Legend is a bold name for a ski, and it's hard to imagine Dynastar's freeride flagship could have survived so long if it didn't live up to it's billing. Sitting in the expert freeride category also brings certain expectations...
The most apparent thing about the Legend 96 is something that might shatter some illusions; it absolutely rails on piste. It can seriously rip in long and short carved turns despite having a significant width. That's probably not what many people are looking for in a freeride ski, but it does illustrate an important point - it's a much more approachable ski than expected, and versatility never goes amiss, provided it doesn't come with too much compromise.
Performance on piste often means a ski is too stiff or has too much of a sidecut to be playful off piste, but the Legend 96 manages to strike a superb balance between the two - it has way more pop than expected and offers bouncy fun when given the chance. Its Jekyll and Hyde act is such that you wonder if alchemy is at play.
It also makes you wonder why it isn't categorised as an all mountain ski when the Legend 96 could be the perfect 50/50 groomer/powder compromise.
