2021 Stockli Stormrider 105

As far as wider all-mountain skis are concerned, the Stockli Stormrider 105 has to be at or near the top. Unchanged for 2021, the Stormrider returns in all its glory. The quality, precision, and poise of these skis is just outstanding, as the Swiss company just seems to have a really good handle on how to build skis. They still use wood and metal, but they just do it cleaner and better than a lot of other companies. Does it come with the accompanying price tag? Sure, but so does anything with that premium quality and attention to detail. At 105 mm underfoot, the skis certainly have some width to them. They're not the widest in the all-mountain group, nor are they the narrowest in the freeride sector, but they do have a lot going for them in terms of versatility. For carving purposes, the titanal topsheet ensures incredible snow feel, as it puts the metal closer to your foot. This makes for incredible transfer of energy, enabling skiers to really harness each and every movement that they put into the skis. With added taper and rocker compared to the narrower Stormrider models, the 105 is the best floater of the group. You still get a good amount of power, thanks to the stiffer tail, but the tips and shovel remain flexible to allow for better flotation and terrain compliance. As is the case with the other Stockli skis in our test, our contributors don't really want to give them back-certainly a fan favorite.

Kelby Furrer's favorite part of the 179 length was the versatility. He scored the ski a 5 out of 5 for that category. The 4's for overall impression, forgiveness, stability, and flotation show the well-rounded nature of the skis. Also, a 4 for torsional stiffness and edge hold, leading us to believe that Kelby could carve a turn on these 105's as easily as he felt he could float. This is a good thing in terms of the versatile nature of the ski. He notes that despite the fact that the snow was on the firm side, it's "still a top of the line ski, turning and hard carving is effortless. Extremely versatile." Not many 105's out there get that type of comment in terms of hard carving, showing just how good Stockli is at creating these adaptable skis. Michael Carroll-Sherwin was caught in the middle in terms of sizing, but it didn't stop him from having a positive experience by any means. He also tested the 179, but thought it "skied incredibly long for its size." Not a terribly uncommon problem/issue for many skiers out there, but one that should be noted that the Stormrider 105 can feel big for some skiers. As a result, Michael calls it "one of the most stable and nimble skis out there." Cool! Stable and nimble is a fun combination! "Not a ski for jumps and spins, but if you're looking to ski a modern yet traditional stick, this should be on your radar." It does have a good blend of the old and the new, for sure.

On the 170, Annie MacDonald noted high scores of 5 out of 5 for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. For a 105, these are great scores, but not altogether unsurprising, as the general consensus is that a wide ski with a metal topsheet is going to be pretty darn stable. Annie had "fun zooming around on these-very, very stable! Solid ski but not super-quick turning. They really liked to open up and get up to speed. Good for a super-aggressive hard ripper who likes to point them down!" Great info, Annie, and a good job at associating a character and a personality to the ski as well!

Fantastic stability, perfect poise and precision, and a fun-loving attitude just about sum up the Stormrider 105. For skiers on the upper end of the spectrum, the 105 is a great choice for a western one-ski quiver or an eastern snow day ski of the highest order and caliber.