2021 Stockli Laser SC

Made with all of the precision and perfection that you've come to know and love from Stockli, the Laser SC is a narrower version of the AR and AX which excels in short turns and hard snow. Built with a wood core and two sheets of metal, the SC is the most precise while also requiring the most balance of the three. It's certainly in the front side category of the spectrum, although there are a lot of skiers who will use this as both a race ski as well as an all-mountain ski.

We're continuously impressed with the Stockli skis and their ability to cross boundaries and blur lines between the disciplines and applications. The Laser SC is no exception. In the 163 cm length, the skis generate a 13.5-meter turn radius. This is pretty short-bordering on slalom numbers. At this radius, the skis and their 72 mm waist width are going to want to be on edge in a carved turn. Straight-lining is not their forte. But, when you set the edge and put some pressure in the front of your boot, you better be ready to hang on for the ride through the arc. All of Stockli's tricks are used in these skis, from the structured top sheet to the torsion racing technology. In the case of the TRT, they actually cut vertical strips out of the tips and tails of the skis so that they flex into the turn, generating not only precise and subtle edge grip, but also increased stability and dampness at speed. We got one lucky contributor up on the Laser SC this year, Phil McGrory, and he picked out right away that this ski was made for short, carving turns, but not a whole lot else.

Phil skied the 163 with the 13.5-meter radius but found it to be short for him. From his comments and scores, it sounds like both the shorter radius and the smaller length were a bit prohibitive. That said, he still picked up on the absolute and total precision found in the Laser SC. He scored 5's out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. A score of 1 for flotation is not surprising, nor are the 2's for playfulness, forgiveness, and versatility. These are not versatile tools for all-mountain skiing, nor are they playful or forgiving in the traditional sense of the words. Sure, you can play on them in terms of a slalom-style turn, but they don't just bend or adapt at a whim for the skier. When we see the skis that have scores on both sides of the scorecard, that is usually indicative of a more specialized ski with specific strengths and weaknesses versus a more versatile ski that does a little bit of everything. Phil notes: "The Laser SC is a quick-turning on-piste carving ski that excels on hard pack and firmer conditions. Though the ski is built like a race ski, much like the other Stockli skis, it feels very smooth in and out of the turns with no loss of power and stability. This would make a great every day ski for the skier who loves to carve and ski on-trail and would also be a perfect addition to a quiver for the days where you are forced to ski on-trail." And in terms of who will benefit most from the precision of the SC, Phil says this is a "ski that's ideal for advanced to expert skiers."

Quick, agile, and precise, the 2021 Stockli Laser SC is best for carving short turns on hard snow. If you value the slalom-style and capabilities of a ski and you want the best of the best, look no further than the Stockli Laser SC.