2014 Frontside Carver Ski Comparison - Sierra Jim
As a western (Tahoe) based ski shop, we at the Start Haus have a lot of demand for wider soft snow biased skis, and for sure, we carry a wide array and sell a lot of them.
However, even on a “normal” year in this snow-rich area, there are periods when it doesn’t snow for a week or more. Last year, it basically didn’t snow any appreciable amount after the first of January.
For periods like this, it pays to have a good hard snow ski. Even in that mythical “normal” year, most Tahoe skiers will find that if they have this type of ski, they’ll ski it quite a bit. Some years, like last year for example, they’ll ski it much of the time. This category of ski is also a very popular choice for ski instructors and other well-schooled skiers in the East, Midwest or the West, who understand what edge angles and pressure are all about.
Okay … so what exactly are these frontside skis anyway? Well, this is not a new category. In fact, one could argue that this is the oldest of the current ski categories. These skis have relatively narrow waists by today’s standards and for the purposes of categorizing them we set sort of an arbitrary width range of roughly 70 to 80mm underfoot.
These skis are usually built with the best technology that each manufacturer has for hard snow grip, dampening and stability. Most skis in this category have conventional camber and if there is any rocker at all, it is so minimal that we feel that it is almost imaginary.
The highest levels of these skis are often pretty close to race ski constructions and will often carry a plated binding system. Naturally, there are many levels and types of ski in this category and we try to carry a small but very select group of skis that we think can put some fun and excitement into a hard snow, groomer zoomer day.
Within the models that we select, we split them into a few sub categories that differ slightly from one another. Some, are very close to real race skis in dimensions and build but have less restrictive sidecuts than say a typical FIS level GS ski. These are for the most “technical” and skilled skiers and will deliver a high level of reward no matter how firm the snow.
Examples of this group include the Dynastar Speed Course Pro, Stockli Laser SX, and Head iSupershape Magnum.
Then, there are some ski models that just a touch wider and a little softer in torsion at the extremities. These skis will offer most of the hard snow capabilities of the first group but are a little less demanding. The bonus for these is that they are slightly more versatile when you are faced with a few inches of new snow over a firm base or some spring corn.
A couple of examples here are the Head iSupershape Rally and the Stockli Laser AR.
Finally, we always carry a model or two that are what we call “cruisers." These are not the maximum grip, maximum energy type skis of the first two groups. Rather, these cruisers are for the skier that takes a more relaxed approach to skiing and is willing to sacrifice a little grip in return for a smooth, comfortable ride. This year, we chose the K2 Amp 80 XTI in this niche.
2014 Dynastar Speed Course Pro:
The Dynastar Speed Course TI has been a mainstay of our frontside category for some years. It is always one of the best in category and really typifies the genre. For the 2013-14 season, Dynastar has revamped this model quite a bit. This new version, called the Speed Course Pro, is a bit wider at the tip and underfoot and has a new build that is a little closer to the FIS race ski layup. In addition, the new version uses a binding plate that is much closer to the race plate than before.
My first exposure to the new Dynastar Speed Course Pro was at Winter Park Co. following the SIA show in Denver. I always dedicate this intro to the narrower waisted skis (say ... 70-90 mm or so) because conditions there are ideal for testing this important group. As a ski tester, you are always looking for a ski to fit a certain performance criteria or niche. There are some great skis in this category and when I first rode the chair with the new Course on my feet, I was thinking to myself “Man ... I hope they didn’t mess this up." Well, no worries, they didn’t. In fact, they took a category leader and made it better.
As I pushed off from the top of the test trail, a whole herd of folks happened to push off at the same time. For the first minute or so of the run I was surrounded by a bevy of skiers of many different levels. I just rolled my ankles and arced little, medium speed turns while surrounded by the horde and even threw a couple of tail push skids in there in order to keep from whacking another skier.
As soon as I could, I pulled into a hard right traverse to get away from that group while thinking ”well ... that was pretty easy." When I got far enough away from that little gaggle of skiers, I dropped the hip a little and started into my normal routine for this type of ski. Immediately the Course showed what it always has - a nice, easy turn initiation into short radius turns, so, OK; so far so good.
