2023 Dynastar Speed 763

With a bit wider waist and longer turn shape than the 963, the 2023 Dynastar Speed 763 is a more GS-oriented ski that still has a ton of power and precision. This ski is a carryover model, so no changes in either the build or the look. At 72 mm in the waist, these skis generate a 15-meter arc in the 174 cm length, and while still on the short side for a true GS turn, it does allow the skier to open it up a bit, and have slightly more material underfoot for a tad more of a balance point. Still quite narrow, the 763 does better with a skilled pilot, and former racers and expert carvers will be drawn to this ski because of its power and stability. Just putting it on edge is not quite enough, the skier must remain balanced and strong—pushing the ski through the turn rather than just riding the edges. Built with a Hybrid PU core and a 3D Profile, these skis mean business, and work very well in both the race course and the early-morning groomers. This makes a great beer-league ski, and we’re always on the lookout for good versions of those.

Mike Anglin was on the 174 and noted that it was a good length and skied true to size, so win-win! Quite a few 5’s out of 5 on Mike’s scorecard, and that’s a pretty impressive thing to see on a more front-side oriented ski. He specifically gave 5’s for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, and overall impression. 4’s dot the rest of his card, including those for versatility, torsional stiffness, and edge grip, with a lowly 1 for flotation, but we’re not going to hold it against this hard-snow specialist. Mike notes regarding the 763: “Smooth, versatile, and playful..... all come to mind after making turns on the 763. Turns seemed to link themselves together seamlessly. The turn shape was also incredibly versatile, easily shifting from short to medium and the occasional long turn. Incredibly capable of tackling any terrain. The intermediate to advanced expert pro-bro would be giddy making trenches on fresh morning groomers.” Sometimes you can get locked into a turn shape or a style with a ski as one-dimensional as this, but Mike is finding that the 763 can switch it up, and that’s a good thing if you are a fan of varying speeds and shapes.

Also on the 174, Steve Sulin states it skis true to size, giving the ski 5’s out of 5 for stability, quickness, and maneuverability. 4’s follow suit for playfulness, forgiveness, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and overall impression. For a front side carver, these are some consistently high scores from our testers, showing the unexpected well-roundedness from these fun carvers. Steve notes that the Dynastar Speed 763 is ”easy to ski, fun, and forgiving. A carvers dream ski.” And in terms of versatility, Steve claims that they’re “not bad in the bumps either.” I do like the notion of the narrower ski and its capabilities in short-swing turns, whether it’s in the moguls or the tighter trees like we have here in Vermont.

There’s a lot of room in most skiers’ quiver for a front-side carver like the 763. Thanks to the innovative construction that Dynastar uses, and the more GS-friendly shape, these skis have the capability to be a very useful tool in the box. From carving up the groomers first thing in the morning, to running some bump lines in the afternoon, these skis have a surprising amount of versatility for their width, and a lot of high-end skiers will value the well-roundedness in addition to the precision that they offer.