Both skis will be awesome, but it really depends on how much you're planning on being in the park and also how fat of a park ski you prefer. I like a narrower park ski, so I'd say if you're in the park more than 70% of the time, go Magnus. Others who like a wider ski in the park will tell you go Kartel, regardless. If by "branch out this year", you mean move out of the park a bit, get the Kartel.