2025 Kastle Paragon 101 & Paragon 107 On Snow Ski Review
Matt and I had originally planned on doing a 2025 Kastle Paragon 93 and 101 on-snow review, but then we got some snow. As a result, we called an audible to ski the 101 and the 107, and we were not disappointed with our choice and experience. To briefly re-cap, the Paragon series is a set of three new skis from Kastle, following the ZX line in terms of shape and profile with all new constructions. They use what they call “InfiniCore” to power the ski, and this is their answer to Blizzard’s TrueBlend technology. By using very thin stringers of poplar, beech, and paulownia in specific lengths and areas, Kastle’s engineers fine-tune the flex and feel of the ski to create a desired effect. By putting more beech in the center of the ski and more poplar and paulownia along the sides, Kastle puts more sturdiness in the middle and more playfulness and mobility at the edges. We also get two full sheets of metal running up to the Hollowtech zone. Combined with a thinner core profile, this dual-metal laminate offers a lot of grip and damping while the wood core is energetic and predictable.
2025 Kastle Paragon 101 Skis
On the 101, Matt and I felt a tremendous amount of stability and energy when the skiing was smooth, and then a ton of mobility and agility in the crud, powder, and trees. They both seem to ski a bit narrower than the numbers let on, but when you’re looking for a quick turn, the 101 delivers with ease and precision. It’s a pretty cool blend of attributes, and a lot of it has to do with the taper shape and rocker profile of the shovel—this ski is so easy to initiate a turn. That said, when you open it up and let it run on-trail, the metal delivers as advertised, putting a lot of emphasis on the edge grip and energy through the mid-body and the tail. The 101 uses a shorter arc as a result of the lower taper, allowing it to be super-mobile when needed, but if you stand on the middle of the ski, the raw power comes through in a totally manageable format. I also thought this was a great bump ski, especially with a firm sub surface. When you need a ski to deliver predictable edge grip, particularly when under the fresh snow is hard, the importance of the metal in this ski cannot be understated. It’s these types of mixed conditions where we see the 101 truly excel. On a day like today, with a mix of powder, trees, crud, and all sorts of variety, the 101 is such an easy choice.
2025 Kastle Paragon 107 Skis
Moving up to the 107, both Matt and I felt everything that the 101 provided, but just at a different level of power and performance. We hear all the time that people want a powder ski that can also carve, and we’d be hard-pressed to come up with a better alternative than the Paragon 107. There’s a bit less taper in the 107, putting the widest spot of the ski closer to the tip, and this provides a smoother feel at speed and when skiing more aggressively. That’s where we find the 107 to really separate itself from the 101, and other skis in the ~107ish realm. With two sheets of metal and a fall-line mentality, the 107 charged right through crud and chop. We talk in the video about this ski’s ability to “skip” over loose and broken snow, and we’ll stand by that evaluation in print as well. The 107 is incredibly stable and valuable as a crud busting ski, offering complete confidence in variable conditions and terrain. It’s insanely comfortable in fresh snow, and for a 107, it feels impossibly quick in bumps and tighter terrain. All that said, on a groomer, the 107 is a completely competent carver. It’s incredibly fun and rewarding to tip this ski up on a high edge angle and feel the power of the surface area, metal, sophisticated core, and the flatter tail come to life and propel you from one carve to the next. Kastle’s on-trail heritage certainly filters up to the Paragon 107 when it comes to carving turns.
We’ll find some time to get on the 93/101 split when there’s a bit less snow. I imagine we will find more of the same to be true, although our experience this year and last has shown that the 107 provides a whole lot to like compared to its narrower brethren. The 101 is predictable, stable, smooth, and fun. The 107 takes all of that and brings it to the next level of speed, aggressiveness, and flotation. Depending on how often you’re in deeper and softer snow, or simply how quick you want your skis to be, either one will be a great option for mixed conditions, terrain, and speeds.
Keep Exploring the 2025 Kastle Paragon 101:
2025 Kastle Paragon 101 Skis Product Listing
2025 Kastle Paragon 101 Ski Test Results
Keep Exploring the 2025 Kastle Paragon 107: