Once again, SIA was a gear geek’s delight! It was a hard snow experience at SIA at Copper this year (well, mostly -- Kevin and I stole a few stash turns off of Sierra lift; it can’t all be workworkwork…). We took the all-mountain offerings off piste, but there weren’t any distracting rope drops like there were the last couple of years at Copper. Ah well.
Accessibility continues to be the theme in the industry, with many skis getting lighter and easier to maneuver for a larger range of skiers. Some companies manage the "accessibilizing" quite well, preserving the power in a ski while making it easier to use. Others ... well, maybe they went a little too far and risk losing the original target skier, in an attempt to attract more skiers.
It was also the most puzzling year I have seen at SIA. @SkiNurse often has trouble finding skis in her size, but her size is 4’13.5”, a small demographic (sorry) (ok, not really). I had trouble at a very run of the mill 5’10”, sometimes because what I wanted was out on the hill, which is nothing new, but too often because what I needed simply didn’t exist. That theme will rear its head below.
We even ran into skis that simply weren’t finished and ended up in the reps' tents when they should not have been handed to people that are either reviewing them or, even worse, using SIA to make purchase choices for their shops. Every year SIA seems to catch some companies with their pants down, but this year stands out.
Atomic Redster S9
Dimensions: 119.5-68-97.5
Radius: 13.3m@171cm
Size tested: 171
Design: All New
This was probably the strongest ski I tested. With a 68mm waist and a 13.3m radius, and that much power, it has one trick: laying trenches, early and often. It might have the most even flex of any ~13m ski I have been on. Super smooth, regardless of the turn size you dial in. It doesn’t bite at you, or throw you off as you tighten the turn; it just obeys your command and holds. And holds. The S9 dares you to lay it over, inviting you to see how long your legs can handle putting maximum effort into each turn. What an exciting ski!
This personality is a blast, even as it wears you down. While not in the same category, two other skis I have been on that encourage you to shorten your day by giving it your all are the Völkl RTM 86 UVO and the original Kästle MX98. It isn’t a bad thing, but it’s good to know before you plop down the money for it. @Drahtguy Kevin is a bigger fellow, and he didn’t have to put quite so many calories into bending it.
Dynastar Legend X84
Dimensions: 123-84-106
Radius: 17m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
You can probably tell that I put a lot of value in how a modern ski displays a willingness to turn. That’s the point of these newfangled parabolic skis, right? On the front side, the Legend X84 displayed a frustrating reluctance to turn. It has a tip that is seemingly disinterested in initiating; patience is needed for enough pressure to build up to get the sidecut involved, and when it finally happens, there is little joie de vivre, or feedback.
The news isn’t all bad. The Legend is very competent off-piste, quick and encouraging, a good bump ski. The problem is that the Legend competes in the heart of the all-mountain segment, where plenty of skis do a very wide range of tasks, very well.
Dynastar Speed Zone 12
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 15m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: Carryover
Dynastar has a great 75mm carver here, with a 15m radius, great snow feel (within shouting distance of the Stöckli Laser series), and even some talent in the bumps. My voice memo on the Speed Zone says “it doesn’t have quite the power of the Atomic Redster, or quite the personality of the Elan SLX, but it has a very nice blend of both.” It also has more versatility than both, although I wouldn’t quite give it one-ski-quiver status.
Elan SLX SL
Dimensions: 121-68-104
Radius: 14/12m@165cm
Size tested: 165
Design: All New
New for this year, Elan’s rec SL gets a three-step program for success. You can see what’s coming just by looking at the topsheet: a relatively thin and soft tip, followed by a stepped increase (near the snow "contact" point) in thickness as sheets of Titanal beef up the ski. Finally, instead of the race plate you would see in a World Cup SL, an integral full-width slab of carbon sits atop the Titanal to let you know there is some real horsepower under the hood. Weirdly, they finish it off with a non-horsepowery 12 DIN binding that left me scratching my head a little, but it didn’t spoil the fun.
The Fun.
