The Dobermann GSM (and GSR, the same ski without a honking piston plate on it) deserve to be among our Recommended Non-FIS Race skis. They might be the closest thing to the real deal in the genre. Corty Lawrence, owner emeritus of Footloose Sports, and I spent a entire morning going back and forth between GSM and GSR and couldn’t discern a difference in the spring snow at our disposal. Unfortunately, we were the only people to try them, which is why we didn’t have enough scores to recommend them.

What we could perceive was just how strong both skis (which are the same ski) are. Here’s what Corty recorded after the protracted session: “Helluva ski. A lot of rebound. No speed limit. Super stable. Wants to be ridden at good speeds [by which he means 40mph+]. Bring your big-boy pants. Not very forgiving, I have to say. A lot of punch coming back off the turn that’s to your advantage if you’re where you’re supposed to be. That rebound sets you up and gets that retraction and extension thing going on. Super solid, very confident, like I said, big-boy pants only. Amateurs need not apply.”

I agree with Cortlandt. If you don’t have any race training, neither the GSM or GSR is your ski. But if you have the strength and the skills, these Dobermanns will tear a GS course apart.