2021 Kastle MX88

If it seems like every company out there has a high-performance 88mm underfoot ski, that's because they do. The Kastle MX 88 enters the fray this year with a solid option for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for the ultimate in true all-mountain versatility. While some companies rely on dual-metal laminate and sandwich sidewall constructions, others are going more light weight, sparing or replacing metallic materials with some more space-age type stuff. Whichever way you choose to go about it, there's a lot of diversity, even within the ~88 mm group. We often talk about how this is the most versatile shape for a large number of skiers, as not everyone needs or wants a 100+ mm underfoot ski for their daily driver. Most of us live and ski in areas in which knee-deep snow is not the daily norm, and we should buy skis based on the conditions and terrain that we actually ski versus those that we want to ski. Enter the 2021 Kastle MX 88-a new ski for this year that has a great blend of precision, power, and versatility, all while staying within the recent Kastle reputation of high-quality.

As with most skis, it all starts with the core. Kastle uses a blend of poplar and beech, with the central part of the core using a blend of the two woods with the outer part along the edges as exclusively poplar. The central part is fully wrapped in a fiberglass laminate, and this three-dimensional wrap increases the stiffness, both fore/aft and side to side considerably. Vertical fiberglass adds a lot of stiffness to any ski, and it works quite well in this application. Basically, they've created two vertical strips of glass that do a fantastic job of adding energy and pop to the ski. On the outer side, the poplar wood is a bit softer and allows for more versatility and compliance on softer snow. As a result, the skis are full of energy and ready to rip some sweet turns on the groomers as well as bust through some soft snow and crud. Keeping things quiet in the tips is Kastle's Hollowtech tip technology. By reducing the mass by removing materials in the front of the ski, they effectively reduce vibrations, allowing the skier to attack with confidence and stay true to the fall line. It's an interesting concept, and it works.

In terms of rocker and taper, the skis are pretty straight-forward. Minimal tip rocker allows the ski to engage in the turn seamlessly and quickly, leading to that high-end feel and a clean, round turn to start. The tails are much the same-very little built-in rocker keeps the ski engaged all the way through till the end. Positive camber underfoot makes the skis snappy and grippy, even on the hardest of snows. The taper shape in the tip is on the moderate side for this shape, and that's going to give the ski good soft-snow performance. When combined with the Hollowtech, the lightness and width of the shovel are actually pretty floaty. But still, the overall shape is much more groomer/hard-snow oriented, and for most skiers looking for that precise and versatile 88, this is the way to go.

With an 18.8-meter turn radius at the 180 cm length, these are pretty long turners, and that has a lot to do with the longer effective edge. That keeps things smooth and stable from tip to tail, allowing advanced and expert skiers to be able to get up to and access some high speeds without sacrificing performance. For an all-new ski for 2021, these MX 88's are entering the all-mountain fray with a strong statement. As always, the quality and precision of the Kastle do cost a bit more money, but the performance does stand out, especially when it comes to the snow feel and the overall versatility of these skis.