The next series of turns is what really defines a frontside ski for me. As I found the room to do so, I started to lay in more angles and gradually increased the turn radius. This was where the new Course really started to shine. As the speeds picked up and the angles increased further, the Course locked in the way the previous versions had.
However the crossunder and turn exit were more modulated than before. As I found the room to open it up even more, I found that this new ski was more solid and damp underfoot than it has been in the past. This new ski is maybe slightly less nimble in short turns than in the past but the payback for that is equal or better grip, more dampening and a smoother, more sophisticated ride.
This ski is what we would term a “technical” ski in that it requires some skills to pilot it. As a whole however, Dynastar has improved in some areas with this ski while not sacrificing anything that has made it a class leader in the past.
If you follow ski racing at all, it pretty hard to ignore the success that Head has experienced in recent years. The brand is heavily committed and highly successful on the World Cup and has become very successful in regional racing as well.
This commitment to racing has trickled down into their frontside ski models as well and we have always selected a Head model or two in this category. The Magnum is the narrower and more technical of the two Heads that we have selected this year.
This is a new version of the Magnum and it has been changed a little from the past. The new model is marginally wider underfoot than before and the race type plate has been replaced with a lower profile plate that uses a new Tyrolia binding model.
Out on snow, this was a case where I was concerned that Head might have messed up a good thing. I needn’t have worried. The new Magnum displays the same willingness to make short turns and the same ability to feather out into longer turns as well.
The grip and dampening that made the prior version one of my favorites in this category are still there and just as good. While the new Magnum is marginally different mechanically, it really skis the same as the prior versions.
About the only thing noticeable is a little less leverage from the lower profile plate. This is not a nit to pick because at least for myself, I found the lower plate made the new ski slightly less abrupt when rolling up to the edge. This is a ski for a good skier and like the Dynastar Speed Course Pro, it might be overkill for an intermediate who probably would not utilize what the ski has to offer.
Stockli Laser SX:
We have known the Stockli ski company for years and like most ski gear heads, we have always respected this fine Swiss brand.
For some years and for various reasons, they have not been effectively distributed or managed in the U.S. and thus, they were not a brand that we could consider carrying. For 2013-14 all that has changed. Stockli now has a solid distribution plan for North America and they are also now importing their fine FIS level racing skis as well.
Stockli pledges to remain a hand built, premium quality ski brand and never become a mass market player. For these reasons, we took a serious look at Stockli for the upcoming season.
The first Stockli model that I tested at Winter Park was the Laser SX. This ski is built almost exactly like the World Cup race GS ski except that is has a much deeper sidecut. With a race plate installed, this is the ski that Stockli racers use for World Cup skiercross competition. Without the race plate, this is the ski that we tested for our frontside category.
Out on snow, the first thing I noticed was that as I rolled through the slower skiing area that was crowded with intermediate skiers, the SX took a little more input to turn at slower speeds.
When I cleared the traffic, I darted off to the far skier’s right, rolled ‘em downhill and lowered my hip a little. This built up some edge angle and when I pushed my big toe down, things started to happen. The tip of the Laser seemed to engage with a little pressure and when I moved my feet, the ski started to cross back under me with some serious authority.
I felt it happening and was more or less ready for the energy so when the ski shot out to the other side, I stayed low and let the ski go away and touch down. The Laser was ready to hook up again and it did so with a lock onto the edge that felt like a real race ski.
Again, the Laser rocketed back underneath me making a tightly arced turn that I didn’t really think I could do anymore. Skiing on, I let the angles and speed build and found myself aiming for a patch of snow that had been scraped off and was shiny hard.
The Laser cut through the very hard snow patch without a hint of skid and felt as if it was just punching down into the ice. Speeds just didn’t matter as the stability, dampening and grip felt like a race ski with a tighter turn radius.
As I skied back to the equipment corral, I was grinning from ear to ear. This ski made that run down the groomed trail truly exciting. The Laser SX is everything that the best skiers could possibly hope for in a hard snow, frontside ski. However, I also realized that there was a caveat here. This ski requires some good technique to really use it to it’s potential.
