2026 Stockli Stormrider 88 On Snow Ski Review

In the world of upscale all-mountain skis, it’s tough to beat a Stockli Stormrider 88. That statement has been true in the past, and it gets energized in 2026 with the redesigned 88. This new ski somehow checks even more boxes and aligns all Stormriders more directly. Built with a lighter wood core consisting of poplar, beech, and paulownia, the Stormrider gets two full sheets of metal, including their Titec Pro topsheet. New for 2026, we get a rubber insert in the tip to go along with a slightly softer tail. This quiets the ski down even more, which was a feat we would have thought to be impossible. The end result is a silky, smooth, and deadly silent ski with power, efficiency, and supreme confidence.

At a Glance:

2026 Stockli Stormrider 88 Skis

Also new this year, we get a shorter sidecut than before, although the longer models still have relatively long arcs—the slightly more flexible tip allows for easy access of shorter radii per the skier’s preference. This also is aided by a more gradually rockered and slightly more bulbous turn shape which boosts initiation and adds mobility in tighter and more technical zones. Even the longest ski, the 184, comes in at under 2000 g/ski which is pretty light given that it has two layers of titanal. While in Stockli world, this Stormrider 88 falls more into the “Freeride” realm, for the most part, it’s an upscale all-mountain ski with a preference for carving on softer groomers. We got out on a few awesome days on this ski, and put it to the test in our favorite zones.

Bob's Feedback:

I got to ski both the 179 and 184, which was quite interesting because with most dual-laminate 88ish skis, I tend to prefer slightly shorter. In this ski, the 184 stood out as a more appropriate fit and was mobile and agile for softer snow, steeper terrain, and more technical areas. On a groomer, this ski thrives. The sidecut, while shorter than before, is still somewhat long, with a longer effective edge to deliver smooth and predictable carving performance. There’s not a ton of camber, so it’s not the snappiest ski out there, and since the construction lends more smoothness and silence, there are more energetic skis in this range. That said, those skis cannot come close to touching the Stormrider when it comes to smoothness and silence—that's what you’re paying for, and that’s what you get. It’s the quietest ski in this range by a good margin, and it results in a wholly unique and satisfying ski experience. While skis like Blizzard Anomaly 88, Nordica Enforcer 89, Rossignol Arcade 88, and Volkl Mantra 88 all top the Stormrider when it comes to power and raw performance, they’ve got nothing on the Stockli’s upscale feel and character.

Off-trail, or in crud and chop, the Stormrider holds up well, but certainly reminds you of two things: For one, it’s not the most powerful ski in crud on top of groomer. Snow piles can alter the ski’s trajectory due to the softer flex and lighter weight. Second, the tail, while “freeride” in Stockli’s book, is still quite flat and square—this makes it hard to smear, slash, or be playful in any way in softer and deeper snow. The shovel is decent in the flotation department, but the tail just wants to cut right down to the bottom and make a clean, round turn. It’s kind of a specific feel in the bumps, as the shovels are flexible while the tails are sharp. I see it more as a casual bump ski rather than anything aggressive or hard charging. There’s nothing wrong with it in the bumps, but nothing spectacular, either. Basically, all other aspects of this ski’s performance are overshadowed by the exemplary on-piste, groomer, and carving performance.

Jeff's Take:

If we go back to the 2025 or prior Stormriders, I can honestly say I was a big fan of both the Stormrider 95 and 102. The 88, on the other hand, just never really did it for me, and I’m not sure why. I always appreciated it as a good ski overall, but it never left me feeling completely wowed. It never really engaged me as a skier outside of appreciating the overall quality of a Stockli ski. When I heard Stockli was redesigning it, I was cautiously optimistic, but excited, that my opinion of it might change.

