Stockli Stormrider XL (2005)

GO SHORT! Smooth damp ride!

Far and away the most powerful ski I have ever been on. From the Groomers on Sun Valley, to Jackson powder these skis rocked!!!

Glad to have found this site! I'd like to get some more feedback from the person who tested the Stormrider XL. First of all, let me describe my experience and ability. I'm 48 years old, athletic but, due to my lack of proximity from snow, can only ski 10 days a year or so. I would describe myself as an advanced intermediate to advanced, depending on how far I am into my ski trip. I enjoy a lively ski with a generous sweet spot and usually enjoy riding the tails of my skis. I've been on a set of Salomon Scream 9s for the last five or so years but I bought them too long for my height (187cm/5'6" respectively) and they are starting to go soft on me. Additionally, when ever I am in any amount of appreciable powder, they have the tendency to porpoise and squirm all over the place. I tried a pair of Rossi B2s last spring in variable conditions (mostly spring junk) and I found my self with a permanent grin. They were seemingly infallible from hardpack to crud and bounced around with the energy of a pogo stick! I thought I hade arrived...next morning I tried a pair of Head XRC 1100s, which sported the narrowest waist @ 67mm, and the deepest sidecut of anything I had ever skied on. THEY TOO had me grinnig from ear to ear. The issue I am currently trying to reconcile however, is the totally differing snow conditions under which these two skies were tested. The B2s weere tested in the afternoon in mostly softer snow and the Heads were tested in the morning under early icy, then more variable conditions. By the way, I found the Heads to be the best firm snow skies I had ever tried. Before I bore you death, let me say that I've read the reviews on the Stockli Stormrider Offroad XLs, feel that the ski's dimensions are suited to my overall all-mountain needs, and that they are not only screamers at speed, but also have excellent short-turning talents. I also admire the apparent pride the factory takes in hand-building their product. Given my ability, my taste for varied terrain, and my desire to get better with limited snow exposure, what do you recommend I demo next to have the most fun on the mountain? 
 
Thanks in advance, 
Jose Martinez 
kjodienda@yahoo.com

Not sure about your location but the Zag's are serious fun if you can get hold of a pair. Personally I like the 75 - the best all mountain ski I have used in a while.

Thanks for your prompt reply! I live in Lighthouse Point, Florida, just north of Fort Lauderdale...not exactly the snow ski capital of the world. I'm off to find the Zags...

Would you say that this ski is good for east coast conditions. I have heard that the XLs are great east coast boards and i have also heard they are a pure west coast ski that wouldn't be any good for the east. would you recommend them to someone like me who mainly skis east coast?

Would you say that this ski is good for east coast conditions. I have heard that the XLs are great east coast boards and i have also heard they are a pure west coast ski that wouldn't be any good for the east. would you recommend them to someone like me who mainly skis east coast?

I have heard that the cross pro is a little bit the on piste ski version of the XL. Is it possible to compare these two skies? Is the cross pro more in control, or only for long curves?

To the person that heard the Stormrider is an east coast ski - BUY THEM! They're great everywhere, and if they had a speed limit, I sure as hell couldn't find it. I demoed at least 5 skis with the approximate same dimensions. Nothing came close to the overall performance of this ski. One caveat; punishes back seat driving, so stay in aggressive stance. One more thing, this is a piece of equipment you can be proud to own... 
Jose Martinez

The Stormrider XL is the best all-round ski I ever tried. Off-piste they work in all kinds of snow conditions. You could opt for a softer off-piste ski, but that would set you back when the powder goes crusty and hard. And they act like an agressive GS ski in the slopes as well - immensely fast! I'm just back from a week in Austria - been trying 6-7 different pairs of off-piste skis, including the Völkl 724, the Ross B2, the Sweet Daddyand the Dynastar Legend 8000 - they're all too soft. The Völkl is the most similar to the Stöckli but nowhere as fast in the slopes. Go for the Stöckli Stormrider DP if you got wide open spaces to to your off-piste skiiing - also a great ski! 
 
