This ski should get a lot more recognition than it does. There’s literally been a pair sitting outside of our office for over a year now and nobody’s bought it. That’s a shame and it seems like somebody out there is badly missing out on what’s an amazing ski for both front side and all-mountain performance. The 2024 Kastle PX 81 is an excellent example of what a ski can do without metal. Since it’s a system ski in the low-80's with a front side shape, it’s easy to pigeon-hole it as such, but the flex and the overall character of the ski opens it up to all-mountain versatility as well. In this light, it’s tough to narrow down exactly what category this fits in but it’s relatively safe to call it a sporty carver for groomers and all-mountain conditions. Kastle does a great job with their mid-range skis, and the PX 81 is a shining example of a quality ski done right.

In the core of the ski, we get a blend of poplar and beech wood stringers, but opposed to the MX line of skis, the PX uses wider more macro blocked stringers. This is a bit less sophisticated but makes sense when you’re building a more flexible ski for a wider range of skier. On top and bottom of the wood core, we get two sheets of fiberglass and two strips of carbon. This mix of glass and carbon stiffens the ski and makes it more responsive and active when under pressure. We also get their Hollow tech technology in the tips to balance the carbon and smooth out the ski making it vibration and chatter free. We also get a nice system binding on this ski that adds to the front side aspect without taking away all versatility. It’s not a super-high stand height, so you’re still close enough to the snow for agility and quickness. In the 172, we get a weight of 1675 grams without the system, so it’s on the light and maneuverable side for sure.

Feel free to open it up, though, as the ski has a long effective edge and a smooth overall personality. while the 15.2-meter radius in the 172 is on the short side, the flex allows for a greater manipulation of turn shape and style. As opposed to the stiffer and heavier MX 83, the flex of the PX 81 gives the skier more creativity and control when it comes to making different shapes and styles of turns. It’s equally as happy to make that 15-meter arc as it is shortening it up and creating skidded turns. The MX, or other skis that are of this shape but stiffer flex, will fight against you while the PX is a lot more amenable to switching it up. There’s a nice, cambered profile to this ski that adds built-in energy to the mix. This makes the ski feel like it has a lot of pop and snap, accentuating the use of carbon and fiberglass in the build.

While this ski doesn’t fall into the normal price category of the rest of the Kastle skis, it does have a special place all its own in the mid-range. In this light, the PX 81 is a must-ski for those that are looking to enter the high-end world of ski construction and quality, but maybe don’t want to go all the way. For sporty skiers looking for energy and pop in the low-80's, look no further than the PX 81—you could still get the one outside our office!