There is a lot of that in this ski. Every year, there seems to be a "come play with me" ski that stands out (which has proved to be expensive for me in the past), and this year, particularly among the skis under 80 mm, this is it. If the stepped-thickness technique was an attempt to make an aggressive shape accessible, then this is a great example of accessibility done right. For all the power this thing has, all the immediacy of response to tipping on edge, it is oh-so-intuitive to decide how much of that power gets used. Feedback is immediate, but not brutal: it is delivered with a Coke and a smile, not a … whatever the opposite of a Coke and a smile is.
Head Supershape iTitan
Dimensions: 138-81-118
Radius: 15m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: Carryover
I picked this as my reference ski, a ski I knew from last year and could use to get a feel for the snow conditions, then use as a benchmark for everything else to follow. It is a hard act to follow; it is a great ski on sale this year, and Head was wise enough to leave it alone for next year. At 81mm underfoot and a 15m sidecut, it boasts fantastic hard-snow chops; it initiates the new turn with just a whiff of tipping onto edge, then pulls across the hill with power and enthusiasm. The fun continues off piste, as it excels with maneuverability and composure that is beyond its mission statement. If I had not tracked down and purchased the Blossom White Out in the off season, this would be my top pick for the narrow end of a two-ski travel quiver, no question.
Kästle MX84
Dimensions: 128-84-112
Radius: 16.3m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: Carryover
Between getting on some "mulligan skis" (see LINK) and some other skis that just left me scratching my head, I needed some me time, and I needed it on a sure thing. The MX84 is a carryover from last year, but I didn’t get on it then, so it was waiting for me when I went in search of a hug.
Mmmm….
The MX84 is Kästle smoothness with a spicy 16m sidecut. Groomed? Yup. Crud? Certainly. Bumps? Yes, please. Strong, quick, predictable, stable; I would be a poor fella if I had to pay into some kind of "cliché superlative swear jar" while describing this ski.
K2 iKonic 80Ti
Dimensions: 129-80-108
Radius: 17.5m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
K2 iKonic 84Ti
Dimensions:133-84-112
Radius: 17.5m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
K2 continues to chip away at the gap between itself and companies with race-bred frontside skis. Its story for next year is the iKonic series. Both skis tested have the same length, same sidecut, and 4 mm separating them. I’m told there is a variance in construction, but it seemed too slight to tell much of a difference. They come across as competent, if not thrilling, all-mountain skis. While they lack the excitement and personality of the Head Titan, they are more balanced than the Dynastar Legend or the Salomon XDR, in that they more thoroughly complete the mission of an all-mountain ski, with fewer shortcomings. Both iKonics have decent turn initiation, power in the belly of the turn, and strong and predictable flex on and off piste.
K2 Turbo Charger
Dimensions: 129-72-107
Radius: 13m@165cm
Size tested: 165
Design: All New
K2 is getting seriouser, at long last. This season, it offered the Super Charger, a mid-70s hard-snow chisel with a 17m sidecut. For next year, it will add the Turbo Charger, 72mm underfoot and a 13m radius in the 165 length (the only length available to test, maybe the only length we will see?). It felt like a "gentle" 13m ski, a few ticks down in immediacy (in terms of turn initiation and enthusiasm to move the skier across the hill) from 66mm WC/recreation SLs. Once the tip starts the party and the sidecut joins in, it is a powerful ski that will hold at high edge angles, while offering stability as you play with shaping the turn, mid-turn. Like the Super Charger (and the Dynastar Speed Zone, and the Atomic Redster S9), it is pretty focused, however, and you won’t get much more versatility out of it than you would a rec SL.
Salomon XDR 80 Ti
Dimensions: 126-80-109
Radius: 14m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: All New
I asked the Salomon rep what the radius was, and he replied, “16ish?” So when he explained to me that the metal that is only under the bindings is not a binding mat like other manufacturers use, but a sheet of metal in its own right, I felt free to be skeptical. He also told me that this ski is both lighter than last year’s X-Drive series (not surprising, the X-Drive was a strong ski with actual full sheets of Titanal), and more torsionally rigid.
