2012-2013 Kastle FX104
The FX104 excelled on cold, midwinter chalk, where it was highly maneuverable and pretty effortless to whip around on jump turns. The FX104 was my first choice for those high-pressure swings when the winds had been ripping through the Tetons and the mercury was hovering around 0° Fahrenheit.
The designers of the FX104 had steep couloir skiing in mind, and, as expected, the FX104 was excellent on my first foray into the Once is Enough couloir off Cody Peak, in less than ideal conditions. The entrance was firm, and a lack of snow necessitated some careful billygoating.
In the gut, the snow transitioned into chalk and then to softer, slarvable snow at the bottom. The FX104 ate it all up. Toward the bottom, it was easy to slide the tails at the top of the turn before engaging the edge (and who doesn’t like a cream slarving?). The FX104 was predictable and dependable up top, then fun on the high-speed run-out.
On groomed snow, the FX104 held an edge quite well, but didn’t have the pop and energy of a carving ski. On Rendezvous Trail, I was able to set it on edge and just ride the radius of the ski as opposed to truly carving / bending the ski, and as such it felt somewhat dead. I would compare this lack of return to the feeling of the 10/11 Stockli Stormrider VXL, as opposed to a ski truly made to carve, like the Kastle MX88 or the Nordica Fire Arrow. (Disclaimer: I weigh only 145 pounds, and a heavier person might be able to bend the FX104 to get some return. I have no problem, however, bending other metal skis that are made for carving….)
All that being said, once the ski was on edge, the dampness inspired confidence to shred through Jackson Hole’s “unique” grooming patterns, and I could plough through any kind of mank that turned up as the snow warmed.
Which brings me to my favorite condition for the 104: spring corn.
This past season we had a bizarre spring at Jackson Hole, in which it was often too warm or too cold for ideal corn to form. As a result, early mornings were often too setup, followed by a small window of ideal corn before the heat took over and conditions changed to wet, heavy, late-spring corn. The ski was adept at navigating all of those conditions, and did especially well when the snow became very heavy and moist.
I attribute the predictability of the FX104 in variable conditions to both the straight shovels and the dampness of the ski. Where some skis with wider shovels may be pushed around and produce resistance in heavier snow, the FX104 steered true. I had no problem initiating turns, and as I mentioned earlier, at either high or low speeds the ski was stable through variable mank.
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November 16, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Ryan, great review. It’s fitting you reviewed this ski as I am considering it for my backcountry/soft snow ski for western Maine. From your Bio I see that you are very familiar with the area I generally ski, any of the resorts in Maine to a few trips a year to Mount Washington. I already have a pair of Fischer Progressors for front side carving and a pair of Line Prophet 98s for soft snow resort days. I am looking for a ski for deeper soft snow days and expanding my backcountry trips. Thinking about making the jump to some tech bindings and a binding freedom plate along with this ski.
I am a technically proficient skier with a racking background, 6′, 175 pounds, physically fit. I like stiff skis and carving when appropriate. Other skis that I am considering are the Cochise and Wailer 99. Demos are scarce in this area, especially the Kastle and DPS. I appreciate your thoughts on this, thanks.
November 20, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Lucas,
Thanks for reading the review. I have not skied the Cochise or Wailer 99, but I am sure you have read our reviews of those skis. Here is my recomendation based on my understanding of the other skis you are asking about.
If you are going to be using this ski primarily for deeper days, my initial reaction is to go with the Cochise. I’m thinking you are skiing this more on resort pow days and in untracked soft snow in the backcountry than at Tucks in the spring. The Cochise has the widest footprint and is slightly more soft snow oriented with flat camber and a rockered tip and tail. I think this will be the best compliment to your current quiver.
If you are going to use this ski more for technical steep skiing in variable conditions (i.e. more Tucks than soft pow), I think the Kastle will be better. The flat tail and full camber is more predictable and reliable when making complicated maneuvers in higher consequence terrain.
The Wailer 99 will most likely overlap the Prophet 98′s while being slightly better in soft snow. I would personally prefer the extra 9mm underfoot of the Cochise for deeper days.
Hopefully you get the goods this year and can make use of the new sticks!
November 24, 2012 at 8:41 am
Thanks Ryan, unless you have any other suggestions, Coshise it is.