Soft snow and variable terrain are what the Kastle Transcend 98 was built for. A twin rocker profile, zoned titanal placement, and a poplar and beech wood core combine to give this freeride ski a playful, surfy personality that still has the bones to handle speed and chop.

Why we like it:

Powerzone Titanal is the construction story here. Rather than running full sheets of metal end to end, Kastle places it where it actually does work: underfoot for energy transfer, tapered out toward the tip and tail to keep the ends light. The result is a freeride ski that grips when it needs to but doesn't feel like a tank in fresh snow.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert skiers who spend a meaningful chunk of their day off the trail and want a confident-at-speed but loose-in-powder personality. Sidecountry, backcountry, slarves, drops; this ski is in.

Highlights:

Twin Rocker is the headline shape feature, with significant rocker in both the tip and the tail. That setup is what gives the Transcend 98 its loose, slashy personality, especially in soft snow where you want the ends to stay above the surface. The Twin Core, like the Sublime line, alternates poplar and beech for a varied flex profile, and Kastle pairs it with Powerzone Titanal that's strategically placed rather than full-sheet. Hollowtech 2.0 in the shovel keeps swing weight reasonable for a 98mm-waist ski; at 1670 grams in the 175, it's not light, but it's not heavy for the category either. The Armoclad Sidewall is tougher than the Powerzone Sidewall on the Sublime line, which makes sense given the rocks and crud this ski will inevitably see. Hook Free Shovel and Tail round out the shape, and both ends release out of turns smoothly without catching unexpectedly when you're sliding through chop. Compared to the Paragon 93 in the lineup, the Transcend 98 has a totally different personality: more playful, more surfy, less locked-in. The two skis target different freeride styles, and Transcend is the modern, smearable one.

Things to consider:

The rocker profile that makes this ski great in soft snow also takes some edge contact away on hard pack, so if your home mountain is mostly groomers, this isn't the right pick. The 98mm waist also leans a bit wider than a true one-ski quiver for someone who skis a lot of firm conditions. And while Twin Rocker brings playfulness, it can feel less stable at the top end of speed than a more cambered freeride ski.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Sizes long thanks to the deep tip and tail rocker. The effective edge is shorter than the overall length, so most skiers will be happy on their usual size. If you're between two lengths, sizing down won't sacrifice stability the way it would on a flatter ski.