Stockli StormRider XL (2006)
Name : Stockli Stormrider XL (really it’s Stöckli or course, and better rendered as Stoeckli)
Manufacturer Web site : http://www.stoeckli.ch/index_fr.htm
First Use : March 2006
Size(cm) / Radius(m) : 164/16.3 174/18.5 184/20.8 194/23.2
Side cut : 116-75-102
click on photo’ full-size version
Why : I’m a bit of a Stöckli fan and have a pair of Laser SC’s, in fact we’ve two pairs of SC’s as my girlfriend has a pair as well. I’d skied the Stormriders several times in this model and in previous model. Just before buying them I’d had a pair from Stöckli on loan for a period while they repaired my Lasers after I’d holed them so I had the opportunity to do an extended test. We expect to be in Zinal for the next season and I wanted to access some of the more remote off-piste areas in the valley so I was interested in getting a new ski with a touring binding.
There’s several reasons why I like Stockli skis, they are a simple no-nonsense design, hand-made in Switzerland. They’re robust and solid, my Stockli Lasers are at around 100 days usage and look good for next season and I can’t say I’m especially careful about where I ski. Here in Switzerland the customer service is just exceptional, it takes a little time to select skis like the Lasers or Stormriders as being hand made the flex or stiffness of the ski alters a little between each pair, the guys in the store always take the time to ensure you’ve the right pair. When I holed my Lasers badly and beyond my ability to repair I expected to need a new pair but the local Stockli store looked at them and repaired them for a nominal charge, a repair’s that’s so good I can hardly see it and one that certainly feels good to ski on.
First report (August 2006) : So far I’ve been able to ski this in a a variety of spring conditions at Les Arcs, Val d’Isere and Les Diablerets. I used this ski when I skied the North Face of the Bellecôte and Le Col Pers in Val d’Isere and was delighted with it. It was fantastic when crashing around at speed in powder on the Bellecôte glacier and more than stable on piste.
Prior to that I’d used some loaners in March for a week or so, we’d had an amount of new snow around then which locally in the pre-alpes was varying between light powder and wet snow. One day at Moléson was particularly varied and made a really good test day for the Stormriders, some of the pistes were partially prepared so the surface varied from groomed, to powder, to heavy snow with some chopped up wet snow and powder thrown in. It’s in this sort of terrain that the Stormriders really excel, handling the transition between surfaces without any hesitation.
My Stormriders are fitted with Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus bindings, these are a hybrid alpine / touring binding. There’s a review of those on this site : Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus (2006/2007)
The Good : a versatile ski very at home off piste
The Bad : very little, the ski needs a lot of work to get the most from so it’s not for everyone.
Notes : I see that several web sites are listing a Stockli Stormrider XL 2007 model, I don’t think this is correct according to the last conversation I had with Stöckli. Most of their models run on a two year cycle, the Stormrider (XL and AT) are duel for replacements for the 07/08 season. The model on sale for 2007 is unchanged from 2005/2006.
Related posts
November 28th, 2006 at Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:52:38 +0000
Me: 27 years, 20 years skiing experience, 85kg, 1,83 high. Aggressive allmountain skier. The shop where I bought my previous ski’s has offered me new ones. I can choose between:
- Stockli Stormrider XL
- Elan Magfire 12
- K2 Apache Recon
- Dynastar Legend 8000
Which one would you reccomend?
And what length should I take? Go for shorter (174) or longer (184).
Thanx,
Moritz
November 28th, 2006 at Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:52:39 +0000
I’m totally happy with my Stormriders I have to say. I don’t know the Elans but I skied the more race-orientated SLX last season and I thought it was a brilliant ski, if the Magfires are to the SLX what the Stormrider is to a Laser then they’ll be excellent. The Legends and Recon’s I’ve skied for a very short time and they’re fine skis.
A trainer recommended to me last year to ski slalom skis for everything, it took some time but I can pretty much do it now, the result of part of that lesson was that I care less about skis than I used to! One thing I learned was that I preferred a stiff ski and I could use the rebound of that ski.
As for length, I ski my stormriders fairly short at 174, part of the slalom ski lesson was to learn, for me, that the agility of the shorter length was a plus and I didn’t need a longer ski. I’ve some Zags to use if I want longer and fatter.