Well, he was right about the latter. Once the tip engaged and the XDR was on edge, it held very well. In fact, it reminded me of the Völkl RTM 86 UVO in this regard. They both feel immune to increasing edge angle, they just hold, and hold, and hold. It’s a cool sensation.
Where it didn’t feel like the RTM 86 UVO was in dampness in choppy snow, or off piste. Here, the lack of metal makes itself felt, and it has a limited speed/comfort level when compared to skis that keep the sheets of Titanal in their construction. It is fine for low-speed off-trail exploration, but for motoring through crud and bumps, something with more grunt would be desired.
Stöckli Stormrider 83
Dimensions: 126-83-109
Radius: 17.2m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: Carryover
The SR 83 is sublime. Few skis combine strength and maneuverability with smoothness as well as this lil' guy. Yes, you pay a good bit for it, but in return you get a 17.2m ski that tightens up the radius eagerly, yet with a silky feel. It and the SR 88 seem to have this magic ability to give you as much performance as you need with the minimum of effort. I have been enjoying this phenomenon for four years now at SIA, and any time during the test that I feel glum, or unattractive, or not well-liked by my friends, I know I can get on a Stormrider and immediately feel confident, handsome, and popular. I’m being silly, but only a little bit.
This ski is also fairly light. I normally don’t find that to be a good trait for a ski that I ride inbounds, but Stöckli bills this as a touring ski. Skis that go down as well as they go up (on your own power) are rare indeed; scroll to Head’s Kore to see the only other ski in this test that has that combo of loveliness.
Völkl Kanjo
Dimensions: 123-84-104
Radius: 21.6m@182cm
Size Tested: 182
Design: All New
The Kanjo has a stated sidecut of 21.6 m, and it feels every bit of it. At 84 mm underfoot, it is a bit of a head-scratcher. In my voice memo, I called it “the most leisurely all mountain ski." Most skis this width are tighter turning by design, but the Kanjo requires some additional steering to keep the speed down, or some extra room to roam. It wants to motor. Motoring is pleasant on the Kanjo, however; it has a strong, damp construction and feels stable at speed and in choppy off-piste conditions, like Sail Away Glades.
[See subsequent post for 85+mm skis and the Mulligan Pile.]
Go here for all reviews listed by brand.
Accessibility continues to be the theme in the industry, with many skis getting lighter and easier to maneuver for a larger range of skiers. Some companies manage the "accessibilizing" quite well, preserving the power in a ski while making it easier to use. Others ... well, maybe they went a little too far and risk losing the original target skier, in an attempt to attract more skiers.
It was also the most puzzling year I have seen at SIA. @SkiNurse often has trouble finding skis in her size, but her size is 4’13.5”, a small demographic (sorry) (ok, not really). I had trouble at a very run of the mill 5’10”, sometimes because what I wanted was out on the hill, which is nothing new, but too often because what I needed simply didn’t exist. That theme will rear its head below.
We even ran into skis that simply weren’t finished and ended up in the reps' tents when they should not have been handed to people that are either reviewing them or, even worse, using SIA to make purchase choices for their shops. Every year SIA seems to catch some companies with their pants down, but this year stands out.
Sub-85mm Skis
Atomic Redster S9
Dimensions: 119.5-68-97.5
Radius: 13.3m@171cm
Size tested: 171
Design: All New
This was probably the strongest ski I tested. With a 68mm waist and a 13.3m radius, and that much power, it has one trick: laying trenches, early and often. It might have the most even flex of any ~13m ski I have been on. Super smooth, regardless of the turn size you dial in. It doesn’t bite at you, or throw you off as you tighten the turn; it just obeys your command and holds. And holds. The S9 dares you to lay it over, inviting you to see how long your legs can handle putting maximum effort into each turn. What an exciting ski!
