2026 Stockli Stormrider 88

Of all the 2026 Stormriders, the 88 gets the most updates. While the base application and overall quality and feel of the ski return for the most part, there’s additional refinements and technologies that make this ski more appealing than ever. At 88 mm underfoot, this ski is supremely versatile, holding court both on trail and off. There’s very few limitations here as the Stormrider 88 carves like a dream and then is able to handle bumps, trees, light powder, crud, slush, and anything else you can throw at them. At the same time, the ski is unflappable, even though it’s on the light and mobile side of the spectrum.

Built with a lighter construction consisting of a blend of poplar, paulownia, and beech in the core, the skis still get two sheets of metal. The wood mix is fine-tuned by Stockli to create a specific effect, leading skiers to the ultimate in energy and stability. The upper metal laminate pulls double-duty as the topsheet, putting the metal closer to the feet and delivering a smoother overall feel. The tail gets a softer flex for this year for increased mobility and the skis also get a full rubber insert in the tip for even smoother and quieter performance. This adds to the already-legendary silence due to the implementation of rubber dust in the adhesive laminates. Tester Christian Strong states that “This ski felt amazing on the first turns, I knew it was going to be a fun run.” The mix of intuitiveness and fun is a big part of the Stormrider 88’s appeal and success.

The shape of the ski gets a bit of a change as well, with added taper in the tip and a bit more rocker in the tail. This moves the Stormrider 88 slightly away from being full diesel in the carving format, leaving those properties more to the Montero AR. This slight alteration delivers more versatility and soft snow performance while keeping the solid overall feel. The 179 cm length uses measurements of 130/88/114 to generate an 18.3-meter turn radius, keeping the ski on the faster side of the spectrum. You can certainly let it run and ski it fast if you wish—the two sheets of metal definitely keep up with the pace. While Stockli refers to the profile in the tip as “Powder Rocker,” it’s more on the traditional side, just with a bit rounder of a shape for this year.

Simply, these skis rip. With a bit more of an accessible construction and shape for 2026, they’re opening the ski up to additional uses and applications. While it used to be mor adept at simply carving and on-trail performance, it’s now more unlocked to handle off-piste skiing with a boost in creativity. The price tag is the great equalizer here, as it’ll ward off skiers who get sticker shock.