2021 Stockli Laser SX

The 2021 Stockli Laser SX represents a top-flight ski for high-end skiers who are looking for short turning precision and sticking mainly to smooth and groomed surfaces. At 70 mm underfoot, these things are on the narrow side for sure, and that width translates to incredibly strong edge grip and torsional stiffness. While the rest of the ski isn't quite as stiff, the underfoot portion is pretty much un-wavering-able to hold tight to any surface at any speed. That's really the hallmark of the Stockli skis these days, they're able to operate at a multitude of velocities and make the same type of clean, round turns regardless of terrain or conditions. For the most part, it's this type of technology that warrants the higher price tag.

Are they worth the extra money? We get asked this a lot, and our standard answer is that it depends largely upon your financial situation, but in general, yes, they are built to a higher standard of quality and precision, hence the higher tag. It's the same theory as cars, they're all pretty much made out of metal and plastic, but some just have a higher quality-it's all about the quality of materials used and the way in which they're put together. Swiss-made products have that reputation, from their watches to their army knives and everything in between, this obsession with precision is most certainly echoed in Stockli's brand and presence.

Built with a wood core and a sheet of titanal sandwiched within, the skis have a stable and energetic platform to work off of. The titanal laminate has what Stockli calls its Turtle Shell Technology. While many of us would assume that a single, unencumbered sheet of metal would be best, Stockli thinks otherwise. They actually slice an s-curved line through the metal starting in the tip and heading to the forebody of the ski. By cleaving the metal in two, this allows the ski to more appropriately flex when it's put on edge. This, in effect, makes the ski softer. And why would anyone want a high-performance carving ski to be softer, you may ask? Well, Stockli knows that in order to access the totality of the sidecut, the skier has to be able to flex the ski appropriately. For a stiff and planky ski to achieve the same result, it has to be brought up to full-speed in order to be bent. Not so with the Laser SX. At all speeds, the more flexible ski is able to get up on edge and actually make the curve necessary to achieve the true radius of the ski. As a result, getting to the 14.4-meter arc in the 165 can be done at any and all speeds. This is what sets Stockli apart from the competition.

Short-turning fans will love the accessible sidecut and top-end quality of the Stockli Laser SX. While versatility isn't really a thing when it comes to these skis, they're very focused (Laser-focused, one may say) on making the ski excel at its intended purpose. It's this type of mindset that allows Stockli to freely build and shape the skis the way they want, and this creates the freedom and opportunity to think outside the box. For a totally and completely unique feeling on a set of skis, check out the 2021 Stockli Laser SX.