2025 Stockli Nela 96

The Stockli Nela 96 has made a name for itself amongst a crowded, competitive market, standing out for its supple smoothness, precision, and poise. Returning unchanged with the exception of new graphics for the 2025 season, this premium ski features an incredibly high-quality build and all-mountain shape, designed to deliver strong carving capabilities and off-piste versatility. Smooth as butter with a sturdy, planted feel, this ski really comes alive on groomers. Capable of making a variety of turn shapes and at various speeds, the degree of maneuverability is incredibly impressive given its power. There isn’t really another ski like the Nela 96 and for skiers who want consistency, regardless of the conditions, this is the ski for you.

Stockli is widely known for building top-quality, high-performance skis and this ski is no exception. Constructed with a lightweight, wood core blend consisting of poplar, beech and paulownia, the foundation of the ski is poppy and energetic. By adding a fiberglass laminate to the mix, plus two sheets of metal, the level of stiffness and strength is boosted tenfold. With the upper laminate coming in the form of a topsheet, Stockli is able to save on weight by avoiding an additional graphic laminate. This is a unique approach and one that we don’t see very much. The flex pattern of the Nela 96 is nice in that the shovels feel softer than the midsection, providing forgiveness and ease of use with power underfoot. Finding just the right strength to weight ratio, with the 164 cm length weighing in at 1650 grams per ski. This makes them light enough for intermediates to access and sturdy enough for plentiful stability and power. As Tester Danielle Nichols found, “this ski is always a crowd pleaser. Makes people better! Great for all abilities.” Quite the compliment, we would have to agree.

When looking at the shape, despite its frontside feel, it’s most certainly an all-mountain tool. For versatile performance, the mid-90s is the place to be. Capable of plowing through crud, chop or soft snow, the mix of width and rocker make this ski worthy of a wealth of applications. With a flat, square tail that is strictly business, the shovel features a rounder, more rockered shape that encourages both flotation and maneuverability. With soft snow performance in the front and carving precision in the back, this mix of attributes makes the Nela 96 a perfect all-mountain candidate. Generating a 15.8-meter turn radius in the 164, this is a nice mid-range size for making both short, quick turns and longer, wider turns. Once you have initiated a turn, the powerful backend of the ski holds tight to the end of the turn without locking you in.

A crowd pleaser indeed, the Stockli Nela 96 blends all the right characteristics to deliver a well-balanced, high-performance feel. Blending top-shelf construction and a versatile all-mountain shape, this ski offers advanced to expert level skiers precision and quality. As a result, the price tag remains relatively high but for good reason. It's time to treat yourself to a smooth like butter ride with the Nela 96.