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9 ear:: TEXT: MITCHELL SCOTT II FATTEST of the New Millennium THE Rossignol popularized the fat ski. Their 11.5 Cut was heralded as the greatest fat ski on the market three years ago and was instru- mental in revolutionizing the way big mountains were skied. With their 2000 model, Bandit XXX, built similar to the Cut, skiers will enjoy a continued legacy of powder machines. A perfectly balanced shovel lets you plow confidently through the thickest schmoo, while the significant sidecut, bomber "microcell" (a high density foam) and graphite base construction enable light-speed stability on any- thing from boiler-plate groomers to wide open wind crust. Truly one of the best all-round skis you'll ever click into. Rossignol, www.rossignol.com.115-85-104. $739 HEAD MONSTER CROSS Fat skis are new for Head. Thankfully, making great skis isn't. Head's first big, bad-ass model, the Monster Cross, is a well-constructed, incredibly reactive and powerful ski. Probably the stiffest ski in the fat genre due to a solid wood core wrapped in a "pre-impregnated fiberglass tor- sion box," and double titanium layers, the Monster Cross is made for skiers who know how to work it. It's fat with a significant sidecut enabling high-end performance in myriad conditions. For those who want to cruise around the mountain with little effort, this ski could live up to its name a little too literally. Its stiffness requires full leg commitment. If you're into that, you're in for a blast. Head, www.head.com.117-87-103. $690 96~------------------------------~ One thing stands out about the Rocket-it's big. Really big. At 200 centimeters in length it's one of the biggest skis on the market. The AK Rocket's thin, sol id wood core amounts to an incredibly soft ski. For graceful, smooth, light skiers in consistent snow con- ditions (which this ski is specifically designed for), it's dreamy. But for those larger thrashers out there, the Rocket could be bemoaned as being a little too forgiving. In bumps and steep cut-up snow, the Rocket required a high level of ski ing prowess to stay centered. However, landing airs is like having 747 landing gear on-rock solid. Salomon, www.salomonskLcom.l18-86-110. $825