There’s no way that Kästle can build a bad GS ski. In fact, it would almost be impossible for it to make anything less than a superb one. That’s because Kästle’s stock construction – vertically laminated poplar and beech core, prepreg fiberglass and top and bottom sheets of Titanal – starts race ready. Add a tip and tail design meant to wrench every last millimeter of edge contact possible and a cambered baseline that’s on the same page, swirl in Kästle’s signature Hollowtech to smooth out the forward suspension, and you have a winning formula.

Of course, the RX12 GS can’t actually win anything but your heart, as it’s 16m sidecut is roughly half the radius of a FIS-sanctioned race GS. This gives the RX12 GS an uncommon level of virtuosity. Readers who delve into its scores will find our test panel marked the RX12 GS down for short-turn facility, but this is probably because they didn’t make any short turns. This ski is so deliriously fine at high speed, with an edge grip that starts with the first turn and ends at the bottom, why on earth would anyone slow down?

The ultimate reason Kästle can’t make anything less than a brilliant GS is that the design is executed at Head, which happens to make the most successful GS race skis in the world. From a production standpoint, it’s disruptive to introduce a cheaper design into a process set up to work with the best materials. Hence it’s easier for Kästle to make a great ski than a weak one. The RX12 GS doesn’t disappoint. Ex-racers who can’t shake their jones for speed will find it provides the ultimate fix.