- gatorshoes-

Any advice/guidance alternative recommendations would be welcome to my situation. I'm looking to get me some new all-mountain planks. 5ft 9 (177ish cms), 66 kilos (140 pounds????). Have skiied for maybe 10 years on and off. can ski most terrain confidently but only get to ski for maybe 2-3 weeks a year. Currently ski Head cross ti's and demo'd Atomic Metron's recently on colorado (76mm waist versions). These Stokli's were recommended to me but I'm need some extra input. I like a ski that comes around fiarly quickly when tipped on edge on groomed and drives out of a turn(which atomic's did very nicely)., Also like a ski that inspires some confidence in crud and powder as I always cover the whole mountain with a reasonable %age in bowls and trees. Must definately be consistent on edge. Now given it usually takes me a couple of days to "get my eye in" I also need a ski which you can relax on to some extent. like the sound of these Stoklis....bit concerned I might be overpowered given my regularity on the slopes and stature. Liked the Atomic's despite their weight (which I didn't notice after a nwhile) but can't use my current bindings with them....my heads are a little sinky in the soft stuff and a bit grabby at times. Want to be able to use my Salomon bindings. Any thoughts on the suitability of these stokli's for me or alternative recommended skis would be appreciated.

...They're also fun in the bumps...try them in a 164 length before you go any longer. For your height and weight, that lenght will probavby do. I am 5'6" and 165 lbs - 164cm  
was more than fine for me. In fact, many instructors in Taos, New Mexico - where I bought mine - are skiing the 164cm length, and ripping it up I might add. These things really haul ass too. They glide well, make beutiful GS arcs, and if you 'get on them,' crank off great short turns as well. I hope find a pair! 
Jose Martinez

Thanks for your thoughts and the for the advice on length Jose.

I'm looking for advice on what length to buy. I'm 6'5", 230 lbs, and an aggressive expert skier which would probably point me toward the 194. But, I spend most of my time skiing really tight east coast tree runs at Mad River. I also race once or twice a week in a NASTAR style course. What's better for me the 184 or 194? 
Thanks. -Bob

I am after some advice as to which bindings to pair these ski's with ?

i got the 184s great on everything except that corrugatted ice that you get in the mornings after the piste machine has smoothed the piste. 
if you want to ski super fast on that get the longer ones. 
otherwise they are really very good

Just had two weeks crashing around Val D'Isere on 174 XLs.Yes they do what it says on the label.Will out run most planks on the straight and turn on anything if you are tough enough.At 1/2 price in UK sales,you can't afford not to have them.Still working on the tough bit....

Like the previous reviewer I took a bit of a gamble buying these 1/2 price in the UK sales without having tried them. I took them to tignes last weekend for the penultimate weekend of the season and what a blast! I took the 174's and found them great for cruising, moguls, getting air and at speed they are fantastic. I know a lot of the other reviewers suggest taking the 184 however these skies are quite wide at the tips and whilst i didn't get a lot of chance to truly test them in the backcountry from what I did experience flotation will not be an issue. They are superb skis that love to be skied hard and fast. All in all a great ski. On my last trip to Tignes I took out a pair of 2006 B2's and posted a very complimentary review on this site. B2's are nothing compared to these. 

Nice to hear such a good experience from Stökli skis. I'm also skiing Stormrider DP's at 186 length. They are the best skis i have ever skied, very stable, stiff, balanced and powerfull skis. They are most suited to high speed skiing but all goes well, on or off-piste, bumbs are difficult though. My second skis are mid-fats: Völkl 724 pros at 184, they are still very good and stable enough but in every way softer than stökli's. My height is 183 cm and 95 kg and those earlier mentioned skilengths are perfectly suitable for my size and style: agressive but old fashioned bode miller style:) Next winter I will ski Rossignol's new B3 at 184 cm, but will keep the stöklis for fastest days...

