While the Nova 14 Ti bears more than a passing resemblance to the unisex React R10 Ti, it’s not a clone in women’s colors. It has its own version of Rossi’ signature Line Control Technology (LCT), called LCT Soft, plus Carbon Alloy Matrix, which adds oodles of damping with very little mass, along with Titanal laminates for extra power and control.
Rossignol is the only brand I can think of that draws attention to how each model reacts to pressure. A stiffer flex that transfers the skier’s energy along a cambered baseline is called “Boost Flex,” indicating that it stores enough energy to hoist the skier across the fall line. What a great way to encapsulate the behavior of a ski like the Nova 14 Ti.
Over the past two seasons, Dynastar has completely transformed its collection, tackling the freeride sector with the M-Line last year, and re-positioning its on-piste S-Line for 21/22. The E Lite models form the women’s division of the Speed series, meant for carving up corduroy. As is often the case, the top model – the E Lite 9 – resides in the Technical genre, while its wider and softer siblings are Frontside fillies. Note the “Lite” in its name: the E Lite 9 definitely emphasizes lightness and quickness over heft and power.
Dynastar’s signature traits of agility, lightness and subtle snow feel are largely attributable to its poplar and PU hybrid core. In a genre that usually uses a generous allotment of Titanal, the E Lite 9 stands out for its light, peppy responsiveness.
The fate of Blizzard’s new Phoenix R14 Pro epitomizes the plight of the entire genre: although it’s almost certainly the highest performing Women’s Technical ski Blizzard has ever made, neither it nor its stablemate, the Frontside Phoenix R13 Ti, will make it to our shores this season.
What a pity, as we can infer from its unisex incarnation, the Thunderbird R15, that the Phoenix R14 Pro would be a ripper. This is not a design intended to tiptoe down the hill; its shape and its construction are made to fire down the fall line and blast off the edge. The Phoenix design is a product of Blizzard’s Women-2-Women program, but remember, the women concerned are ex-racers who haven’t forgot how to arc ‘em and spark ‘em. This is a ski the testers made for themselves. Maybe we’ll see it next year…
When Stöckli added its astounding Turtle Shell Racing to the Laser SX a few seasons ago, it opened up the bottom end of its performance range, so skiers whose skills are a quart low can experience its sublime edge hold. Thankfully, Turtle Shell technology didn’t compromise the Laser SX’s stellar performance in the red zone of the recreational speed range. When jabbed with a sudden jolt of energy, it responds with more automatic elevation than a trampoline. That’s a rare commodity in a category that prizes continuous snow connection.
Thanks to Turtle Shell tech, it’s possible to tootle along on the Laser SX and never realize the core is loaded with dynamite. If all you want to do is cruise at a trotter’s clip, there are many skis that will float your boat. No Laser SX should be forced to spend its life in the slow lane. When speed and pressure are brought to bear, no other Technical ski is as quick on and off the edge as the Laser SX.
Nordica ‘s Enforcer and Enforcer Free series – now spanning six models – have garnered so much attention that hardly anyone in America even knows the Dobermann Spitfire 72 RB FDT exists. Combining a slalom-shaped shovel with a GS chassis, the Spitfire 72 knows how to attack the fall-line. Note the 20mm drop in tip-to-tail taper, indicating a ski that treats turns like protected trout: catch and release.
The Spitfire 72 isn’t meant as a learn-to-carve crutch; it demands a pilot unafraid to rail it on a high edge. The alphabet soup at the end of its name refers to the plate that’s integrated into this ski/binding system, another clear signal that posers need not apply. If you like a power-mad carver that hums at high speed, the Dobermann Spitfire RB FDT belongs in your locker.