This personality is a blast, even as it wears you down. While not in the same category, two other skis I have been on that encourage you to shorten your day by giving it your all are the Völkl RTM 86 UVO and the original Kästle MX98. It isn’t a bad thing, but it’s good to know before you plop down the money for it. @Drahtguy Kevin is a bigger fellow, and he didn’t have to put quite so many calories into bending it.
- Who is it for? Fit and enthusiastic frontside skiers.
- Who is it not for? Lightweight couch potatoes; this ski rewards skill, or strength, or (preferably) both.
- Insider tip: Start your wall sits now.
Dynastar Legend X84
Dimensions: 123-84-106
Radius: 17m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
You can probably tell that I put a lot of value in how a modern ski displays a willingness to turn. That’s the point of these newfangled parabolic skis, right? On the front side, the Legend X84 displayed a frustrating reluctance to turn. It has a tip that is seemingly disinterested in initiating; patience is needed for enough pressure to build up to get the sidecut involved, and when it finally happens, there is little joie de vivre, or feedback.
The news isn’t all bad. The Legend is very competent off-piste, quick and encouraging, a good bump ski. The problem is that the Legend competes in the heart of the all-mountain segment, where plenty of skis do a very wide range of tasks, very well.
- Who is it for? Old schoolers who steer from the tail, swishing down the piste, and who also want a friendly tool off the piste.
- Who is it not for? Lovers of a high-G carve, PSIA instructors looking for a ski for their next level exam.
- Insider tip: Head to the side of the trail and dip into the trees to get the most out of this latest usage of the Legend name.
Dynastar Speed Zone 12
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 15m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: Carryover
Dynastar has a great 75mm carver here, with a 15m radius, great snow feel (within shouting distance of the Stöckli Laser series), and even some talent in the bumps. My voice memo on the Speed Zone says “it doesn’t have quite the power of the Atomic Redster, or quite the personality of the Elan SLX, but it has a very nice blend of both.” It also has more versatility than both, although I wouldn’t quite give it one-ski-quiver status.
- Who is it for? Frontside carvers who want a touch more versatility, without any compromise in trench-laying grins.
- Who is it not for? Traveling skiers hoping for one ski in the bag that feels great all over the mountain.
- Insider tip: Like the Redster and SLX, this is a ski you can trust to tell you what’s going on, giving you the data you need to make good choices. In a culture that seems gaga over lightness, it is nice to see skis like this still being made.
Elan SLX SL
Dimensions: 121-68-104
Radius: 14/12m@165cm
Size tested: 165
Design: All New
New for this year, Elan’s rec SL gets a three-step program for success. You can see what’s coming just by looking at the topsheet: a relatively thin and soft tip, followed by a stepped increase (near the snow "contact" point) in thickness as sheets of Titanal beef up the ski. Finally, instead of the race plate you would see in a World Cup SL, an integral full-width slab of carbon sits atop the Titanal to let you know there is some real horsepower under the hood. Weirdly, they finish it off with a non-horsepowery 12 DIN binding that left me scratching my head a little, but it didn’t spoil the fun.
The Fun.
There is a lot of that in this ski. Every year, there seems to be a "come play with me" ski that stands out (which has proved to be expensive for me in the past), and this year, particularly among the skis under 80 mm, this is it. If the stepped-thickness technique was an attempt to make an aggressive shape accessible, then this is a great example of accessibility done right. For all the power this thing has, all the immediacy of response to tipping on edge, it is oh-so-intuitive to decide how much of that power gets used. Feedback is immediate, but not brutal: it is delivered with a Coke and a smile, not a … whatever the opposite of a Coke and a smile is.
- Who is it for? Skilled folks that want a big grin, not a big workout.
- Who is it not for? The heavy and aggressive. With the 12 DIN binding on board, you may run out of retention as you dial in the Gs.
- Insider tip: No great mystery to reveal here; click in and let the good times roll.
