge. The skis rocker lines are relatively subtle, which gives the ski far more effective edge than other skis in the category. As a result, the ski provides an edge to edge ride quality found more often on traditional all mountain ski. Which again, leaves a pretty clear paper trail back to the skis origin story – Cole Richardson likes to ski fast, and he likes to go big. 

While the Oblivion 102’s poplar core gives the ski a poppy, and dare I say playful ride quality, the ski has been beefed up with carbon stringers that stiffens the ski up to the likeness of skis in big mountain category. 

On-Snow Performance

Off all the skis we tested in the freestyle all-mountain category, the Oblivion 102 stood out for it’s strength in handling variable conditions. Testers noted the Oblivion 102’s composure through bumps and crud far surpassing other skis in the category. And while the ski was certainly agile and snappy enough to ski bumps, one might find themselves more inclined to fly over the bumps than to ski through them.

For this review, we spoke to Head Athlete, Xander Guldman. When asked what his ideal day on the Oblivion 102 would be, he said  “The Oblivion 102 is my go-to ski for days when I don’t have a specific plan. Its playful side shines brightest: the Oblivion 102 is ideal for hunting side hits, lapping the park, and jibbing anything you come across. But it still holds its own at speed, handling mixed conditions, technical terrain, and natural airs with confidence and reliability.”

Testers agreed with Xander’s take on the ski’s playful side. The Oblivion handled itself well in the park, and testers called out how being on the ski increased their confidence when in landing airs. 

That said-Xander is one of the best skiers in the world. Having had the pleasure of spinning a few laps with Xander over the years, I’ll say – he does things on skis that scare me. He’s technically strong and quite aggressive. I’ve seen him take airs and land in places that leave me both with feelings of amazement and sheer terror.

So while the ski’s freestyle pedigree does in fact make the ski quite playful, it definitely lends itself towards a more aggressive skiing style. But the fact is, not everyone is Xander Guldman. And while you don’t need to be filming with MSP to enjoy this ski, skiers who are used to a ski that’s more forgiving, may struggle with the Oblivion 102. 

Comparisons

Testers often compared the Oblivion 102 to bigger, more directional skis. The Dynastar M-Free 108 came up most often. Both skis thrive in the same kind of environment—think Alta or Bridger Bowl—where side hits and booters are plentiful, but the terrain also demands a ski with backbone.

Where the M-Free 108 leans more toward a surfy, slashy ride, the Oblivion 102 feels more locked in. Its longer radius and subtle rocker profile reward skiers who like to stay on edge and drive the ski fall line. The M-Free 108 can pivot and smear its way through tight spots, while the Oblivion prefers speed, stability, and commitment. For skiers with a freestyle background who still want the confidence of a true big-mountain charger, the Oblivion fills a space that few other skis touch.

Another ski that the Oblivion 102, and even more so, the Oblivion 116 remind me of is the 4FRNT Inthayne. Both skis were designed in partnership with one the strongest skiers in the world, the Oblivion with Cole Richardson, and the Inthayne with Thayne Rich. And as a result, both skis combine a freestyle shape with a stiff layup and long radius that cater towards charging big mountain terrain. 

What type of skier is the Head Oblivion 102 Best best for? 

Too often, brands chase mass appeal and end up with skis that feel watered down—popular, sure, but uninspiring to core skiers. The market doesn’t need more middle ground; sometimes the way to win loyalty is to build something that cuts against the grain.

The Oblivion 102 does exactly that. Skiers who want to butter and smear their way down the hill may find its aggressive nature unforgiving. But for hard-charging riders who prefer an edge to edge riding style but still want freestyle DNA, this ski is right in the sweet spot. To me, this would be the perfect big mountain competition ski for the more freestyle oriented rider. It’s not for everyone—and that’s the point. For the right skier, the Oblivion 102 has all the makings of a cult classic.