Liberty Helix 98 Review: A Wider Twin Tip for All-Mountain and Park Skiing

Introduction

The Liberty Helix 98 is the wider, twin tip member of the Helix family, and it takes a different angle from the narrower Helix 88. There is less symmetry in the shape, which pushes the ski toward an all-mountain and freeride perspective while keeping enough freestyle character to stay capable in the park. Liberty has built freeride twin tip skis from a Colorado base for years, and a ski that performs in softer snow fits that background naturally.

The practical appeal is versatility. Compared with the Helix 88, the 98 leans further into freestyle territory, edging toward the application and freestyle prowess of the Origin series while keeping a more twin tip camber and profile than the Origin does. That combination points to a more park-oriented design than the Origin, but without giving up the wider footprint that makes soft snow days enjoyable.

In short, this is a ski for someone who wants one pair to cover most all-mountain skiing and still be able to add park laps to the plan.

Who the Liberty Helix 98 Is For

The Helix 98 is aimed at advanced and expert skiers who want a wider twin tip for essentially any type of all-mountain skiing, and who want the option of bringing park skiing into the mix. The switch riding profile makes it easier to take off and land backwards, including in softer snow, so riders who like to land and ride out switch will find the shape cooperative rather than punishing.

It is a less obvious fit for skiers who want a narrow, quick edge-to-edge carver for firm groomed terrain, or for anyone looking for a heavily symmetrical park-specific twin tip. The 98 sits between those poles, which is exactly where its versatility comes from.

Main Strengths

Bamboo and Poplar Core With Carbon Strips

The core blends bamboo and poplar. Bamboo is a relatively rare material in ski construction outside the Liberty line, and it tends to sit on the lightweight and flexible side of the spectrum. Liberty works around that by using more of it, which results in a thicker core profile overall. Adding material in this way acts as a more substantial insulative layer, so even though the wood itself is light and flexible, the finished ski feels noticeably smoother and more stable than the material choice alone would suggest.

Carbon strips on top of the core add stiffness and pop, and they complement the profile by contributing energy through the length of the ski. The combination is not exotic technology, but the bamboo and poplar pairing is an uncommon one in skis, and the extra core material is what gives it a composed, planted feel.

For a skier moving up from a lighter freestyle twin tip, the thicker core profile is likely to be the most immediately noticeable difference on snow.

Rocker, Camber, and Twin Tip Shape

The camber profile is tuned for freeride use. There is positive camber underfoot, though not as much as the more competitive Helix 88, which opens up the ski’s freeride capability. The rocker sits between the profiles used on the Origin and on the Helix 88 and Evolve, placing this ski squarely in the middle of the range.

The tip shape is very round, which promotes smoothness when cutting through softer and fresh snow. Tail splay lands firmly in the twin tip category, closer to a park-style twin tip than what the Origin offers, and that is what makes switch riding straightforward and backwards takeoffs and landings easier even in soft snow.

The overall silhouette is also round rather than squared off, in contrast to the Evolve. That translates into a ski that feels far less hooky, with a drifty and smeary character that still carries good energy built in.

Soft Snow Performance

Soft snow is where this design makes the most sense. The round tip, the rocker placement, and the positive camber underfoot work together to keep the ski composed in fresh and softer conditions, while the twin tip tail keeps the ride playful rather than locked in. It is light and agile for its width, which makes it manageable in tighter terrain and forgiving when you want to drift a turn instead of carving it.

Riders who split their time between soft groomers, fresh snow, and park features will get the most out of this balance, since the ski is designed to shift between those contexts without feeling like a compromise in any one of them.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a wider twin tip, and that width is a deliberate trade-off. Skiers who spend nearly all their time on firm, groomed runs and value quick edge-to-edge transitions may prefer the narrower Helix 88, which also carries more camber underfoot. The 98 gives up some of that edge grip in exchange for float and freestyle capability.

The drifty, smeary personality is a feature rather than a flaw, but it does mean the ski rewards a more relaxed, playful style over a locked-in, race-inspired one. Anyone expecting a stiff, directional charger will find the Helix 98 has a different agenda.

It is also worth noting that this model carries a new graphic for 2024 while the construction and shape remain the same as before. If you are comparing against an earlier version, the difference is cosmetic.

Buying Advice

Match the ski to the days you actually ride. If your season includes a healthy share of softer snow, all-mountain laps, and time in the park, the Helix 98 covers that ground with one pair and does it with a light, agile feel. If your priority is firm-snow precision and tighter edge-to-edge response, the Helix 88 is the more logical pick within the same family.

Advanced and expert skiers will get the most from this ski, since the blend of positive camber, mid-range rocker, and twin tip tail asks for a confident, established technique to be used fully. For that rider, the Helix 98 is a coherent, well-rounded option that handles most of the mountain and still leaves room for tricks.

As with any ski purchase, factor in your boot and binding setup and the terrain you ride most often. A wider twin tip like this one is a long-term decision, so it is worth being honest about how much soft snow and park time your season really contains before committing.

Conclusion

The Liberty Helix 98 is a wider twin tip built for all-mountain and freeride use, with a park-friendly side that the narrower Helix 88 does not chase as hard. Its bamboo and poplar core with carbon strips gives it a smooth, stable feel, and the round tip, mid-range rocker, and twin tip tail make it drifty, smeary, and easy to ride switch.

For advanced and expert skiers who want one ski that covers most of the mountain and still plays in the park, it is a convincing package. For skiers who live on firm groomers, the narrower sibling in the line remains the smarter choice.