Someone who skis with low angles or a lot of skidded turns is probably not best suited for the SX nor is the skier that is not willing to “pay attention” to what he is doing.
Stockli Laser AR:
With the Laser AR, Stockli has built a ski for the frontside skier with a more varied agenda than mach speeds on the hardest snow.
The AR shares the same core and exacting quality as the SX but it is wider (78mm), has less metal, and, probably most significantly, a rubber core insert at the tip and tail. Thus, the AR is notably softer in flex and especially in torsion at the tip and tail.
I skied the AR immediately following the SX and from the first few turns, the difference was notable. In the slower skiing areas, the AR could skid comfortably or arc with mild ankle rolls at slow speeds.
Once the trail cleared out I gradually built up the angles and picked up speeds. The AR enters a short-medium radius turn with just a hint of angle and pressure, but once engaged, it locks in solidly underfoot.
When the AR crosses under, it does so firmly but with less of the “rocket launcher” effect that the SX has. The AR handled some blown in snow and scattered bumps in a little tree patch very comfortably.
As the speeds picked up on the groomers and I went across the hardest snow available, the AR showed fine grip and exceptional dampening. Despite the softer tip and tail, the extremities stayed very smooth and I attribute this to the rubber inserts.
At the very highest speeds, the AR was a bit less stable than the most technical of the frontside skis but it was more versatile in a variety of conditions and also showed that it could be skied with less attention to technique. Unlike the most technical of the frontsiders, the AR could be skied by any solid intermediate skier while still not disappointing the expert.
The Rally is a new model in the iSupershape collection from Head and at 76mm underfoot, it splits the width difference between the Magnum and the revamped Titan.
In the past, we had carried the Titan to go along with the Magnum and felt that it was always well positioned as a slightly more versatile frontside ski. For this year the Titan has gotten even wider than before and we felt that it was kind of creeping out of the category. We felt that the Rally fit this spot in the frontside category and was a better replacement for the old Titan which had been very popular.
Head really knows how to build frontside skis, and out on the snow, this one proves the point again. The Rally felt pretty similar to the narrower Magnum (this is a good thing) but the wider tip didn’t engage quite as quickly or with quite the precision of the narrower skis in the frontside category.
The Rally also has a bit more of a medium-long turn feel than the super nimble Magnum. Once the speeds start to pick up, there isn’t much difference as the Rally has almost as much grip and just as much dampening.
One of the best paybacks for the slightly softer torsional flex in the tip and tail is that the tail of the Rally is more forgiving. This, along with the wider waist and fatter tip, made the Rally better in a little patch of mixed snow and small bumps.
We think that the added versatility of the Rally is an acceptable tradeoff for having slightly less of a “hot rod” feel than the racier frontside skis. For a skier that is building technical skills, or for the ski instructor wanting a good frontsider, the Rally is a great choice just as the older Titan was.
The K2 Amp 80 is a revamped version of the K2 Rictor which has been one of K2’s best selling models for some time now.
The overall feel of this ski is very easygoing and smooth, much like previous models. Not every skier that skis primarily packed snow conditions needs or wants the enormous grip and power that some of the really technical models in this category offer.
Out on snow at Winter Park, I found that the Amp 80 really fits the term cruiser to a t. Right from the first turns in the rather crowded slow skiing area, the Amp was comfortable and super easy to turn.
This is the only ski in the group with any rocker to speak of and while there’s not a lot of it, it is noticeable. The Amp could be skidded slowly or arced with a simple ankle roll and would even turn well if I skied it a little too far back.
When I got to the area where I ski a little faster, I skied the first of my medium radius turns at low angles and with a skidded finish. Then, I picked up the angles and applied some pressure to finish off the turns with a carve. The Amp responded easily to both types of input.
As speeds picked up a little more, the Amp had to be angled up and engaged in order to feel stable. As long as I did that, the Amp was amazingly smooth and damp, which is a characteristic that you don’t always find in a mid-priced ski.
One does not even need solid intermediate skills to ski the Amp 80, yet it will carry through to a pretty good advanced skier as well. Among the designated Frontside skis this one was the easiest and most compliant in bumps and mixed snow.