I would advise also looking into the Armada Arv-ti. It has a similar shape and construction to that of the al dente, but it incorporates a layer of titanal which makes it a little beefier and more capable of shredding your so called "backcountry". This being said I have owned both the aldente and chronic and would take the aldente hand over fist every time. The aldente is a far more capable all mountain ski and I found its size and flex provided an extremely refreshing perspective in the park. It's width made it super stable on rails and it's lightweight construction made it super responsive on all types of features, and you simply can't find a more buttery ski. I hope with helps, pm if you have anymore questions.