,10 day process is probably more marketing hype than reality. Yes, I'm sure that you can somehow add the process time up and come up with that number. They are hand built. All skis are hand built. So what's the difference and how do you justify the significantly higher price? I think of it more like two chefs making the same dish. One can go out and get a cheaper cut of meat or use fish that's been around a little too long vs. paying a premium for the best cut or the freshest fish possible. One buys frozen sauce from the restaurant supply guy, the other makes it from scratch and simmers it for hours, tasting as he goes to get it just right.. One opens a can of vegetables, vs. getting fresh from the garden organic veggies, and so on. One chef learned his trade on the grill at McDonalds. The other has an advanced degree from a famous Swiss cooking school. Both will make the same dish and both dishes are edible. One has you wishing you'd gone to another restaurant. The other one has you swooning over the most amazing meal you've ever had. The dinner tab is much higher for the better meal, and you can't wait to go back.
Is there that much difference? That is ultimately in the mind of the ski buyer. My guess is that most folks would say that they would absolutely make the same purchase if they had it to do over again. It's hard to pay a premium price for something and then admit that you've overpaid for a product that's not as great as you thought it would be. However, I'm just not hearing the faintest whisper of that. If a Stockli is 50% more expensive than another very good ski, does it ski 50% better? Probably not. But I don't think it's a 1:1 correlation. It may be worth paying 50% more for a ski that's noticeably better performing. 10% better? 20% better. I don't know. I do know that we get a finite number of ski days and anything we can do to make every ski day the best it can be is a good idea. I'd rather spend extra money on a great skiing ski than go to that killer restaurant on a regular basis. Ultimately, with the money I save on my restaurant tab and my doctor bills (those gourmet sauces are not good for you), I come out money ahead, I'm healthier, and I have a great time skiing