Head Supershape iTitan
Dimensions: 138-81-118
Radius: 15m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: Carryover
I picked this as my reference ski, a ski I knew from last year and could use to get a feel for the snow conditions, then use as a benchmark for everything else to follow. It is a hard act to follow; it is a great ski on sale this year, and Head was wise enough to leave it alone for next year. At 81mm underfoot and a 15m sidecut, it boasts fantastic hard-snow chops; it initiates the new turn with just a whiff of tipping onto edge, then pulls across the hill with power and enthusiasm. The fun continues off piste, as it excels with maneuverability and composure that is beyond its mission statement. If I had not tracked down and purchased the Blossom White Out in the off season, this would be my top pick for the narrow end of a two-ski travel quiver, no question.
- Who is it for? Skilled pilots wanting versatility out of a carver, and improving skiers that need immediate feedback as they try new techniques.
- Who is it not for? Lazy skiers. This is a highly trained Vizsla, not a lap dog.
- Insider tip: This ski can be skied a size longer, and still feel nimble; I thought I was on the 170, until I looked at the tail and saw the 177. Yet, far from being skittish, it was merely quick (while being very confidence inspiring).
Kästle MX84
Dimensions: 128-84-112
Radius: 16.3m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: Carryover
Between getting on some "mulligan skis" (see LINK) and some other skis that just left me scratching my head, I needed some me time, and I needed it on a sure thing. The MX84 is a carryover from last year, but I didn’t get on it then, so it was waiting for me when I went in search of a hug.
Mmmm….
The MX84 is Kästle smoothness with a spicy 16m sidecut. Groomed? Yup. Crud? Certainly. Bumps? Yes, please. Strong, quick, predictable, stable; I would be a poor fella if I had to pay into some kind of "cliché superlative swear jar" while describing this ski.
- Who is it for? If you want a winner and are willing to pay for it, the MX is in that very small club.
- Who is it not for? Snowboarders.
- Insider tip: Kästle (and Stöckli, and Renoun) are dangerous skis to try; the experience can take you to dark corners of your mind: “which of my children do I like less? I could be skiing on this if I give him/her up .…”
K2 iKonic 80Ti
Dimensions: 129-80-108
Radius: 17.5m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
K2 iKonic 84Ti
Dimensions:133-84-112
Radius: 17.5m@177cm
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
K2 continues to chip away at the gap between itself and companies with race-bred frontside skis. Its story for next year is the iKonic series. Both skis tested have the same length, same sidecut, and 4 mm separating them. I’m told there is a variance in construction, but it seemed too slight to tell much of a difference. They come across as competent, if not thrilling, all-mountain skis. While they lack the excitement and personality of the Head Titan, they are more balanced than the Dynastar Legend or the Salomon XDR, in that they more thoroughly complete the mission of an all-mountain ski, with fewer shortcomings. Both iKonics have decent turn initiation, power in the belly of the turn, and strong and predictable flex on and off piste.
- Who is it for? Skier ISO playmate without split personalities, or unpleasant surprises.
- Who is it not for? Someone who has heard of Völkl, Head, Atomic, Kästle, or Stöckli.
- Insider tip: The iKonics ski true to length; when in doubt, go with your default length.
K2 Turbo Charger
Dimensions: 129-72-107
Radius: 13m@165cm
Size tested: 165
Design: All New
K2 is getting seriouser, at long last. This season, it offered the Super Charger, a mid-70s hard-snow chisel with a 17m sidecut. For next year, it will add the Turbo Charger, 72mm underfoot and a 13m radius in the 165 length (the only length available to test, maybe the only length we will see?). It felt like a "gentle" 13m ski, a few ticks down in immediacy (in terms of turn initiation and enthusiasm to move the skier across the hill) from 66mm WC/recreation SLs. Once the tip starts the party and the sidecut joins in, it is a powerful ski that will hold at high edge angles, while offering stability as you play with shaping the turn, mid-turn. Like the Super Charger (and the Dynastar Speed Zone, and the Atomic Redster S9), it is pretty focused, however, and you won’t get much more versatility out of it than you would a rec SL.
