It’s a good idea to get that loose filling fixed before locking into a pair of Kästle MX 98 alpine skis (MSRP: $1,500 with Marker Jester bindings).
These planks live up to the 80-year Austrian race heritage that made Kästle a world and World Cup favorite before the company was acquired by Benetton in the 1990s and the Nordica ski brand emerged in its place. But new owner Kästle Ltd. is picking up right where the old brand left off with its five-ski “Comeback Collection” this season, creating a line of strong, stable skis in a variety of widths anchored by the MX series.
The MX series is Kästle’s all-mountain, high-performance ski line, available in four dimensions (78mm-108mm at the waist). And while the tag line reads “Heritage Runs Steep,” apparently it also runs fast. The skis feature sandwich sidewall construction, an ash wood core, two layers of titanium and Kästle’s patented Hollowtech technology, designed to reduce the mass of the ski’s tip, dampen vibration, allow faster edge transition and provide better tracking. Even the wider MX 98 — considered a powder specialist — locks in and rails long radius turns with authority on the groomers.
All models are available in women’s versions, adopting a slightly softer flex pattern and shorter lengths (but the same widths).
Get it: Kästle skis are still built in the Alps, but you can find them at www.kaestle-ski.com.
