Kästle Announces Largest Model Line Increase Since 2007

[UGASkiDawg]

You are probably in the minority. Like it or not manufacture place is still synonymous with quality (Italian shoes, Turkish rugs, Swiss watches). Also the trend in consumer goods is to give people more for less money, not less for the same money. And Kastle knows that damn well, this is why the new ski says "Austrian Technology" instead of " proudly made in Czech Republic'".

I'm in the minority about a lot of things, doesn't make me wrong. It's still a mostly free country, believe what you want

 

[tinymoose]

Glad to see the expansion into kids and women's skis (aka shorter skis). A few years ago, when I looked at their kids line-up, it was only twin tips and while my LX 72s were perfectly fine (only adult ski of their's I could find short enough outside the kid's twin tips), it was cap construction, which I've come to learn I don't really love. Have since gotten rid of those and gone back to some junior race skis and am much happier for the change.

I'm not sure I follow what the big deal is as far as where they're manufactured. I have no idea where my Head junior race skis or Volkl Yumis were manufactured, but I like them both far more than I liked my LX72s made in Austria.

 

[Erik Timmerman]

I have no idea where my Head junior race skis or Volkl Yumis were manufactured, but I like them both far more than I liked my LX72s made in Austria.

FWIW - I think your LX72s were made in Slovenia

 

[Big J]

Everyone needs to breath a moment. Kastle is not moving ALL of their production to the Czech Republic...high end skis like the MX will still come from Austria.

I could not care any less about where a ski is made as long as it is high quality and does what I require. Nobody has perpetual ownership of making the best of anything as the world is constantly changing. Innovation itself causes change.

 

[tinymoose]

FWIW - I think your LX72s were made in Slovenia

Ah, maybe that's why I didn't like them more. #Austrianskisorbust

 

[James]

Ah, maybe that's why I didn't like them more. #Austrianskisorbust

Maybe tou should buy a MadRussian ski. It's custom.

 

[Alexzn]

I'm in the minority about a lot of things, doesn't make me wrong. It's still a mostly free country, believe what you want

Yes. And it does include taking criticism on internet forums in stride. Chill, it's just the interwebz.

 

[AltaFan]

FYI that there are a few more pictures of the new Kastle’s including the FX here.

 

[neonorchid]

^^^Thx @AltaFan, your link answered the unanswered question I had to word differently in two seprate post regarding FX HP's and metal.

• New FX96 W: Lighter than men’s version with a wood core wrapped with fiberglass plus new, larger hollowtech tips for improved dampening.
• New FX86 and FX116: “Non HP” with bigger hollowtech than previous versions (better dampening) and fiberglass plus wood in the cores. Lighter swingweights.
• New FX96 and FX106: “HP” versions, but still without metal. HP indicates a carbon-sandwiched core. These also feature bigger hollowtech tips.

 

[UGASkiDawg]

Yes. And it does include taking criticism on internet forums in stride. Chill, it's just the interwebz.

I'm as chill as you can get

 

[Alexzn]

^^^Thx @AltaFan, your link answered the unanswered question I had to word differently in two seprate post regarding FX HP's and metal.

• New FX96 and FX106: “HP” versions, but still without metal. HP indicates a carbon-sandwiched core. These also feature bigger hollowtech tips.

My jaw just dropped... So they now replaced metal layers with carbon...

 

[James]

My jaw just dropped... So they now replaced metal layers with carbon...

Yeah I guess we'll see. Wouldn't be the first ski ruined by the lure of carbon, but maybe they can pull it off.

 

[AltaFan]

^^^Thx @AltaFan, your link answered the unanswered question I had to word differently in two seprate post regarding FX HP's and metal.

• New FX96 W: Lighter than men’s version with a wood core wrapped with fiberglass plus new, larger hollowtech tips for improved dampening.
• New FX86 and FX116: “Non HP” with bigger hollowtech than previous versions (better dampening) and fiberglass plus wood in the cores. Lighter swingweights.
• New FX96 and FX106: “HP” versions, but still without metal. HP indicates a carbon-sandwiched core. These also feature bigger hollowtech tips.

I’m very curious to read the feedback on FX96 and FX106 during the snow testing this week. I’ve been checking out some of Chris Davenport’s pics and videos of what looks like the FX106.

 

[givethepigeye]

Don’t really care either way - craftsmanship all over the World. But they did put “Austrian Technology” or something rather than “Made in Czech Republic”. So methinks that Kastle thinks people care. The carbon vs. metal is interesting.

 

[Choucas]

Taking a close look at a lot of skis, it is often impossible to learn where they are made. Indie brands (ski marketing companies not ski makers) are often guilty of this. I don’t really care where they were produced, but it seems that efforts are often being made to keep it a secret. Ski makers should be very clear on where their skis are made and not hide behind “designed in” crapola, and certainly don’t put the Austrian schwarz adler on a ski made elsewhere. That’s deceptive and dishonest, and shows your lack of conviction in your product. Be straight with your customers. My Ukrainian made Fischer Ranger 98’s were great. My wife’s Bulgarian made Atomic Cloud 9’s (with Romanian made Atomic bindings) are terrific.

 

[Ken_R]

Taking a close look at a lot of skis, it is often impossible to learn where they are made. Indie brands (ski marketing companies not ski makers) are often guilty of this. I don’t really care where they were produced, but it seems that efforts are often being made to keep it a secret. Ski makers should be very clear on where their skis are made and not hide behind “designed in” crapola, and certainly don’t put the Austrian schwarz adler on a ski made elsewhere. That’s deceptive and dishonest, and shows your lack of conviction in your product. Be straight with your customers. My Ukrainian made Fischer Ranger 98’s were great. My wife’s Bulgarian made Atomic Cloud 9’s (with Romanian made Atomic bindings) are terrific.

I think Apple started it a long time ago with the "Designed in California"

 

[Tricia]

Don’t really care either way - craftsmanship all over the World. But they did put “Austrian Technology” or something rather than “Made in Czech Republic”. So methinks that Kastle thinks people care. The carbon vs. metal is interesting.

I think they are more concerned about the quality of the design and quality of the build than separating the two and printing it on the skis.

 

[procos]

I don't care where a ski is made as long as it rips. I care about feel. I can tell without a doubt when I am on a Kastle ski or something else. There is a flow to a Kastle ski that most others don't have. I have 4 pair of Kastles, a Stockli SR 105, an Atomic Auto 117 and Nordica Enforcer 100. All great skis but the Kastles feel better to me. They have something about the feel. So if they can replicate that in a factory in Zimbabwe then make them in Zimbabwe. Until I get a chance to ski them I won't know. But being made in Austria is irrelevant if they can replicate the feel.

 

[givethepigeye]

The feel is the Austrian strip of rubber

 

[Lorenzzo]

The feel is the Austrian strip of rubber

My current MX Ltd were made by Austrians who eat only Austrian food, never leave Austria, watch only Austrian television and have only one hobby - skiing. I would not want a pair of Kastles made by Austrians that had recently had pizza in Italy.