Kasia’s Hot Picks

I will begin with the only slalom ski in my five. At 165 cm, the Head Worldcup Rebels e-SL Pro comes in the standard men’s length. All the consumer slalom skis in our test are men’s models, which makes some of them exceptionally demanding for me. This is not one of those skis.

In my view, this is the kind of ski you can fall in love with from the very first turn. It was superb on the slalom course, and every bit as impressive in free skiing, whether I was making shorter or longer turns. It gives back all the energy you put into it. You can trust it, commit fully and lay it far over into the turn. It is tremendous fun to ski.

I tested it in both softer and firmer conditions, and it was outstanding everywhere.

My next choice is the Stöckli Laser GS from the consumer GS category. I tested it in soft conditions, and it worked extremely well both on the GS course and in free skiing.

This is a relatively accessible GS ski, so anyone taking their first steps in race training and gate skiing can confidently consider it. It is a genuine plug-and-play model: click in and the fun begins. It is very stable. Apply more pressure and it tightens the turn nicely; let it run at its natural radius and it carves smooth, enjoyable arcs just as willingly.

Despite being 182 cm long, it does not feel remotely that long. After my first runs, I would have guessed it was around 175–177 cm – roughly the length of the GS skis I currently use.

It is a genuinely successful model and an excellent option for skiers who are beginning their racing journey and want to start training GS between the gates.

My number one among the consumer GS skis is the 180 cm Nordica Dobermann GSR DC FDT. It surprised me from the very first turn. The way it tracked through the arc was phenomenal. I could lay it over as far as I wanted and it continued to grip superbly. When I applied more force, it tightened the radius beautifully.

On the GS course, it almost skied itself – all I had to do was stay out of its way. I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys longer, GS-style turns on piste. Even when the snow softened, it continued to handle the conditions very well. It is also an excellent machine for gate training.

Now we move to the category I ski most often: Masters GS. My first choice here is the Atomic Redster G9 RSM RevoShock. We tested it in 183 cm, with a 24-metre radius – the geometry of a true Masters GS ski.

The first thing that caught my eye was the pink detailing added to Atomic’s familiar red colour scheme. I found it genuinely charming, and to me it gives the ski a slightly more feminine look. On snow, however, this is a proper, full-blooded race machine.

It is unquestionably a ski capable of winning races. It performed brilliantly between the gates. With its 24-metre radius, however, it needs more speed before it shows its full potential. In free skiing, you need a strong push-off to get it going. On a GS course, the first two gates may not yet feel perfect, because the ski only really comes alive once you have built enough speed.

Once it is moving fast, it returns energy very effectively at the end of the turn. I can confidently recommend it to skiers who want to compete in Masters racing and fight for victories. No one in that target group should be disappointed.

My final choice also comes from the Masters category: the Kästle RX12 GS Factory FIS Masters Soft. The ski we tested was 183 cm long with a 20.2-metre radius. That is tighter than the Atomic, so the Kästle does not need quite as much speed before it begins to work properly.

What surprised me most was how precise and stable it felt from the very first turn. It does not demand huge speed, yet it remains an excellent option for gate skiing – and it is certainly a ski on which races can be won.

I also like the fact that, despite the distinctive construction familiar from other Kästle models, it does not produce the peculiar sounds I often hear when skiing the brand’s other skis. It is stiff enough for that effect not to appear.

This is a very good choice for skiers beginning their Masters racing journey, because it should be easy for them to find their feet on it. For me, one of its greatest advantages is that it does not demand quite as much strength or energy. Even so, it gives back what you put into it and pops you into the next turn.

I would also recommend it to women who race, especially those who enjoy longer skis but do not want a model that is exceptionally difficult or exhausting.