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- Aug 24, 2017
- Posts
- 364
The ski season is generally over in the Northern Hemisphere, and I am lying on the sofa with my leg in a cast recovering from ankle surgery, so I thought it would be a good time to post some notes about three Stockli skis I tried this year.
I know how much this community likes Stockli skis
I'm no expert, so I'd be curious to know how my impressions compare to others with more experience (to see if I am on the right track with my impressions).
I keep detailed notes for all of the skis that I try, and I cut-and-pasted this from my notes, so the format is a bit strange. I hope it makes sense.
I am a 6'4" 200 lbs athletic intermediate skier.
All testing in Grindelwald, Switzerland (I live in Switzerland).
In the order that I tried them...
Stockli Laser CX 2018/2019
170 cm
122-68-100 mm
14.1 m (170 cm)
1725 g (170 cm with no binding)
This is a black ski with a faint hexagonal pattern on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The lower layer has a wavy cut in the middle
At lower speed the two halves do not interlock and remain softer
At higher speed the two halves interlock and become harder
This system is called the “racing” or harder version (there is a “comfort” version on other skis)
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Minimal tip and tail rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be a powerful carving ski
I tried these skis on a day with good conditions
It was cold and there was about 10-20 cm of fresh snow
Most of the pistes had been groomed and then covered
Higher on the mountain the snow was light and dry
Lower on the mountain the snow was heavier and dense in consolidated piles
There were some patches where the wind had transformed the surface
It was not wind buff but it was blown away to hard pack
I expected it to be rougher and bumpier but it was actually easy to ski because it was soft
These skis felt natural right away
They felt stable and predictable sliding on steeper harder slopes
They felt smooth and natural cruising along gentle narrow pistes
It was easy to carve
I could start turns without problems
I could make different kinds of turns
I was actually surprised how versatile these skis felt
The conditions were not perfect
The snow was soft but the pistes were not smooth
I was actually afraid to try to carve but it was fine
The skis were really stable
They encouraged me to start working on my technique
I tried fast short alternating turns concentrating on facing downhill and separation
There was a roller and a steep pitch where initially I did not feel comfortable carving
After the second run I easily skied down the slope making nice carved turns
Maybe this is the ultimate measure of skis
How do they encourage you to ski?
It’s not that the skis pushed me or demanded that I carved at high speed
Instead they just felt like they had a reserve of stability and control
I felt comfortable skiing faster and carving more in places I would not previously
One of the nicest sensations I had was on a flat section
I was making gradual side to side arcs
Not really turns but just back and forth movements
I got that smooth easy carving feeling
It was really nice
These skis felt really fast
Sliding on the bases or carving
Maybe that was the base prep or the wax or maybe it was the width
I could feel the narrow waist compared to what I had been skiing
It was not unstable but it was quick edge to edge
For me speed and carving and technique come from control and stability
I really like smooth damp skis that remain planted in the snow
That helps me be a better skier
I think that’s why I really like my Folsom skis
These skis gave me that feeling
How do these skis compare to some other caving or carving-oriented skis I have tried?
The benchmark is the Atomic Redster S9
These skis seemed just slightly lower in performance
They did not have the same magic feeling of turn initiation
They did not feel quite as smooth, damp, solid, and planted
At the same time in some ways they might have felt better
Maybe they were a little more stable in a straight line
Maybe they were a little more versatile in terms of turn shapes
But I would have to ski the S9 again to compare
One interesting comparison is the Movement Revo
The Revo felt precise, clean, sharp, and light
But they produced a great deal of feedback and energy
These skis were far more stable, damp, and accessible
They allowed me to ski much better
Overall I really liked these skis
I would definitely consider buying these Stockli piste skis
Stockli Laser AX 2018/2019
175 cm
124-78-111 mm
15.9 m (175 cm)
1920 g (175 cm with no binding)
This is a yellow ski with a faint hexagonal pattern on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The lower layer has a wavy cut in the middle
At lower speed the two halves do not interlock and remain softer
At higher speed the two halves interlock and become harder
This system is called the “comfort” or softer version (there is a “racing” version on other skis)
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Slight tip rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be an all-mountain ski
I tried these skis on the first warm, sunny day after a 3-day storm cycle of snow, rain, and wind
The pistes were mostly groomed but somewhat inconsistent
Higher the snow was dry and chalky and transformed by the wind
Lower the snow was hard and icy in the shade or warm and wet in the sun
Throughout the day the piles of snow built began to build up on the piste
My first runs on these skis were amazing
I have never tried skis that started turns so easily
I finally understand the saying
“Just put pressure on the tips and they turn”
I pressed my shins a little forward and leaned
And the skis started carving without any sharp movements or abrupt transitions
And this was possible at low speeds
I never had the odd tipping out of balance feeling trying to get the skis on edge that I sometimes feel
They were just so smooth and easy
I was surprised because they are somewhat wider than pure piste skis