I’d put the Recon’s bottom by a whisker but I’d like try those Elans ! I’d always take the Stockli, it’s the quality and customer service and part of living in Switzerland is buying Swiss stuff! But, I don’t think there’s much in the between the Legends and Stormriders, I ski with people on both and we keep up with each other
December 31st, 2006 at Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:17:32 +0000
Ise, I ran into a pair of Stormriders (XL) in the store the other day and I’ve been facinated ever since. Since your post seems to be the most comprehensive review on the web, I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a couple of questions…
I’ve been mostly been riding B2s for the last few years (and Fischer RC4 slalom skis for icy piste days), but I’m looking to replace the B2s with something a bit more exciting. I suspect that the stormriders are the ticket, but I’m concerned about how they handle in deep snow. I’ve seen reports of them ‘ripping long fast turns in the powder’, which is all good and well, but given that they’re relatively stiff how do they handle for short turns in deep snow? I’d hate to struggle down a couloir in skis that I can’t turn quickly… They’re also slightly narrower underfoot than the B2s.
What do you think…. should I just go for it?
January 1st, 2007 at Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:33:58 +0000
There must be a huge difference between a pair of B2’s and the RC4’s
For me it’s the very fact the Stormriders are stiff that makes them turn well in tight spaces compared to the fat skis that are in vogue currently which are pretty much universally too soft and too fat to be maneuverable.
It’s become an accepted fact that fatter skis are “better” but many of them have just the single trick which is being easy to float in powder which makes terrain accessible which might otherwise not be for some people. Personally I don’t buy this and I don’t believe that fat skis are much use on steep ground either.
I’ve been skiing today off-piste where it’s a combination of ice, fresh snow and rocks and the Stormriders are perfect allowing me to make split second turns to avoid obstacles while being quite OK in powder as well.
It’s down to how you ski, I’d struggle to make short turns on a ski with loads of flex anyway so I want a stiff ski anyway.
April 16th, 2007 at Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:07:09 +0000
Hi, I have a question about length. I’m 5′8″ or 173cm tall & weight 152 pounds or 69Kg. I just turned 50, I go slower now but I still like steep and narrow, chutes, bowls, trees & bumps. I mostly ski Colorado. I just found an old beatup pair of the 2005 blue and white stockli offroad xl in a 174. I absolutely love them in everything except really deep powder. Even then not to bad. I want to buy a new pair for next year. Is a 174 to long for me or should I go to the 164. I tend to ski old school, but I can ski modern. I’m afraid the 164 could be to “turny” for me or just feel to short. I’ve been riding volkl 724pros 170cm, volkl motion 177cm & dynastar 8800 in 169cm. I tried a dynastar 8000 in a 165 & thought it fun, but to short and turny for all day use. I also tried the 8000 in a 172 but I liked my volkls and 8800 better. Now I like these 174 xls the best. So HELP, do I stay with what I like or do I go down in size like most people recommend. Thanks
April 16th, 2007 at Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:45:52 +0000
My guess is that if you go shorter you’ll start to lose some performance in softer snow. However, I’m taller and and heavier than you and I ski the 174 without problems, but, that’s a choice I made to have a shorter length for ski touring. I’m trying to recall exactly how the old XL compared to the current one and I can’t quite remember, I think that the current one is slightly softer maybe. Stockli suggest you should be looking at +/- 15cm on head height which doesn’t help you much. I think it would come down to that powder performance though, at a shorter length that’s going to suffer.
Also, the current model retires this season so should be in season close outs. The new one has the same dimensions, different graphics but feels about the same flex although I’ve yet to ski it, the XL is supplemented by an XXL for next season which adds a little more width across the whole length and looks a nice ski.
April 16th, 2007 at Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:22:51 +0000
Thanks for the quick and informative reply. If I may ask, what is your weight?. I’ll look for a 174, maybe I should also get a 164 for crusty, icey, hardpack days when I tend to stick to the bumps and trees. Again, Thanks
April 16th, 2007 at Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:31:13 +0000
I’m around 80-85kg I think, I’ve not checked for a while! I’ve a pair of Stockli Laser SC’s which are a FIS masters ski for those hardpack days which are so much fun at speed.
January 16th, 2008 at Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:33:38 +0000
Hi,
Having seen the light and been converted 3 years ago its difficult to imagine ski-ing anything but Stockli.Ringing my bell are the Stormrider XL,which have had about 11 months action.Being fairly light (161 lbs/73kg),5ft11 tall,I am an aggressive skier…what is the life expectancy for the XL’s? Also the 07/08 stormrider XL white with graphics..are they the same spec as previouse models?
Cheers for any feedback
Hoppo
January 16th, 2008 at Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:43:00 +0000
I’ve still not skied on the new StormRiders, I looked at them back in the spring and concluded they were heavier than I wanted as the balance of time I’m spending touring is going up so I switched to the Black Diamond Voodoos.
On paper the spec’s do look the same for turn radius, lengths and sidecuts etc.
August 5th, 2008 at Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:29:32 +0000
I’m thinking about trading my Dynastar Legend Pro Riders in for some StormRiders. Anyone ridden both have any thoughts?