That both Kästle RX12’s sit atop our Power rankings proves that our testers prefer the more forgiving branch of the race ski family tree. The RX12 GS behaves less like a true race GS than a narrow-waisted carver. It’s unadorned by any plate or interface except what may come with a given race binding, so it isn’t as tippy as a ski with more standheight. Being closer to the snow gives it a more all-mountain feel and allows the skier to roll gradually to the edge.

The absence of extra hardware not only makes the RX12 lighter than category average, it helps to keep it supple and easy to bend. While race skis aren’t generally judged for their soft snow performance, the RX12 GS handles crud and sloppy spring snow without complaint. Obviously, it’s not buoyant, but neither were any of the GS skis that passed as powder boards until the advent of fat skis. Any nostalgic skier who longs to feel the all-terrain versatility of an Old School GS cruiser should give the RX12 GS careful consideration.

Even though its edge grip is infallible, the RX12 shouldn’t be mistaken for a powerhouse of near-race pretensions. Skier who want that experience are better served by a Head i.Speed Pro or Atomic Redster G9. The RX12 is more of a gentleman’s GS, suave, sophisticated and well mannered enough to even make short turns if that’s your thing. It doesn’t require high speed as much as it encourages it. More forgiving than the norm among race skis, the RX12 GS strikes a beautiful balance between Finesse and Power properties.