The 2024 Stockli Laser CX is a shining example of a front side ski done right. This CX has a whole lot to offer skiers who spend most, if not all, of their time on groomed and manicured slopes. If we’re being honest with ourselves, most of us spend most of our time on these surfaces, so it’s very important to have skis that match the terrain and conditions that we find ourselves on most often, rather than wider skis that are applicable for soft snow, but don’t have much front side application. This is where the CX comes in to play. By utilizing a friendly and light build, a narrow and agile shape, and Stockli’s firm commitment to making some of the smoothest skis on the planet, the Laser CX is a true weapon for today’s intermediate to advanced front side skier.

Built with Stockli’s Light wood core consisting of Balsa and Fuma woods, this ski is light and precise to start. Each and every layer gets an adhesive in between, and Stockli infuses their epoxy laminates with rubber dust to soften and silence the skis. This leads to a quality and smoothness that’s hard to duplicate in today’s world. The Swiss skis are handmade and the attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable. We also get Stockli’s light metal edge and Turtle Shell technology. The Turtle Shell includes interlocking metal plates that hook into each other when the ski is bending and release when ridden flat. This offers a high-level of torsional stiffness at higher speeds and in more aggressive skiing, but when you feel like mellowing it out and being more moderate, the skis become a bit looser and more applicable to slower speeds and gentler turns.

At 69 mm underfoot, this is a narrow-waisted ski that’s built to carve. The shaping is derivative from their race-level skis, but in a slightly friendlier format. This is good news for intermediates who are looking to progress and improve, but it also offers a lot in terms of high-performance for advanced skiers or experts looking for a lighter and more agile ski to use on groomed terrain. With relatively wide tips and tails of 122 and 101 mm, the 170 cm length generates a 14.1-meter turn radius. This mid-range ski operates quite well in the middle of the spectrum, mainly as a blend of the build and shape. We are getting tip and tail rocker on this ski, so that opens up some ease of use in the initiation and completion phase of the turn, making it easier to link carved turns the whole way down the hill. At 69 mm underfoot, we’re not looking at supreme versatility here, but the light weight combined with the slight rocker do open the ski up for mild adventures, but mainly for changing conditions on groomers throughout the day.

With a crazy blend of quality and precision, the 2024 Stockli Laser CX is a smooth and quiet operator that’s happiest in the mid-range of performance and speed. This ski speaks for itself when up on edge, and when it’s used in a flatter format, it’s still a whole lot of fun. It’s all about the mix of properties in this ski—it's light and agile, making it accessible for intermediate skiers, and at the same time, it’s smooth, solid, and steady, allowing advanced and expert skiers the ability to make some high-powered carves on firm snow. That’s the beauty of the 2024 Stockli Laser CX.