The Premiums. Go pour a couple of fingers of your favorite brown liquor and let's get started. We hold the skis here to a higher level, just as we hold a fine European automotive label to a higher expectation. Although numbers like flex and sidecut are similar to those of mortal skis, built for the commoner, these skis convey a difference in feel, a refinement that separates them from the masses. You often hear the comparisons "as good as" or “just like" -- but most other skis are just not as good as or just like, they just aren’t. Yes, I have said,"The Head Monster 88 gives you 9/10 the performance of the Kästle MX89 for 3/4 the price,” but it is that last tenth that defines the Kästle over the Head. This is in no way a knock on the Head; in fact, it is quite an accomplishment that Head can make such a great ski for such an obtainable price, yet there is still a place for Kästle and other premiums.
We often talk about another premium marque, the yin to Kästle’s yang: Stöckli. Where Kästle goes to the big mountain comps and adventure arenas with skiers like Griffin Post and Chris Davenport, Stöckli is on the World Cup with top woman racers such as Tina Maze and Julia Mancuso. Its Lazer series is an encompassing collection of hard-snow skis, its Stormriders are refined and supple like a large sedan; Kästle’s MX, FX, and BMX are more high-horsepower, utilitarian chargers. Neither is right or wrong; it is just two different paths to each brand's perception of skiing nirvana.
Two other brands are represented in the Tester's Choice Premiums: one might be more familiar than you realize, and the other is new to the industry. Blossom is an Italian manufacturer that has been building skis for other brands such as some early race skis for Nordica (before it joined with Blizzard), Vist, Hart, and some under their own name in Europe. Blossom has been trying to break into the U.S. market through independent distributors over the past few seasons, but it is difficult and costly. Our team tested Blossoms at Copper this past year; I have tried numerous times since then to contact the current U.S. distributor to see if they will actually make it to the U.S. market, but still no word. We are still posting the reviews, but it might be for naught if they do not become available.
The second, and newer, brand is Renoun. Renoun started building skis based solely on a technology it calls HDT (Hyper Damping Technology). How good is HDT? Good enough for an ISPO Gold Award in Munich. ISPO does not just hand out Golds at the door; it takes them very seriously, and HDT does work. Cyrus Schenk reached out to us last season to review his skis, and our testers were universally impressed.
Hard-Snow Frontside
Blossom Great Shape
Dimensions: 121-71-106
Radius: 16m@176cm
"This is a sports car -- think of a red one, maybe with a prancing horse on the side, but with Audi pricing." --Philpug
Blossom White Out
Dimensions: 131-77-111
Radius: 15m@170cm
"If you have never been on a carver (or if it’s been a while), do yourself a favor and ski a Blossom" --SkiNurse
Stöckli Laser AX
Dimensions: 126-78-109
Radius: 15.8m@175cm
"The Laser AX epitomizes refinement." --Philpug
Stöckli Laser SX
Dimensions: 120-70-99
Radius: 12.6m@170cm
“Wow, this thing is solid! I was skeptical of the 70mm ski but this one was great!" --WadeHoliday
All-Mountain Frontside
Kästle MX84
Dimensions: 128-84-112
Radius: 16.3m@176cm
"The perception is that this is a minor change, but there is a beautiful difference in how they initiate a turn. You get the same Kästle smoothness with a fresh new feel. " --Tricia
Kästle MX89
Dimensions: 129-89-113
Radius: 18m@180cm
"Plenty of skis out there perform on hard snow, but few can reach into the sublime with trees, crud, and bumps with the ease that the MX does." — Fairtomiddlin
Renoun Z-90
Dimensions: 136-90-124
Radius: 16.5m@182cm
”Hey Phil, can I borrow them for the rest of the season??” --Bud Heishman
Stöckli Stormrider 85 Motion
Dimensions: 127-84-109
Radius: 15.2m@167cm
“Don’t try it unless you’re ready to buy it.” --Tricia
Stöckli Stormrider 88
Dimensions: 127-88-113
Radius: 19m@177cm
”Every time I get on the Stormrider 88, I am always impressed by just how smooth and refined it is.” —Philpug
All-Mountain Backside
Kästle FX95 and FX95 HP
Dimensions: 126-95-115
Radius: 20m@181cm
"It's a Kästle. Fit, finish, and materials are impeccable, the graphics are distinct, tasty and look very good on snow. You get what you pay for there." --Alexzn
The new FXs (and to an extent the bigger BMXs, which will be discussed down the page) were the biggest departure from Kästle's comfort zone when they were released 2 years ago. It was like when the European car manufacturers realized they needed to progress with the times and do what the market wanted, therefore started coming out with SUVs. The outgoing FX94 felt lighter and more nimble than the more traditional MX, but you still recognized that MX DNA. The new FX is a complete shift; it has added purpose off-piste, and in mixed conditions, not much can disturb it. The FXs are offered in both non-HP and HP versions, aka without metal and with it. Think power and super power.
Renoun Endurance 98 v2
Dimensions: 121-98-115
Radius: 22m@178cm
"Dances in powder and trucks in crud and windload and even had great stability and edge hold in icy windbuffed. Wow!" --Ron
Stöckli Stormrider 95
Dimensions: 131-95-120
Radius: 19.2m@183cm
"If you find two pairs at clearance pricing, I'll pay you a finder's fee for one of them. Should you find them and elect not to tell me, I will follow you around the mountain, waiting for you to crash embarrassingly, whereupon I will deliver a belittling sportscasteresque recap of your crash, much like the Japanese dude imitating Howard Cosell in Better Off Dead." --Fairtomiddlin
One Oh Somethings
Kästle BMX105 and BMX105 HP
Dimensions: 134-105-123
Radius: 21m@181cm
"It's like taking all the power, forgiveness and strength of a Baja race truck and mixing it with the finesse and refinement of a grand touring super car. Except it's a ski." --Dory Breaux
Stöckli Stormrider 107
Dimensions: 135-107-128
Radius: 19.2m@183cm
"I have to say this is the finest inbounds and sidecountry powder ski I have ever owned. No other ski I have ever clicked into seemingly does so many things so well even though it just doesn't seem like it should." --Ron
Artwork: @Dave Petersen