Numbers exude an aura of rectitude and certainty that mere words must struggle at length to contradict. The Finesse and Power averages say the Kästle FX95 HP is a Power ski with a kind disposition; this copy will seek to persuade those who peruse it that this ski is, by virtue of its baseline, inherently a Finesse ski, albeit one with a rich construction that allows it to pose as a Power potentate.

On one key point there’s no argument: the FX95 HP is an off-trail ski with on-trail chops, and not visa versa. The linchpin feature that settles the issue is a Dual Rise baseline that keeps the tip and tail from interfering with any swiveling or smearing activities, such as slithering through moguls or drifting sideways through piles of spring corn.

The principal point underlying the case for calling the FX95 HP a Power ski (aside from the numbers) is that its classic, wood-and-metal construction is best appreciated by skiers who have the skills to travel comfortably at highway speeds. But this observation is as incisive as pointing out that Mozart’s work is best appreciated by music lovers. Of course better skiers will be the first to recognize that the FX95 HP is rock-solid where it counts, which imparts the confidence to take this ski anywhere.

One point made in these pages last year bears repetition. Whether you regard the FX95 HP as an easy-handling Power ski or a dynamic Finesse ski, it’s such a mellow powerhouse that it outshines its metal-free brother, the FX95, by a performance margin that exceeds the price difference. Step up to the FX95 HP. The two sheets of Titanal represented by the letters “HP” are such an advantage in all snow conditions that to get the same ski without them should be a crime.