But I think the flex and the tip rocker play a big part in turn initiation
I was also surprised that they seemed unaffected by the rough surface and piles of snow
They just cleanly carved right through everything
I didn’t feel any change through the skis
Again I think the flex and the tip rocker play a big part in this
In short I could make turns of different radius at low and moderate speeds
I could cruise along flat pistes with gentle side to side carving arcs
I could skid to slow down or slide sideways down steeper slopes with no problems
They were natural and instinctive and immediate
They encouraged me to practice making really fast linked turns with separation
Upper body facing straight down the slope
Lower body swinging back and forth
It was a great feeling
Like the Stockli Laser CX I noticed that the bases and edges felt really fast
This makes me think that I might pay more attention to base prep on my own skis
I was a little surprised that I didn’t notice the waist width
Even though they were a little wider than pure carving skis I had no trouble getting them on edge
I did find that these skis had a speed limit
When I got going faster at a certain point I began to loose confidence
I did carve easily over a roller and down a steep pitch where I was impressed by the Laser CX
But I slowed down on the next steep section
I didn’t feel like these skis had quite the same reserve of stability as the Laser CX
They were not as stable in a straight line as the Redster S9 or the Laser CX
I could feel the tips and tails moving back and forth a little more
I think this a simple consequence of the running length
I measured the running length of these skis and it was 1-2 centimeters shorter than the Laser CX
So even though it’s a longer ski it has the same or shorter running length because of the rocker
I think this contributed to the small but noticeable reduction in straight-line stability
I guess it’s a trade-off
Easy turn initiation/flotation/maneuverability vs. stability in a straight line
They were also not so stable on harder surfaces and in a few places were the piste was icy
They did not start to chatter but they almost started to chatter
The edges did not grip as well
Again I think it’s a trade-off
Performance in soft snow vs. edge grip on hard snow
What were the best sensations I had on these skis?
The incredibly easy and smooth turn initiation and carving and low and moderate speed
It was unlike any ski I have tried and it made me smile
The limitations of these skis were high speed stability and control on hard snow
That’s understandable considering how they were designed
Overall I thought these were great skis that gave me some wonderful sensations
I think these skis could be really good for learning how to carve or practicing on soft snow days
Stockli Laser SL 2019/2020
165 cm
120-66-97 mm
13.6 m (165 cm)
1770 g (165 cm with no binding)
This is a blue ski with black center section and a pattern of triangles on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The thickness and shape of the core and titanium layers are optimized for edge grip and carving
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Minimal tip and tail rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be a powerful carving ski
I tried these skis on the same day that I tried the Stockli Laser AX
It was later in the day so it was softer
Higher the snow was dry and chalky
Lower the snow was soft and wet
In some places there were large piles of snow and troughs like moguls
Let’s get some things out of the way
First
These skis had the same damp, smooth, solid feeling as my Folsom skis, the Atomic Redster S9, and the other Stockli skis I have tried
Second
These skis had the same fast and sharp feeling from the base preparation and edge work
This is so important!
Third
For what they were designed
Carving short radius turns
These skis were great
I kept practicing fast linked turns with my upper body facing straight down the slope
And I had my best runs of this kind on these skis
They really allowed me to get separation
And then I could carry these feeling over to my wider all mountain Folsom skis
Fourth
I did not notice the narrow waist
I have never tried skis this narrow but it was fine
Actually it felt really precise and effective under my foot
OK, with all that out of the way, what was my real impression?
I noticed a real lack of stability and control
When I began to go faster tips and tails would slide around
On rough surfaces and over piles of snow they jumped and bounced around
Moving suddenly and throwing my off balance
The difference from my Folsom skis was amazing
In the same conditions my Folsom skis carve long smooth arcs through everything
I think this is because of the design of the whole ski (materials, constriction, dimensions, flex)
But if I had to single one thing out it would be the running length
These skis had a running length about 10 cm shorter than the Laser CX and AX
I would really have liked to try the 170 cm but they did not have that length in stock
But these skis did feel much less stable than some other 165 cm skies I have tried (Elan SL)
I also think it had to do with the short turning radius
Maybe these skis were just catching and hooking on everything and starting to turn
That’s a possibility but it didn’t really feel that way
Anyway
For the conditions on that day (soft and rough)
At that time (near noon)
For what I wanted to do (make different turns at different speeds on different pistes)
They just didn’t work for me
I did not get the chance to try them on hard snow or ice surfaces
But I think they would work really well
I think they would have good edge grip
I don’t think they would chatter
Overall I think they are a specialty ski
They are great for making fast short turns on hard smooth pistes
But they are not suited for much else
I know how much this community likes Stockli skis
I'm no expert, so I'd be curious to know how my impressions compare to others with more experience (to see if I am on the right track with my impressions).
