Dynastar’s new Legend collection has a wide range of all mountain skis from 75 mm all the way up to 106 mm in waist width. The Legend X 84 sits in the middle of this range and is positioned as a versatile all mountain ski that should retain some solid ability on firm, groomed snow thanks to its narrower width and Dynastar’s new Powerdrive construction that’s designed to deliver responsiveness, edge grip, and stability. On the other end of the spectrum the 5 point sidecut and tip and tail rocker should provide a very maneuverable feel in soft and variable snow conditions and in terrain like moguls and trees. In fact, all of the Legend skis borrow elements from more freeride-oriented skis, but package them in a more versatile design. All of our testers on the Legend X 84 skied the 177 cm length.
Michael Rooney found the Legend X 84 to be relatively easy to ski and the type of ski that gives back what you put in. He found it was relatively relaxed when he wanted to be, but responded well when he skied more aggressively. Michael commented, “while this ski is good for cruising on open blue slopes, if you put it on edge and pressure it the ski will really come around quickly.” That’s a great description of the skis performance. It’s a relatively user-friendly ski and doesn’t demand the skier to really drive the it, but reacts and responds well to more skier input.
Justin Perry thought the Powerdrive construction did its job very well. Justin commented that it was a “great carving ski and had great hold on the groomers.” That’s quite a compliment to a 5-point sidecut ski. While this shape typically has very smooth and easy turn initiation, it’s not particularly known for its edge grip as 5 point sidecut skis have a shorter effective edge, so it really says a lot about the construction of the Legend X 84 for Justin to describe it this way. He also found that it “cut through crud like a champion on the upper section of the mountain.” That’s the kind of performance we like to see out of an all mountain ski: the ability to both hold an edge on firm snow and handle more variable conditions with ease.
Benny Wax described it as a “comfy ski” that was both “smooth and transitional.” Benny thought it would be a great choice for someone who is only going to own one pair of skis thanks to its mix of performance on firm snow and off the groomers as well. He did add that he thought it would be best for “strong intermediate to advanced skiers,” and emphasized that he thought it could be skied in “all conditions.” Beginners and less aggressive intermediates may find it to be a lot of ski, or might find the shape a little strange compared to what they’re used to, but when it comes down to it the Legend X 84 is relatively approachable.
In terms of versatility there aren’t many skis that can compare favorably to the Legend X 84. It has the torsional stiffness and edge grip needed for high performance on firm snow, but it also remains quite versatile with its 5 point sidecut and tip and tail rocker. We know the term “one ski quiver” is thrown around a lot in the industry, but this is one of those skis that can actually earn that title. If you don’t feel like you need a super wide powder ski the Legend X 84 delivers excellent performance in all but the deepest snow conditions.
