Speed demons and all-mountain carvers will love the performance and stability of the 2020 Stockli Laser AR skis. As more of an all-mountain ski than the more front-side oriented AX, the AR has a wider waist, but still intends to remain close to the ground. At 83 mm underfoot, the Laser AR has a stable platform to stand on that helps keep balance and stay on top of softer snow. As a result, you’ll be able to conquer more diverse terrain while maintaining extremely high speeds. Full camber keeps your tips and tails on the snow, so be prepared for some super-quick and precise turn initiation and completion. The more race-oriented testers loved the smoothness and stability, while the more off-piste skiers remarked at how precise and exact the skis were at all speeds, but especially when opened up.
Katrine Wolfgang took a few runs on the 168 and felt that was the appropriate length for her. She scored it 5’s out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. The rest of her scores were all 4’s, so it’s safe to assume that Katrine was a huge fan of the on-trail prowess of the Laser AR. She especially remarked about the hold, saying that the Laser AR was a “smooth, fun ski that held real, real well.” We love it when the testers use repetition to get their point across. She also commented on the full camber aspect of the ski: “Easy to initiate turns, and on corn and soft snow conditions, the shovel plowed through. Would be nice in a little powder.” Certainly not a powder ski, but for an inch or three, the AR will blast right through.
Allison Ruschp also skied the 168 and loved the length. She scored top marks for stability, quickness, and edge hold. Her low scores for forgiveness and flotation are not surprising, as these are not the focal points for the Laser AR. “This ski wants to turn! Very stiff and aggressive, but had a lot of fun skiing. Similar to a slalom ski, it’s an exceptional front-side carver.”
Tad Lamell had the 175 out for a few runs and had nothing but good things to say about it. Scoring all 5’s except for flotation, Tad “loved this ski. Lots of fun, easy to ski, great performance, and a good all-mountain ski.” Sounds good to us!
Phil McGrory also skied the 175 and loved the length, but not the playfulness or forgiveness. He found it highly stable, maneuverable, and stiff, and had a highly favorable overall impression. “Fun, fast, quiet, and predictable. At 83 underfoot, the ski has enough versatility to ski the entire mountain. Grips well and likes to turn. Allows for a variety of turns from short radius to longer arcing turns.” It’s always nice to hear when a carving ski also has a higher gear for all-mountain skiing.
As a former racer, Nifer Hoehn loved the 168’s stability and torsional stiffness, leading her to score it a 5 out of 5 for overall impression. “So awesome. Loved the weight of these and the way they come around in a turn. Not as light and poppy as some of the carvers, but they carve nicely and aren’t too forgiving. Would love to own a pair!” We think you should get a pair, Nifer!
Carvers and front-side enthusiasts will love the stability and edge control of the Stockli Laser AR. It’s a much more poised ski than some of the other models in its class, mostly due to Stockli’s attention to detail in the building process. If you’re a skier who loves to rail turns and have tons of power in the ski, the Stockli Laser AR can handle all you can give it.