- Who is it for? Tight-turning-carver folks who don’t want the frenetic response of a race ski.
- Who is it not for? That guy or gal who skis all of the mountain, and has one ski to do it with.
- Insider tip: This "gentle 13m" would be a good ski to experiment with vis à vis tunes; it felt like a ski you could safely ease into a more aggressive tune, versus a race ski that is already dialed to 11.
Salomon XDR 80 Ti
Dimensions: 126-80-109
Radius: 14m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: All New
I asked the Salomon rep what the radius was, and he replied, “16ish?” So when he explained to me that the metal that is only under the bindings is not a binding mat like other manufacturers use, but a sheet of metal in its own right, I felt free to be skeptical. He also told me that this ski is both lighter than last year’s X-Drive series (not surprising, the X-Drive was a strong ski with actual full sheets of Titanal), and more torsionally rigid.
Well, he was right about the latter. Once the tip engaged and the XDR was on edge, it held very well. In fact, it reminded me of the Völkl RTM 86 UVO in this regard. They both feel immune to increasing edge angle, they just hold, and hold, and hold. It’s a cool sensation.
Where it didn’t feel like the RTM 86 UVO was in dampness in choppy snow, or off piste. Here, the lack of metal makes itself felt, and it has a limited speed/comfort level when compared to skis that keep the sheets of Titanal in their construction. It is fine for low-speed off-trail exploration, but for motoring through crud and bumps, something with more grunt would be desired.
- Who is it for? Folks who appreciate a carved turn but don’t want a heavy ski to do it with.
- Who is it not for? The guy or gal that wants to rage through irregular snow at mach schnell.
- Insider tip: Keep the XDR on edge to take advantage of its unique strengths.
Stöckli Stormrider 83
Dimensions: 126-83-109
Radius: 17.2m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: Carryover
The SR 83 is sublime. Few skis combine strength and maneuverability with smoothness as well as this lil' guy. Yes, you pay a good bit for it, but in return you get a 17.2m ski that tightens up the radius eagerly, yet with a silky feel. It and the SR 88 seem to have this magic ability to give you as much performance as you need with the minimum of effort. I have been enjoying this phenomenon for four years now at SIA, and any time during the test that I feel glum, or unattractive, or not well-liked by my friends, I know I can get on a Stormrider and immediately feel confident, handsome, and popular. I’m being silly, but only a little bit.
This ski is also fairly light. I normally don’t find that to be a good trait for a ski that I ride inbounds, but Stöckli bills this as a touring ski. Skis that go down as well as they go up (on your own power) are rare indeed; scroll to Head’s Kore to see the only other ski in this test that has that combo of loveliness.
- Who is it for? Anyone who wants the very best feel, and can afford it.
- Who is it not for? Hmmm. Still thinking ....
- Insider tip: If the Stormrider 83 is too expensive for you, work harder!
Völkl Kanjo
Dimensions: 123-84-104
Radius: 21.6m@182cm
Size Tested: 182
Design: All New
The Kanjo has a stated sidecut of 21.6 m, and it feels every bit of it. At 84 mm underfoot, it is a bit of a head-scratcher. In my voice memo, I called it “the most leisurely all mountain ski." Most skis this width are tighter turning by design, but the Kanjo requires some additional steering to keep the speed down, or some extra room to roam. It wants to motor. Motoring is pleasant on the Kanjo, however; it has a strong, damp construction and feels stable at speed and in choppy off-piste conditions, like Sail Away Glades.
- Who is it for? Off-piste aficionados who prefer a narrower ski. Imagine a current Bonafide that is 84 mm underfoot.
- Who is it not for? All-mountain skiers who have a strong focus on the front side -- unless you’re a midweek skier with lots of space to yourself.
- Insider tip: You might have guessed by now, the Kanjo skis long. Feel free to size down without worrying if you will end up with a skittish ride.
[See subsequent post for 85+mm skis and the Mulligan Pile.]
Go here for all reviews listed by brand.