I keep detailed notes for all of the skis that I try, and I cut-and-pasted this from my notes, so the format is a bit strange. I hope it makes sense.
I am a 6'4" 200 lbs athletic intermediate skier.
All testing in Grindelwald, Switzerland (I live in Switzerland).
In the order that I tried them...
Stockli Laser CX 2018/2019
170 cm
122-68-100 mm
14.1 m (170 cm)
1725 g (170 cm with no binding)
This is a black ski with a faint hexagonal pattern on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The lower layer has a wavy cut in the middle
At lower speed the two halves do not interlock and remain softer
At higher speed the two halves interlock and become harder
This system is called the “racing” or harder version (there is a “comfort” version on other skis)
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Minimal tip and tail rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be a powerful carving ski
I tried these skis on a day with good conditions
It was cold and there was about 10-20 cm of fresh snow
Most of the pistes had been groomed and then covered
Higher on the mountain the snow was light and dry
Lower on the mountain the snow was heavier and dense in consolidated piles
There were some patches where the wind had transformed the surface
It was not wind buff but it was blown away to hard pack
I expected it to be rougher and bumpier but it was actually easy to ski because it was soft
These skis felt natural right away
They felt stable and predictable sliding on steeper harder slopes
They felt smooth and natural cruising along gentle narrow pistes
It was easy to carve
I could start turns without problems
I could make different kinds of turns
I was actually surprised how versatile these skis felt
The conditions were not perfect
The snow was soft but the pistes were not smooth
I was actually afraid to try to carve but it was fine
The skis were really stable
They encouraged me to start working on my technique
I tried fast short alternating turns concentrating on facing downhill and separation
There was a roller and a steep pitch where initially I did not feel comfortable carving
After the second run I easily skied down the slope making nice carved turns
Maybe this is the ultimate measure of skis
How do they encourage you to ski?
It’s not that the skis pushed me or demanded that I carved at high speed
Instead they just felt like they had a reserve of stability and control
I felt comfortable skiing faster and carving more in places I would not previously
One of the nicest sensations I had was on a flat section
I was making gradual side to side arcs
Not really turns but just back and forth movements
I got that smooth easy carving feeling
It was really nice
These skis felt really fast
Sliding on the bases or carving
Maybe that was the base prep or the wax or maybe it was the width
I could feel the narrow waist compared to what I had been skiing
It was not unstable but it was quick edge to edge
For me speed and carving and technique come from control and stability
I really like smooth damp skis that remain planted in the snow
That helps me be a better skier
I think that’s why I really like my Folsom skis
These skis gave me that feeling
How do these skis compare to some other caving or carving-oriented skis I have tried?
The benchmark is the Atomic Redster S9
These skis seemed just slightly lower in performance
They did not have the same magic feeling of turn initiation
They did not feel quite as smooth, damp, solid, and planted
At the same time in some ways they might have felt better
Maybe they were a little more stable in a straight line
Maybe they were a little more versatile in terms of turn shapes
But I would have to ski the S9 again to compare
One interesting comparison is the Movement Revo
The Revo felt precise, clean, sharp, and light
But they produced a great deal of feedback and energy
These skis were far more stable, damp, and accessible
They allowed me to ski much better
Overall I really liked these skis
I would definitely consider buying these Stockli piste skis
Stockli Laser AX 2018/2019
175 cm
124-78-111 mm
15.9 m (175 cm)
1920 g (175 cm with no binding)
This is a yellow ski with a faint hexagonal pattern on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The lower layer has a wavy cut in the middle
At lower speed the two halves do not interlock and remain softer
At higher speed the two halves interlock and become harder
This system is called the “comfort” or softer version (there is a “racing” version on other skis)
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Slight tip rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be an all-mountain ski
I tried these skis on the first warm, sunny day after a 3-day storm cycle of snow, rain, and wind
The pistes were mostly groomed but somewhat inconsistent
Higher the snow was dry and chalky and transformed by the wind
Lower the snow was hard and icy in the shade or warm and wet in the sun
Throughout the day the piles of snow built began to build up on the piste
My first runs on these skis were amazing
I have never tried skis that started turns so easily
I finally understand the saying
“Just put pressure on the tips and they turn”
I pressed my shins a little forward and leaned
And the skis started carving without any sharp movements or abrupt transitions
And this was possible at low speeds
I never had the odd tipping out of balance feeling trying to get the skis on edge that I sometimes feel
They were just so smooth and easy
I was surprised because they are somewhat wider than pure piste skis
But I think the flex and the tip rocker play a big part in turn initiation
I was also surprised that they seemed unaffected by the rough surface and piles of snow
They just cleanly carved right through everything
