2022 Stockli Laser AR

The Laser AR is the widest ski in Stockli’s Piste collection. With its 83 mm waist width, this ski is part frontside carver and part versatile all-mountain ski. Stockli uses a Light Core with two supporting sheets of metal in its construction. Torsion Racing Technology is included in the titanal layers, where Stockli adds a slit in the tip and tail of the ski through the middle of the metal. The idea is to actually reduce torsional stiffness in the extremities of the ski, which makes turn initiation a little easier, and also allows for easier edge release when you get out of a carve. The shape is mostly camber with subtle amounts of rocker. The rocker is designed in what Stockli calls Adaptive Contact Length. As you tip the ski further on edge, you get a longer effective edge and more grip. That means the harder you’re skiing and the higher your edge angle, the more powerful the ski will feel, which is an awesome feature. If keep the ski on a flatter plane, you benefit from increased maneuverability from the rocker, which is beneficial in moguls and other situations where you need to make quick movements.

Bob St.Pierre tested the 175 cm length. He thought the Laser AR skied true to size, but also mentioned he would’ve preferred the 182. That’s not surprising as Bob typically opts for the longest available length, especially in a ski like the Laser AR. Despite not being on the ideal length, Bob still enjoyed the Laser AR thoroughly, which was reflected in his scoring. Only flotation dropped below 4 out of 5, at just a 2, while quickness/maneuverability, torsional stiffness/edge grip, and overall impression all earned full 5 out of 5 marks. “This is seriously an amazing ski. At 83 mm underfoot but with a GS mentality, the Laser AR is in a class of its own when it comes to carving power and all-mountain versatility. One of the things I like the most is the flex of the ski. It's not too stiff that it throws you around, making quicker turns at slower speeds accessible and available while keeping the high-end of the range fully intact. I love it in the bumps and the packed-out trees, and especially on the groomers. I'd have to put this on my short list for ‘skis that I'd take for free if given a choice.’” I don’t know about you, Bob, but my list of skis I’d take for free certainly isn’t short. We think what Bob is saying is out of the skis he tested this season, the Laser AR is actually one he would like to own.

Jeff Neagle also skied the 175 cm length, which he decided was perfect for him after a significant amount of testing on the Laser AR both in our Ski Test and throughout the rest of the season. Jeff’s scores were quite similar to Bob’s. Flotation received just a 2 out of 5, with every other criterion at least 4 out of 5. Stability, torsional stiffness, and overall impression all earned the coveted 5 out of 5 marks. “Gosh, this thing is just really, really good. I rarely have any desire to ski something narrower than this. To me, the 83 mm waist width is plenty quick edge to edge and I like that I don’t have to worry so much about booting out as on narrower skis. It also doesn’t get bogged down as easily in late day conditions, which is a nice feature. The AR isn’t the most powerful ski I’ve ever been on, but there’s no lack of torsional stiffness and I personally kind of prefer skis with slightly softer flex pattern so you can really get them to bend in a turn.” Marcus Shakun also skied the 175 cm length. On paper, that’s pretty small for his size, but he did note that didn’t feel as short as he expected it might. Once again, flotation was the lowest score at 2 out of 5, but just like Bob and Jeff, nothing else fell below 4 out of 5. Those are very impressive scores across the board. “Precise & Powerful. Loves to arch big fast turns and blast through anything. Load up the ski and feel its full potential. This thing gives you all you put into it. Very active, energetic skiers will fall in love. Best for a frontside guy that might adventure into some ungroomed of the main trail. It is precise and powerful, but can rip off the groomer as well.”

The low-80 mm waist width all-mountain carving ski segment of the industry feels like it’s getting a little more attention in recent years, and we like that. Among that group, the AR is one of the best in terms of quality and overall performance. It’s extremely smooth, quick edge to edge, and has fantastic grip, but you can also relax on it, unlike some heavier, stiffer, narrower carving skis. You can also take it into soft snow without feeling completely un-gunned. There’s no wonder why we see so many of these skis in the lineup at Stowe… it feels like an excellent east coast daily driver.