For the 19/20 season, Kästle completely re-formulated its FX series of wide, off-trail models. To create its first-ever women’s model in the FX family, Kästle choose to work off the FX96 template, as the 96mm waist width optimizes the strengths of the new design for female skiers.
One of the goals of the new FX series was weight reduction, so Kästle engineers concocted Tri-Tech, a trifecta of design features all aimed at keeping weight off. Tri-Tech is essentially a core-within-a-core; a central channel of high-density woods is wrapped in a glass torsion box and braced on either side with lighter wood laminates. The torsion box rides higher than the outer sections, creating a 3D top surface, which is the first weight-saver. Second is the concentration of hard woods in the center, so lighter woods can be used in the remaining 2/3 of the core. Third is using a thicker core profile in the central torsion box, which gives it more power without adding more materials.
The proof of the FX96 W’s terrain proclivities is found in its double-rockered baseline. Its shallow camber pocket transitions to a long, gradual front rocker – Kästle refers to it as Progressive Rise – that starts 310cm from the tip. The tail rocker picks up and a similarly slight slope 150cm from the tail. This creates a relatively short contact length that works in concert with its slalomesque sidecut (14m @ 164cm) to create a fat ski that skis skinny.
Another key contributor to the FX96 W’s well-buffered ride is the latest iteration of Kästle’s signature Hollowtech tip. Hollowtech 3.0 takes up almost all the territory in the shovel. Its purpose is to absorb as much shock as possible in the FX96 W’s tapered tip so the camber zone behind it can do its work undisturbed.
Having a little less ski over the edge helps the FX96 W ride a “soft edge” that is ready, willing and able to drift. This gives the ski a multi-axis smear factor so it can roll over terrain whether aimed directly at it or coming in from any angle up to and including sideways. “Kästle finesse reigns supreme, even in super deep powder,” marvels The Sport Loft’s Margit Caine.
For the way it removes all the rough edges associated with skiing off trail, we award the Kästle FX96 W a Silver Skier Selection.