I didn’t feel any change through the skis
Again I think the flex and the tip rocker play a big part in this
In short I could make turns of different radius at low and moderate speeds
I could cruise along flat pistes with gentle side to side carving arcs
I could skid to slow down or slide sideways down steeper slopes with no problems
They were natural and instinctive and immediate
They encouraged me to practice making really fast linked turns with separation
Upper body facing straight down the slope
Lower body swinging back and forth
It was a great feeling
Like the Stockli Laser CX I noticed that the bases and edges felt really fast
This makes me think that I might pay more attention to base prep on my own skis
I was a little surprised that I didn’t notice the waist width
Even though they were a little wider than pure carving skis I had no trouble getting them on edge
I did find that these skis had a speed limit
When I got going faster at a certain point I began to loose confidence
I did carve easily over a roller and down a steep pitch where I was impressed by the Laser CX
But I slowed down on the next steep section
I didn’t feel like these skis had quite the same reserve of stability as the Laser CX
They were not as stable in a straight line as the Redster S9 or the Laser CX
I could feel the tips and tails moving back and forth a little more
I think this a simple consequence of the running length
I measured the running length of these skis and it was 1-2 centimeters shorter than the Laser CX
So even though it’s a longer ski it has the same or shorter running length because of the rocker
I think this contributed to the small but noticeable reduction in straight-line stability
I guess it’s a trade-off
Easy turn initiation/flotation/maneuverability vs. stability in a straight line
They were also not so stable on harder surfaces and in a few places were the piste was icy
They did not start to chatter but they almost started to chatter
The edges did not grip as well
Again I think it’s a trade-off
Performance in soft snow vs. edge grip on hard snow
What were the best sensations I had on these skis?
The incredibly easy and smooth turn initiation and carving and low and moderate speed
It was unlike any ski I have tried and it made me smile
The limitations of these skis were high speed stability and control on hard snow
That’s understandable considering how they were designed
Overall I thought these were great skis that gave me some wonderful sensations
I think these skis could be really good for learning how to carve or practicing on soft snow days
Stockli Laser SL 2019/2020
165 cm
120-66-97 mm
13.6 m (165 cm)
1770 g (165 cm with no binding)
This is a blue ski with black center section and a pattern of triangles on the top sheet
Wood core
Titanium layers above and below core
The thickness and shape of the core and titanium layers are optimized for edge grip and carving
Fiberglass
Vertical sidewalls for full length
Wrap around metal edges
Plastic reinforcement at tip
Integrated binding allows ski movement
Camber underfoot
Minimal tip and tail rocker
Rounded nose
Flat tail
Traditional shape
Designed to be a powerful carving ski
I tried these skis on the same day that I tried the Stockli Laser AX
It was later in the day so it was softer
Higher the snow was dry and chalky
Lower the snow was soft and wet
In some places there were large piles of snow and troughs like moguls
Let’s get some things out of the way
First
These skis had the same damp, smooth, solid feeling as my Folsom skis, the Atomic Redster S9, and the other Stockli skis I have tried
Second
These skis had the same fast and sharp feeling from the base preparation and edge work
This is so important!
Third
For what they were designed
Carving short radius turns
These skis were great
I kept practicing fast linked turns with my upper body facing straight down the slope
And I had my best runs of this kind on these skis
They really allowed me to get separation
And then I could carry these feeling over to my wider all mountain Folsom skis
Fourth
I did not notice the narrow waist
I have never tried skis this narrow but it was fine
Actually it felt really precise and effective under my foot
OK, with all that out of the way, what was my real impression?
I noticed a real lack of stability and control
When I began to go faster tips and tails would slide around
On rough surfaces and over piles of snow they jumped and bounced around
Moving suddenly and throwing my off balance
The difference from my Folsom skis was amazing
In the same conditions my Folsom skis carve long smooth arcs through everything
I think this is because of the design of the whole ski (materials, constriction, dimensions, flex)
But if I had to single one thing out it would be the running length
These skis had a running length about 10 cm shorter than the Laser CX and AX
I would really have liked to try the 170 cm but they did not have that length in stock
But these skis did feel much less stable than some other 165 cm skies I have tried (Elan SL)
I also think it had to do with the short turning radius
Maybe these skis were just catching and hooking on everything and starting to turn
That’s a possibility but it didn’t really feel that way
Anyway
For the conditions on that day (soft and rough)
At that time (near noon)
For what I wanted to do (make different turns at different speeds on different pistes)
They just didn’t work for me
I did not get the chance to try them on hard snow or ice surfaces
But I think they would work really well
I think they would have good edge grip
I don’t think they would chatter
Overall I think they are a specialty ski
They are great for making fast short turns on hard smooth pistes
But they are not suited for much else
