2027 Kastle Transcend 104 Ski Review

At a Glance: Transcend 104

2027 is going to be a big year for Kastle with the introduction of two entirely new lineups of skis. We get an all-mountain Sublime line featuring three widths, and a whole new Freeride sector called Transcend. Transcend also features three widths: 98, 104, and 114.  We first got on the new Transcend 104 this year and were instantly impressed with the range of attributes, spanning from easy and playful turning to stout and stable power.  It’s fair to say that Transcend picks up where the ZX line left off, as that group is going away for 2027.  It’s also fair to say that Transcend drastically elevates the performance of ZX, putting more of a high-end ceiling to this genre of skis within Kastle’s catalog.  Due to the increase in construction strength, a whole new playful shape, and Kastle’s continued commitment to quality, we’re highly optimistic that the Transcend 104 will become a staple and a leader in this highly competitive grouping of mid-100 mm freeride skis.

Kastle’s new Twin Core construction is the engine that makes these skis go. It’s comprised of alternating stringers of poplar and beech to mix a lighter energy with a smoother and damper feel. We then get their Powerzone Titanal laminate to further stabilize and power the skis. While Paragon uses two full sheets of titanal, this Transcend laminate is found underfoot, extending beyond the toe and heel of the binding mount zone but not completely to the tip and tail. This frees up the Transcend 104 ever so slightly to be used in a more creative and playful format. Fiberglass is used to up the pop and energy while keeping all other components in check. We also get Kastle’s Armoclad Sidewalls which give the ski its traditional race-like feel when on firmer snow while adding a step up in durability with a slightly step down in the cap in the tips and tails where wear is more abundant. Like other Kastle skis, the use of Hollowtech 2.0 keeps vibrations to a minimum while lightening the swing weight and increasing the ease of entry into a variety of turn shapes and styles. We’ve mainly skied the longest length, the 189, which works awesome. That ski turns in a stated weight of 2040 g/ski and has a medium to stiff flex. It’s pretty consistent overall, perhaps a bit more flexible in the tips, but quite supportive underfoot.  The Transcend 104 is a unisex ski, and it does have shorter lengths starting at 165 and breaking every 6 cm so you can have fantastic choices of sizing options.

The shape is where we see a larger difference from other current or recent Kastle skis. Even skiers who fondly remember the BMX 105 will note Transcend’s more drifty and smeary shape. There are slight differences in dimensions based on length, but in our 189, we get a sidecut split of 137.5/104/126.5 mm which creates a 19.8-meter turn radius. For the most part, we’ve found that this ski feels like it can handle both shorter and longer turns with relative ease. If you open it up, it feels very comfortable in a longer turn, but if you get it up on a higher edge angle, it comes across the fall line with way more vigor than that ~20m arc lets on. There’s plenty of rocker in this ski but not a ton of splay. It’s a smoother feel but still has plenty of curvature to handle moderate freestyle activities. Early taper in both tips and tails increase the mobility of the ski and the rear end of the Transcend is quite easy to release from turns and promotes easy steering in softer snow and tighter areas. The taper in the shovel pairs well with Hollowtech to create an easy smear in softer snow. At the same time, the construction and that sidewall tech hooks right in to firmer snow and creates a clean entry to a carved turn. At 104 mm underfoot, this mid-width freeride ski is quite capable and versatile when it comes to mixing on and off-trail skiing.

When it comes to performance, we were impressed right from the jump.  These skis are meant to be used in an off-trail format with softer and deeper snow, and that’s just what we got the first time out.  With about six inches of new snow and some wind blowing it around, we found that the Transcend 104 is a cool customer when it comes to variable conditions and steeper terrain.  After a day of testing all sorts of different skis, the Transcend 104 stood out easily as the most adept and competent in these types of conditions.  From the first turn, it was clear that these skis felt intuitive, solid, and composed.  At the same time, they were so incredibly easy to get sideways, be creative on, and just enjoy.  Regardless of the condition of the snow, the Transcend 104 tracked straight and true to your steering influence—these skis simply go where they are pointed and are readily accessible to break free of that turn at any point.  The intuitiveness of the steering is eerily reminiscent of that of the Salomon QST 106, which I feel is an industry leader in this attribute.  Simply being in that neighborhood is a notable accolade.  While playfulness and turning capabilities are a strong suit, it’s also impressive how well this ski charges at speed.  If you’re fully committed to aggressively skiing in manky snow, then you probably should look closer at the Paragon 101 or 107, but for mixing playfulness and power, it’s tough to think there’s a better choice than Transcend 104.  It’s smooth, eager to please, and incredibly predictable.  Recently, we’ve been having a wonderful spring skiing era, and these skis are unsurprisingly amazing in corn, wet snow, and huge moguls.  We didn’t get to ski on them a whole lot in the trees, but I’d assume based on their mogul and short turn performance that they’ll be exceptional there as well—again, with a similar style to the woods-happy QST 106.  Transcend is fun in the air, solid on landings, and totally solid when pushed aggressively.

As good as the ski works off-piste and in more technical zones, it’s impressive what they can do on trail. While there’s always a caveat that nobody’s really shopping for a 104 to be used exclusively on groomers and in a carving mentality, it’s tough to deny the fact that this ski rips carved turns with extreme confidence. It’s so fun getting a big ski like this up on edge and riding the turn from start to finish. It certainly brings to mind another ski that we’ve loved in this range—the older Nordica Enforcer 104 Free. Many skiers have been looking for a replacement for that ski since its ousting, and I would have to put in a strong vote for Transcend 104 to carry that torch. It’s not quite as supple or flexible as the Nordica, but it’s every bit as poised and powerful. There’s great energy here—something that has been carried forward from the ZX line, providing excellent rebound into the next turn. On groomers, the Transcend does seem happier to oblige the 20-meter radius, but it doesn’t balk when you want to shorten or tighten it up at all. While short-swing turns aren’t really a strength here, it’s not out of the question, either. The metal plays a big role in the Transcend 104’s ability to hold an edge and ride a clean turn through pretty firm conditions. We certainly put them through the paces in this regard. Kastle’s commitment to quality construction and their on-piste influence most definitely rears its head in the Transcend snow feel.

It doesn’t hurt that these things look amazing.  All Transcend graphics are fantastic, and while the 114 is likely our favorite, the teal, green, and blue of the 104 makes it pop among a group of somewhat bland skis in this range.  The freeride style, combined with a sturdy build and an energetic character, makes this ski a winner in our books.  It’s certainly aimed at a more advanced and expert crowd, but thanks to the tighter size groupings, there is more room for progressing skiers to get in here with a more appropriate length.  When a new ski conjures comparisons of beloved skis like the QST 106 and the Enforcer Free 104, it’s a sign that good things are coming down the pike for the freeride department at Kastle.