Stockli

Riding this ski has changed the way I enjoy mountain adventures! The STOCKLI ski took a few rides to get accustom to- as I rode much softer skis yet NOW, nothing challenges my ability. PURPOSE is the nickname. . .The Schmidt is a FAST-all mountain ski that ROCKS like no other! I am a BIG GUY- I ski fast, steeps, NO BUMPS- but like to challenge my equipment. I haven't been PUSHED BACK like these skis do since 3rd grade- and I LIKE IT! Been in alllll conditions from Sierra Cement in Lake Tahoe to Denver to Utah POWWWW- these skis HOLD UP!So much so, I am VERY close to buying a SECOND PAIR. The SWISS know their product and created a STELLAR limit-less ski that is amazing, comfortable, solid, and a thrill to RIDE. My only complaint- can't find MATCHING poles!

I only ski Stockli skis, and this Stormrider is a perfect powder ski. It is also easy to turn on groomed, although I wouldn't use it exclusively on groomed. Fun ride in the powder.

As a 230 lbs. former college ski racer, I will tell you that this ski will handle all that you can give and more, particularly at the 188cm length. It is best in powder/chop above 35 mph. I use it for big mountain skiing because I put too much bend into softer skis, but it does require a lot of work to stay in balance and not get thrown around.

Fast and smooth

This is an odd ski in the Stormrider series because it isn't a GS ski with a wider sidecut. It is a soft (for Stockli) powder ski that you can ski slowly through the trees or let rip in a bowl. It has the classic Stockli edge grip and great construction. You can ski it on the front side w/o a problem. Regardless, it is not a one ski wonder (they really don't exist), but a solid powder ski that can be used in the park with any binding that moves the boot 3 cm or so off of neutral. I tuned mine with a 1 degree base bevel since I only use the ski in soft snow, and put 2 degrees on the side bevel. That tune seems about right for this kind of ski.

These skis make me want a new pair of skis every year. They power through clumped snow, powder and hard packed. I ski mostly steeps and trees, these skis handle the conditions excellently.

I live in Switzerland and Stoeckli is THE ski here. For the past two years, I've demo'd their entire line. I tried this model last year and was very pleasantly surprised. My favorite ski in their line is the Laser GS and I thought this would be a noodle, but it was smooth and solid making nice turns of variable sizes on the groomed piste. It wasn't nervous like the slalom ski or a ski that demanded maximum attention to avoid being thrown like the Laser Cross Pro or Stormrider XXL. You can't go wrong with any Stoeckli, but this one is a great choice if you are a good skier looking for one pair of excellent skis for resort skiing on the marked trails.

I have this ski in the prior version (blue & white with the flames on the tip) in a 194cm. It's a beast, especially so long. It's basically a GS race ski fattened up. And, when I say a GS race ski, I mean a Stoeckli race ski - read: a real race ski. It is fast as lightning and powers through anything. Once you get used to it, it is surprisingly agile, but it will throw you if you let it get away from you and sit back. I also have a 177 cm Laser Cross Pro, which is probably the best ski I've ever used and this one is somewhat similar but more biased towards off-piste. I would demo the lengths, if you can, as I didn't like this one too short (maybe because I'm now used to it in the monster length).

I heard that the Schmidt was a an intense ski, but I heard that before about skis I considered tame. At 195 pounds and former Extreme, Bump and Aerialist Rider, the ski is an introduction to a humbling experience when you take it out of the gate, especially if you are not in the "envelope." I ski in the "front seat" always pressing shins and hands forward. Even with 25 + years of intense skiing, you can be humbly thrown in the back seat and feel the torque of this demon ski. Even with a full helmet and googles, tears started to trickle down my cheeks from the speed. However, once I got the exact balance point, it was like skiing a Ferrari. Basically, this ski is almost like a downhill ski, just wider. It edges tight and crisp on both inside and outside edges and goes all mountain and cuts on ice. Yep, not a weekend ski, too fast and unforgiving and you could take out some pedestrians. Once it goes fast (which it likes to do), you almost need a parachute to stop it(not kidding). When I took it for a test run, it made my race skis look a little tame. I took it down the face on a wind packed, Sierra cement, crud packed day with chicken heads and cake icing and in cut it like butter. But, don't expect to arrive in a bump field at 40 mph. The ski is brutally unforgiving and will eject you like you were in a F-18 at Mach 2. Super stiff and precise construction will allow you to bank on grooms like a water skier putting your shoulder on the surface. After a week on these "Beast," I almost need new threads to accommodate the pumped calves, thighs and gluts. The most intense ski I ever rode.

I have skied this on hard snow on the east coast and was surprised by its grip on hard snow. It makes you work on groomers and ice, but likes to run and excels in slop and loose snow. Really, really fun in loose snow.