2023 Kastle MX98

Strong, stable, and incredibly precise, the 2023 Kastle MX 98 remains one of the best carving ~100 mm skis out there. Normally when we get to this width, we see a bit more freeride influence filter in, but that is not the case with the MX 98. This thing is one of the purer front-side/all-mountain skis in this width on the market today. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction of the ski, it holds tight to firm snow and absolutely blasts through crud and mank while plowing through chopped and soft snow. Built with a wood core that blends poplar and beech in a sophisticated manner, the MX 98 also gets two sheets of metal and two fiberglass laminates that give the ski a crazy combination of energy and dampness. Feel free to stand on this thing, load it up, and let it rip. It’s not really designed or intended for the intermediate or less-aggressive class of skiers, rather it has a lot of advanced and expert notes to it. While there’s a little bit of tip rocker to help with entry and flotation, it’s certainly not in the freeride department in terms of soft snow acumen.

Bob St.Pierre skied the 178 and found it to be a bit short. His top score, unsurprisingly, was a 5 out of 5 for stability, with 4’s next up for overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, and edge grip. Bob calls it “An ideal choice for mixed conditions and terrain. Heavy, but not dull, these 98's really rip it up. We get a lot of firm snow mixed with soft snow here in VT, and these skis handle those conditions quite well. If you're looking for something that will hold a carve from pure ice to wind-blown and through the crud and into the fresh, the MX98 will answer that call.” The blend of weight, which is on the significant side, and the energy is pretty incredible for sure. Josh Wolfgang notes that his 178 cm test length “is a very versatile ski. It has no speed limit when you put it on edge and really wants you to be as far over your boots as possible. I was also impressed with its ability to handle different turns including some slashing. The tail allowed you to release the edge when you wanted it to which feels unique for a ski with so much camber.” It is rather rare to ski such a wide ski with so much camber for sure.

Dave Hatoff notes that “This ski was all there. Stiff and powerful. Needed to be on the front of your boots and driving hard to get this ski to perform. Needs a competent driver to ski them properly. Advanced to expert skiers only. Very stable and damp with no speed limit.” He thought his 178 skied true to size, but felt a bit long for him. He scored it a 5 out of 5 for stability, and a 1 out of 5 for forgiveness, showing his opinion that this ski is not totally well-rounded like some more friendly all-mountain skis can be.

For a wider ski that carves well, the Kastle MX 98 stands on its own. There are other skis in this width range that float better for sure, but we’re not sure there’s a stronger carver out there. The weight, stability, grip, power, and precision are simply on another level with this ski. Maybe something like a Bonafide 97 can touch it in terms of power, but the tail shape and lack of rocker in the Kastle makes it more of a race-like feel with a similarly shaped waist. If you’re looking for something on the strong nd powerful end of the spectrum, the Kastle MX 98 is a proper tool for the job.