And it sure did! It’s amazing how small tweaks to a ski can make it a lot better, or at least make it a lot better for certain people. I really enjoy skiing the Stormrider 88 now and I like it so much that I think I would prefer it over the Montero AR if I had the opportunity to choose between them. I really enjoy the way the Stormrider 88 turns on a groomer. Turn initiation is smooth and progressive, giving you a ton of control in how quickly you tip into your turn. The Montero has more bite in the shovel, which is nice when the snow is firm, but when it’s not, you’re fighting that stiffness a little bit. It’s basically the opposite on the Stormrider 88. You never feel like you’re fighting the ski at all. It might not grip like the Montero if the snow was boiler plate firm, but that’s fine with me, I prefer its suppleness and smoothness. It also feels like it works quite well for my weight. At 160 lbs, I feel like I can bend it efficiently and effectively and I don’t really think there’s a limit for stability here. If you’re a bigger skier like Matt and Bob, you’ll find a limit to stability at some point, but if you’re like me, chances are this is plenty for you and it’s just a lot more compliant than anything stiffer (Mantra 88, Arcade 88, etc).

Interestingly, as it is an all-mountain ski, I basically have zero interest in skiing it off trail. Some skiers will do just fine, but you’ll have a better time on it in ungroomed situations if you ski more like Bob than me. They did soften up the tail, but realistically, it’s still pretty flat and pretty stiff back there. The ski really doesn’t want to be thrown sideways in softer snow or ungroomed terrain, so you have to have a solid skillset and ski with a down-the-fall-line mentality.

All in all, it’s a fantastic ski and honestly feels like a sweet spot for the 88 width range for skiers who mostly stay on trail. It’s not hard to ski, so a progressing intermediate could have fun on it too. It’s lighter than most, so it won’t tire you out as quickly as some skis. It also just has that Stockli quality that’s hard to put into words. It’s something you have to feel for yourself to truly appreciate, and as I said in the video, if you’re ever questioning why Stockli costs so much, just go ski it. I guarantee you won’t be questioning it after your very first turn.

Matt's Reaction:

This was my first time on the Stormrider 88 after spending more time on the 95 and 102 last season, and my feelings about the 88 are no different from the 95 and 102. These are just such premier product, and you can feel it just from holding them in your hands let alone actually skiing them. They are so smooth on trail, like insanely smooth. The level of vibration damping in this ski is nothing short of incredible as you don’t feel or hear anything coming from your feet or snow. I spent the day on the 184 cm length, which felt just right for me, and we started on groomed trails while they were fresh and smooth. The new shape of the 88 brings a more dynamic and quicker feel in comparison to the previous version. A shorter turn radius and a more spoony and round tip just rips you across the fall line with ease. Just tip on edge and the initiation is intuitive and predictable. Through the apex, there is a solid feeling beneath your feet with a good deal of torsional stiffness. The slightly supple tail provides energy and zest out of the turn where you can start the process all over again. The slightly supple tip compared to other skis in this category allows the skier to have more control over turn shape and overall manipulation of the ski. The flatter tail locks you in but not too much to the point where you can’t get out of trouble in a carved turn. However, you need to be cognizant of that tail when getting more adventurous on more ungroomed terrain.

Off piste, you need to be attentive at all times. There’s a lot of tip in front of the bindings and if you get lazy, they will wander or cross up. Stay in front of the boots and initiate from the tips, or they will let you know right away if your body position is a little off. They don’t quite have the raw crud busting power of a Mantra 88, Anomaly 88, or Enforcer 89, but what they do have is dampening to mitigate that. The more rounded tip didn’t feel catchy which was surprising to me, but I think that supple tip flex and progressive tip rocker helps with this a great deal. That flatter and squared off tail also requires your attention as it is easy for that to hook up instead of smear, so if your weight gets backwards at all, that’s when the tail will let you know to get back into a more forward stance. There is some maneuverability here, mainly from the lighter weight, but a lot of it needs to come from technique as well. Overall, the Stormrider 88 is an absolute pleasure, and there is a justified reason for its price. You may not understand it until you ski it, but it is certainly justified in my eyes.

Keep Exploring the 2026 Stockli Stormrider 88 Skis:

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