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- Mar 5, 2017
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- 1,202
Dimensions: 123-84-106
Radius: 17m@177cm
Sizes: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
Drahtguy Kevin: The Legend X84's sweet spot is off-piste, especially in moguls. Its tip, rocker, and flex (or softness) don’t help raise the carving fun-meter: I found it slow and bland from turn to turn, but a lighter or more finesse skier may have a different view.
- Who is it for? Off-piste aficionados.
- Who is it not for? Heavier skiers looking to rip groomers.
- Insider tip: Lighter skiers may enjoy these more than their portlier brethren.
FairToMiddlin: 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.
UGASkiDawg: I had fun on this ski in the bumps but it didn’t knock my socks off anywhere else. A workman-like 84mm ski, I couldn’t find anything to blow my skirt up or to dislike about it. I felt the same about this ski when I bought a previous 89mm version on super sale about 10 years ago. I rode it some for a year and then sent it to the ski team ski swap after it sat unused for a couple of years
- Who is it for? Folks looking for an all-mountain ski that won’t offend; who knows, it might fit your skiing style.
- Who is it not for? People looking for a "wow, that was an awesome!" experience.
- Insider tip: Run it in the bumps and this ski comes alive, predictable without any surprises.
Dimensions: 125-88-106
Radius: 18m@180cm
Sizes: 166, 173, 180, 186
Size tested: 173
Design: All New
Philpug: The new Legend collection is not Cham 3.0, and it is not Powertrack 2.0, these are indeed all new. Dynastar had limited size offerings in the X88 and I almost didn’t get on them, but the rep reminded me that he had some pictures of me from years past and if I didn’t try the 173, he would share them. So on that note ... I was actually very surprised how well even the 173 skied. The sidewall technology brought over from the Speed Zone shines though here and really makes the new Legend ski fantastic. I will wait for a more thorough review once I get on the 180.
- Who is it for? Skiers who don’t want to work all the time.
- Who is it not for? Not sure yet.
- Insider tip: Available with or without a system binding.
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 15m@174cm
Sizes: 158, 166, 174, 182
Size tested: 174
Design: Carryover
Drahtguy Kevin: The Speed Zone 12 is an easily engaging ski with confidence-inspiring stability. It crosses the fall line quickly in a calm fashion with lots of feel underfoot, but there is a definite top end. Advancing intermediates and above can improve their game on this ski.
- Who is it for? People wanting to up their game.
- Who is it not for? Those looking to go mach schnell.
- Insider tip: Tip it and enjoy the ride.
FairToMiddlin: Dynastar has a great 72mm 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.
Philpug: (from last year) Dynastar has reinvented the Course line and named it the Speed Zone. No, they did not just slap new colors on old skis; instead, Dynastar brought the proprietary construction from its race skis to a consumer level. Powerdrive -- or what Dynastar internally calls “velvet speed” -- is a combination of Visco and Titanal vertically laminated between the ABS sidewalls and the core, giving the Speed Zone a very supple feel on the snow.
- Who is it for? Hard-snow fanatics who like to go fast.
- Who is it not for? Slowpokes: this Dynastar wants to run.
- Insider tip: You want overkill? Look at the Speed Zone 14Ti, which is the same ski but with the R21 race plate. Combine it with the SPX 15 Rockerflex race binding. Say goodbye to your pass.
Women's
Dynastar Intense 10 Dimensions: 104-73-120
Radius: 15m@167
Sizes: 146, 153, 160, 167
Size tested: 167
Design: Carryover
AmyPJ: I went to the Dynastar tent hoping to take out a different ski, but they didn’t have anything available in my length at that time. So what the heck, why not take out a narrow, frontside carving ski? This was a nice ski! It was smooth and had very good edge hold. It would not let me cheat in my turn transitions yet did not kill me when I tried to (which I do, often). I think the 167 was a bit long for me. It handled every type of snow on the way down, including the slush, very well. This would be a really good firm groomer ski for me to really hone my skills on.
- Who is it for: An Eastern skier who needs a ski that can handle a variety of conditions.
- Who is it not for? A true tail pusher.
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 14m@166cm
Sizes: 149, 158, 166
Size tested: 166
Design: All New
Tricia: Dynastar is offering the Intense 12 to women who are looking for a serious frontside ski. This ski reminded me how much fun it is to make nice turns without having to overthink it: just pressure the tip and it comes around like an old friend. The small mogul field I went through was a piece of cake. This could easily be dubbed the Cougar Cruiser.
- Who is it for? Skiers looking for a fun groomer ski.
- Who is it not for? Someone who prefers a midfat as a daily driver.
- Insider tip: Trust the tip.
Dimensions: 123-84-106
Radius: 17m@177cm
Sizes: 156, 163, 170, 177
Size tested: 177
Design: All New
SBrown: Hmmm. Easy enough to ski, it felt nervous at speed: nothing like the K2 or Kästles of that size (haha, I just likened K2 to Kästle on a groomer).
- Who is it for? Lighter and/or slower.
- Who is it not for? Bigger and/or faster.
- Insider tip: Fun in bumps, if you have a lot of those.
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