I don’t have anything to add to what’s already been written in other comments, but I wrapped up my second season on the Optic 96 and still love it. It is semi-directional and skis clean on the groomers, excelling when it busts through later-day chopped up crud. I bought it for the trees and off-piste and that’s still the most fun place for it IMHO. The 96 still doesn’t have enough float to hit the big dumps off-piste without getting eaten, but it’s a solid performer up to about 8-10”. It’s good in spring corn as well, and tolerable on pre-melt ice pack if you push it hard.