STÖCKLILASER SL

Stöckli slalom skis have ranked among the leaders for years. Although the Swiss have softened them slightly, they remain more race-oriented than recreational. This time they finished just off the podium, although the tune may have cost them a fraction because testers repeatedly mentioned extremely aggressive edges. Comments included: “Outstanding skis. Enormous rebound and tremendous fun – you feel energy in every turn. They offer superb grip on hard snow and are highly turny. You can ski very low in exceptionally tight arcs. They move rapidly from turn to turn and will also work in the gates, although their personality is more playful than strictly competitive.” Another tester wrote: “Quite stiff, but they strike a compromise between stiffness and spring. The resulting rebound is beautifully balanced and very pleasant. They hold the chosen line extremely well. Recommended for ambitious skiers who enjoy short, dynamic turns.” This was followed by: “Powerful edges, active transitions from arc to arc, great confidence at higher speed and excellent overall balance.” Another added: “Demanding skis. Stiff and intended for very good skiers. Considerable power is needed to exploit their full potential. Excellent in the gates.” There were other voices too: “Smooth skis, although not very dynamic for a slalom model. They hold you in the turn for a long time, so the transition from arc to arc takes too long – probably influenced by the overly aggressive tune in these variable conditions.”