Hello, 
I'm about 6'2 and 150lbs or so. I'll probably gain some weight by the start of the season, and am wondering if buying a pair of 164cm skis makes sense. I would be buying this primarily to "rip" on the ice of the east on weekends--I love skiing moguls, but just don't do it enough to keep buying small, flexible twintips. Thanks for the help.

180cm 185lbs 84kg and got 184cm XL's went to newzealand treble cone august of 04 and took me two days to get into these things every reaction and feeling is speed up, and wow when you get ontop of them very fun and the confidence just grew day by day thats what sport about. 
yes I found steep tight (eg. 1-1-1-1 pumping turns) fallline groomers fustrating at one stage stiff and forget bending and musling them. 
they like room and speed  
tried these by chance was not confident with big labels with specific ski's and quality bla bla bla don't get me wrong lots of great ski's out there (to many) was opting the volkl 724pro tho not available in AUZ 
I hit the jackpot with these whistler here I come. 
laser SC 163cm next for me for tighter AUZY runs. 
 
tho if had to have one ski STORMY XL 184CM hands down and finaly they have inspired me again to keep working on my technique because they let you know when you are slack and they let you know with a fat smile when you doing good. 
let it snow blackcomb 06

Is there anything bad about this ski?! 
I am torn about buying a pair without being able to try them out. I have skies since I was two and would say I'm a very compitent skier. I currently ski on Salomon Crossmax 9P's L180. I had always said that when I got a new set I would go shorter - would it be wrong to go for the Stormrider L174? Also are 05/06 version meant to be as good?!

Oops, sorry about above entry,must have hit the wrong button... anyway...I spend a lot of time on the snow in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US. I get up to Vermont once a year and out to Whistler every few years or so. I spent a full season on Stormy XL 174's and skied everything imaginable, from a Master's GS race course to knee deep (yes, even West Virginia got knee deep powder back last March), and the XL's are absolutely the East Coast dream ski. Pick your length not based on your physical size or ability, but on how tight the trees and terrain (and even the crowds) are at your local hill! As for the Left side of North America, the XL's would rock from the mid-station to Merlin's at a place like Whistler (especially in those secret tree stashes that only the locals know about), but I would go wider and longer above tree line. For those of you in my neck of the woods, I work as a part-time instructor at Snowshoe WV, and I've got adjustable bindings on my XL's. I should also have a pair of Snakes available for demo in a couple of weeks as well. Just give the Ski School desk a call and check when I'm working, and I'll make a believer out of you. Ask for Lynn the Stockli Guy or email me at lwilkinson1@msn.com for my schedule.

If anyone sees this, I am a ski racer that has finished college and is headed to Vail for the winter. PSYCHED! I can't decide between the XL and the Scott Schmidt pr model. 184 XL or 188 Schmidt. I want to be able to rip gs turns on them but I also want to huck in deep pow. Will the XL let me down in the pow? Will the Schmidt let me down on the groomers? Thanks 
Tucker

what length: 
 
250 pounds, 6"3" instructor. Eastern Canada.

Asking about the XL.

I was four days in La Grave - Les deux Alpes and the rental shop gave me the Stormrider XL 194 cm..I am 195cm tall and weigh 95kg, it x 
was perfect; The ski is the fastest I ever skied. I ski for thirty yaers now and it seems that te XL even improved my skiing. Big and FAST fun!!!

Just grabbed a pair of 194s. I was looking for a ski to use instead of my 188 Volkl P50 GS Race Stocks when skiing in heavy ungroomed snow in Cham and out at Squaw Valley. Any one else used the 194 length? Guys at Stockli told me that you don't have to go too short. That was enough for me since I always preferred longer skis: like the P40 F1 in 193 much better than the 188. DP uses a 201 and he should know.

