2023 Kastle MX83

On the front side of all-mountain, the 2023 Kastle MX 83 is a sharp-turner that loves to be on edge. That said, it also has some versatility built in for all-mountain versatility. We get some upgrades for 2023, including two sheets of pre-preg fiberglass that gives the ski more energy, pop, and consistency. In addition to the dual-glass laminate, we also get two sheets of .5mm titanal and a sophisticated wood core consisting of a blend of poplar and beech, with the outer portion strictly poplar and the central chord a mix of poplar and beech stringers. By layering the stringers in a vertical manner, Kastle is able to generate a lot more power and stability versus more marco-block or horizontally-oriented wood. At 83 mm underfoot, we’re looking at and dealing with a ski that can be classified in a few different ways, but for the most part, skiers who spend most of their time on groomed and smooth surfaces will get along quite well with the MX 83’s shape and style. While it does have more of that all-mountain personality that the wider skis in the MX line have, it does have that narrower waist that grips tight and finishes turns quite strongly.

Quenten Jones was on the 175, and he noted that it skied true to size. Quenten’s top scores of 5 out of 5 were given for torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability. His lower scores of 2 out of 5 for playfulness and flotation aren’t terribly surprising given the more specific personality of these skis. Lots of superlatives thrown around by Quenten here, noting that the MX 83 is “Smooth, damp, stable, quick, quality. Excellent edge hold. Rewards good technique but also requires it.” The demand level is kind of high on these skis, so take that into account if you’re more of an intermediate or on the less aggressive side of the spectrum. Matt McGinnis, also on the 175, notes “I’ll be honest: I was a little intimidated to get on these skis. After skiing the Deacon 80 earlier in the day, the PX just before the MX, and noting that the conditions were transitioning from hardback to corn sludge, I had concerns that these skis would be too determined to charge given these variables. But I was wrong. The MX83 turned out to be a well-balanced, unexpectedly user-friendly ski with two sheets of metal. Typically, with a ski like this, you’d expect to have to get it up to speed before it really starts to engage. Not so with MX. I’m not sure what sort of cheat code Kastle has, but they somehow made a ski that’s willing to go on rails at high speeds, becoming an incredibly stable ride, but can also perform admirably in chopped up conditions and at slower speeds. Overall, I’d recommend this ski for advanced and expert level skiers who want something they can rail on firm groomer days, but won’t feel like a struggle to ski when the conditions are softer. Beginners, however, should absolutely steer clear as this ski won’t build confidence with sloppy input.”

Bob St.Pierre noted that his 175 cm felt a bit short, but that didn’t stop the effusive praise: “A wonderful ski. An absolute pleasure to be on. Strong grip and super-turny, the 83 loves to be on edge and pushed through carving turns. This ski makes some of the cleanest and roundest turns out there, and with some versatility to boot! From tip to tail, it's one of the most fun front-side/all-mountain skis I've been on. Would love to try the 182, as that 175 is just too short for my size.” Jeff Neagle found the 175 to be just fine for him, stating that the MX 83 provides an “Absolutely lovely skiing experience. Shorter turn radius and the narrower waist makes them noticeably quicker edge to edge on firm snow. Quicker edge to edge and more responsive too. They come across the fall line with a ton of enthusiasm and eagerness to enter the next turn. Really a fantastic ski for someone who values carving groomers more than anything else, but doesn't like being on a frontside ski. It kind of felt like a slightly stiffer Laser AR to me. Very similar characteristics overall, just a little more to push against. Not the most versatile ski in the world, but that's not its intention, so I think that's totally fine. Got bogged down just a little bit in 4-6 inches of snow where the 88 and 98 skim and plow right across that stuff, but you lose some quickness and carving responsiveness going from the 83 to 88.”

Based on Kastle’s commitment to quality and precision, it makes sense that the MX 83 would be a tester favorite for sure. We’ve had some good discussions about the ski’s comparison to either the MX 88, the Stockli Laser/Montero AR and AX, and have found that the MX 83 has a spot of its own as one of the rounder-turning skis of the group, and while it lacks a bit in the versatility department, it sure holds tight to firmer snow and is unwavering in its carving radius.