2011 Kastle LX82 w/ CTi binding

How would LX82's compare to FX84's?

Im thinking about getting one of those for east-coast (vt) use only.  Just skied a week in Vail on MX 98/88 & FX 94 and loved FX94's the most (a bit more forgiving/less demanding but still very stable on groomed and lighter/quicker than the MXs in the bowls/glades)

Reading the reviews it sounds like FX84 is going to be very similar to FX94 (with 84 being more appropriate for the east)

Should i also consider LX82s?  and what are the trade-offs?

Im 6'0"/200 lbs... very solid on the grooms but starting to venture more and more into trees/bumps.

any help would be appreciated.

thx

ivid, I'm about your size and probably quite a bit older and ski mostly in the East. I don't try a lot of skis and haven't been on the FX84. I've been skiing on Nordica Nitrous with which  I've been very happy. They have lots of days and are now completely toasted.  I demoed the LX82 in 172 (whatever was closed to 170) at Stowe in very mixed conditions. Absolutely loved the LX82 in softer snow, cruded up powder, etc. Really playful, fun, and forgiving. Skied Liftline which was fairly icy and felt they just didn't hold as well as my old Nordicas. Without demoing I think the FX84 is probably going to be a better fit.

Title:  Review: 2011 Kastle LX82

Product:

Length: 180cm

Environment of Conditions:

okemo mountain, vt

groomers, bumps

dust on crust, soft - cut up

bought from starthaus

i own, prophet 90's, head IM78's, fischer rx8's, dyna 4X4's

Tester Info:

Age: 51

Height/Weight: 6'0 190 lbs

Average days on snow: 40+

Years Skiing: 20

Aggressiveness: moderate - depends on the terrain etc.

I met Philpug at Okemo last season. Since we've met I've been picking his brain for a perfect ski for Vt conditions. Many people know Phil here and value his opinion. So, in December, once again, I reached out for a ski recommendation for my son.

My son competes on the Okemo bump team with a lovely girl whose parents are close friends with Phil.  I emailed Phil and in a few short minutes, Phil offered to extend a pro form price on some specialized bump skis. The skis came as promised, Phil called our local ski shop, arranged delivery and even went to the trouble to swap out some brakes.

Last week, I emailed Phil once again to purchase the same bump skis for myself. After some back and forth, Phil advised me to buy the Kastle LX82's. I demoed Kastle MX 78's and didn't love them  (bad tune)

I also demoed mx 88's and thought they were very good. So Kastle was on my radar, actually the FX84. Quite honestly, I knew nothing about these skis and I had some anxiety; since I'm a tightwad and prefer to demo first. 

Phil offered me a great deal and I had the pleasure of speaking with Trekchick when I ordered the skis.Tricia told me, "don't worry, you'll love these skis"

Now to the review,  I skied these in bumps, from tight lines to spaced snowboard bumps, icy rut to powdery tops. Skiing bumps in 180's was a concern for me, however, the LX82's just gripped and ripped.

I was making tight turns similar to my 165 cm rx 8's with added stability. From zipper line to skiing the tops they just went wherever I pointed them. My legs never fatigued, these skis are so light and nimble.  Then I took a few runs on the skied off, re-frozen typical Okemo runs. The skis arced and held extremely well on long GS type turns and smaller fall line short radius turns. At the end of the day, the bottom half of the mountain turned into soft unevenly spaced bumps.I just pointed the Kastles and watched them comply. These skis are forgiving, they don't punish you for occasional backseat driving or losing focus. 

Bottom line, I cant' wait to ski tomorrow. The query is, what do I do with the rest of the quiver?

The skis and Starthaus are strongly recommended..........

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Since you skied and liked the FX94 and mentioned that you are looking more for the trees, I would say the FX84. 

eh how about niether really....

there is never a day I would choose an 84mm waisted ski over a 94 mm waisted skis here for tree skiing back east. beside the best tree ski that kastle makes is the new BMX98.

and the BMX98 isnt as good as several cheaper option for tree skiing .

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawgcatching 

I own the BMX98 and skied the FX94 for about 6 runs the other day. They compliment each other well. Gotta say the FX94 has a bit more bite, bit earlier engagement with the stiffer non-rockered tip, but still is surfy due to the tapered tip in soft snow.  The BMX98 would get the edge in softer snow, and it feels longer in 178cm (the FX94 is 176cm, and feels a good 4cm shorter in real terms).  The FX94 has slightly more pop, and feels slightly more relaxed than the MX88.  At my weight, it was one of the best skis of the day. I enjoyed it more than the Bushwacker in the tight spaces that Holiday describes in his "Line Prophet 98 review" (I was skiing with this group all day) and would put it up there with the MX88 and Prophet 98. I thought it they made the FX94 in 180cm, it would be spot-on for me, the 176cm felt a touch short for most of the speeds I ski.  

 

Also enjoyed the FX84 for skied-out stuff; the 94 was grippy enough though as well; probably the 84 if it was for bumps and groomers, the 94 for softer snow, trees, bumps, and fewer groomers. 

the last thing I want is bite or eariler engagement really the skier can get all of that out of nearly any skis and to have the ski do it for you can me the ski does it for you when you dont want it to,

drive the skis and dictate to the mountain dont let the skis you and dont let the mountain win.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA 

 

 

eh how about niether really....

 

there is never a day I would choose an 84mm waisted ski over a 94 mm waisted skis here for tree skiing back east. beside the best tree ski that kastle makes is the new BMX98.

 

and the BMX98 isnt as good as several cheaper option for tree skiing .

 

How do you know? Skied it yet?

boys, boys........

this is about the lx 82's.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by epic 

How do you know? Skied it yet?

skied the 108......

the kastles are to stiff even the supposed softer ones, but its beside the point cna you imagine any day that you would really want a a bigger ski in the woods here?