Just skied Kirkwood in these yesterday....an upgrade from an OLD Salomon sidecut. I have to say, it was like going from driving a 1984 Honda Civic to a new Ferrari. I have tried different sets of sidecuts over the past 5 years, but like other reviewers have already posted, these really do take alot more work. I was used to some of the newer skis being very forgiving and seem to do a lot of the work for you. I quickly learned that these skis really do 'punish the back seat driver'. I was not used to such an aggressive and rigid ski. Once I got the hang of it, the Stocklis really flew. Off-piste they handled beautifully, were very responsive, and cut through a variety of snow conditions easily. I had complete confidence in these skis especially at higher speeds. I first skied Stocklis in Switzerland a couple of years ago and really liked them then. I couldn't remember the model I used at the time, but really liked the company. These XLs are definitely an upgrade from what I used in Switzerland. I can't wait to get back on the mountain with these....

I've just been out in Courchevel and ride K2 Mach S (174, 106mm - 64mm - 95mm) I love these skis they are rock for the tightest carved turns and are sooo fast edge to edge but....two of my friends are on 174 XL's and I swapped for a couple of runs - wow. Very solid, felt like I was crusing when I'd be on the raggid edge with the K2's - seemed that I could probably go 20 - 30% faster without a problem. I'm not sure whether they will really suit me though, I'm only get out 1 - 2 weeks a season and am not as fit as I would like so sometimes I do slow down a bit and also like small tight turns down the fall-line. I also ski off piste whenever condiditons allow so, a couple of questions: What are they like for tight turns, what happens when you slow down in the afternoon with burning thighs and will I get hacked off with the weight if I have to hike off-piste? I think I'm sold on a pair of 174's but not 100%

I've been umming and arghing about buying. These seem to get an excellent review and I have the same question as the guy above. Will they pounnish me if I slow down in the afternoon. 
Other options are: 
B2 
Legend 8000 
Nordica Hot Rods 
K2 Apache Recon 
 
Any suggestions?

Does anyone know what the difference is between Stockli Stormrider XL and XL offroad? 
Thank you

Hey ski racer going to Vail!!! The Scott's will not let you down on the groomers! I used them a month ago @ mammoth when it snowed 120" in 30 hours. It snowed so much that alot of the lifts were not open and I was stuck to the groomers. The Schmidt's were amazing!!!! Rode like they were on rails!! I was laughing with joy all day!

I took my new 194cm Stormrider XLs out for two days skiing hardpack at Killington. They were just as billed: a race stock GS masquerading as a freeride ski. I had no problem turning them in multiple size turns, but you do have to pay attention at all times. At the end of the second day, I was daydreaming on an easy run and Kablam, the XLs smacked me good. The ski is a Ferrari and I give it an A+!!!

Just back from Sun Valley where I tried out the Stormrider XL in 174 cm. I loved them! A real all mountain ski...great in bumps and at speed on a blue groomer. There wasn't any powder that day. 
 
They were waaay better than the Head XRCs I also tried (good a speed but lousy in bumps) 
 
I am 6'0, 190 lbs, 53 yrs., expert. Anyone have an opinion on the proper length for me? 
 
The price in Sun Valley (Pete Lane's) was $839. My local shop (San Jose, Calif) doesn't even carry them. Anyone know where I can get a good end-of-season deal in a month or two? 
 
Now I gotta have 'em!

What do you think about comparison between XL and Atomic SuperCross SX 11? 
Which of them will be better on wide slopes in Alps? 
 

Try Larson's Ski and Sport in Denver (Wheatridge). Great guys. Ask for Eric. 
I'm not associated in any way.  
Don't know if they have stock, but if available they can probably get it.

Schmidt won't let you down on the groomers - you could run a super G course on these - but XL 2006 won't let you down in the deep unless bottomless and is much more friendly to use all day. 
Nice to see the racers out back. 
Freeski or die.

I'm 49, 6'1", and 200 lbs., a very advanced skier and own both 174 and 184 XLs -- although the 184's are managable, the 174's are a lot more fun. 
 
The best price I've found on these at season's end is $700. Look up the Stockli Website and use their dealer locater and call up all the west coast dealers to see what they're offering. Good luck!