A worthy exercise and some worthy alternatives to the AX. After spending more than a few years buying skis that were almost a good as the category leader in the interest of saving a few bucks, I've come to my senses and just bought the benchmark ski. The AX is indeed all it's cracked up to be. If I had it to do all over again, I would do exactly what I did, but do it sooner.
I skied my AXs yesterday after shelving them last month because what I was doing to the bases was criminal with the low-snow conditions we’re having. (I’ve been skiing a pair of Head Monster 83s I picked on CraigsList over Christmas to take on the unavoidable rocks.)
I almost forgot how well the AXs ski. Simply put, I find the AXs to be an amazing ski. They handle a wide range of turn shapes, regardless of speed. They’re nimble through the bumps, yet seem just as happy in arcing GS turns at speed. I read somewhere that they’d be a great ski to teach on and although I haven’t taught in many years, it’d be the ski I’d choose.
There’s a subtle, but distinct feeling with premium skis that I’ve really grown to appreciate. I first experienced it when I picked up a pair of Kastle BMX 98s on clearance about five years ago. I’ve been skiing primarily Kastle and Stocklis ever since.
Like Francois Pugh stated, I too could never justify spending so much on a high performance car, but I’ve become comfortable spending more on premium skis because I appreciate their characteristics.