2022 Kastle ZX 100

A new ski from Kastle for 2022, the ZX 100 follows on the heels of the 108 that was introduced last year. These skis are playful and fun to the nth degree, allowing for a new generation of skiers to get onto a pair of Kastle’s and truly ski the whole mountain. Built with a wood core consisting of poplar and beech stringers, these skis have wider blocks of wood that add a bit more playfulness and fun to the equation. They definitely remain snappy and poppy, but aren’t quite as dense as the thinner/narrower stringers found in the MX and FX lines of skis. Kastle then adds two sheets of fiberglass to boost the energy of the ski, and this really makes the ZX 100 come alive. While they have a pretty simple build from a construction standpoint, the shaping and profile of the ski really make it stand out. It actually has the same rocker profile and taper shape as the wider 108, so it looks a bit more dramatic in the 100 mm width. Long, low tip rocker takes care of the float of the ski, and the more dramatic taper shape allows the ski to cut through the fresh and stay on top of any amount of snow. Very smooth in this regard, the skis have the ability to handle a wide variety of conditions and terrain. From steeps and trees to bumps and powder, the ZX 100 has a ton of versatility and fun built in.

Bob St.Pierre skied the 181 and noted that “it felt a bit short. I’d opt for the 189. With the amount of taper and rocker in the front of the ski, I’d prefer the next size up. This does not mean that it was unstable in the least, I’d just like more material under my feet. Bob scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability, with 4’s for versatility, overall impression, flotation, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. These are some fairly high scores for a ski without metal and one that likes to be used in a playful format. “Surprising stability and rebound. For a non-metal ski, it sure had the feeling and energy of metal. Very stable from the front of the foot to the tail, with the tips and shovels being responsible for most of the playfulness and float. Dipping off the sides of the trails, the ZX100 stayed true and pure to its line--no deflection or bounciness. The front of the skis really makes it what it is, and at 100 mm underfoot, I think it's going to float really well in any amount of fresh snow. The versatility really sets it apart from other skis in this range, I think it's going to be considered a rich-man's Bent Chetler 100, and that's not meant to be a slight against the lovable BC 100.”

Matts Testa and McAlary skied the 181 as well, and both had positive experiences. Matt Testa scored top marks of 4 out of 5 for all categories except for stability and forgiveness, which earned 3’s. Having mostly 4’s and scattered 3’s is a great place to be on a scoresheet for a well-rounded ski like this. “I enjoyed skiing on the Kastle ZX100, at first I noticed how light the skis are just when skating over to the quad. This ski is lively and playful when you want it to be but also pretty stable. One thing I noticed was that the ski sounded like it was chattering when you were skiing, but you did not feel the chatter. This ski would be great for advanced to expert skiers and is versatile enough to take all over the mountain.” Matt McAlary skied the 181 and liked it. He notes that “The ZX 100 felt and looked wider than 100mm, I'm not sure if why, but it did. The tail had a lot of power and I felt it provided nice support for landings and high-speed turns. The taper in the tip helped the ski feel pretty smooth but there were times when I felt the ski get deflected and I might attribute that to its lower weight. It didn't feel quite as intuitive as some other skis in its category. What shined through to me was the snap that this ski had. I could get a bit of pop when jumping off of natural features. Overall, a fun and energetic ski designed around fairly aggressive freeride skiers.”

Lots to like about this new ZX 100, and it all starts with the shape and build. With fun to spare (not like you’d want to), the ZX 100 is able to be a lot of different things out there on the hill. We’ve seen a lot of positive responses for this ski with a ton of good feedback from a variety of skier types. Whether you use these as groomer or powder skis or toys to do a little bit of everything, the ZX 100 is a sharp new ski that has usefulness and fun for days.