2023 Stockli Laser MX

The 2023 Stockli Laser MX is designed for high-end lady skiers who rip around the mountain with an emphasis on front-side carving. Built with a light wood core, softflex technology, lighter metal edges, turtle grip, turtle shell, and tip and tail rocker, the Laser MX is a high-end ski that grips tight to the snow and completes short-radius carved turns with the best performance out there. The 67 mm waist width is certainly on the narrow side, so nobody’s going to be mistaking these for floaty powder skis, but when you get them on the groomers, they really start to light it up. The 158 cm length generates a 12.6-meter turn radius, so these things are made to turn on a dime. If you are looking for precise entry, strong finishes, and a confident path through the arc, the Stockli Laser MX should be at the top of your list.

Susan Dorn was on the 158 and notes that it felt “QUICK. Short little turns are its forte and feels like it’s on autopilot mode. Unique ski.” She gave it 5’s out of 5 for overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, playfulness, quickness, and maneuverability. Lower marks of 2 out of 5 for flotation and versatility are unsurprising, given the more one-dimensional nature of the MX. Susan notes that the MX is “lots of fun. Holds an edge nicely and is easy to turn.”

Nifer Hoehn also skied the 158 cm length in the Laser MX. There’s a longer option that comes in at 174 cm, but Nifer didn’t specifically say she would’ve liked to size up, rather that the 158 skied true to size and felt just right. We’re sure Nifer could ski the longer length at her ability level, but it’s nice to know she didn’t feel like she needed to go longer. 5 out of 5 scores from Nifer for stability and torsional stiffness/edge grip, which in our opinion, are two of the most important criteria for assessing a frontside carving ski. Her lowest scores were for flotation, forgiveness, and versatility, all earning 3 out of 5 scores, but luckily none of those things are major concerns for a ski like this. 67 mm isn’t going to float and isn’t particularly versatile either, but that’s okay, that’s not what this ski is designed for. “I wish I had been able to test these on a harder surface, because these skis rip. I would recommend these for a strong intermediate to advanced skier looking to feel like you are literally tearing up the trails. They are a bundle of energy, you might as well have an engine, and they respond like a dream when you add a little pressure. If you have any racing background, this is a ski that will make you feel like you're on your old slalom boards. They work best while making short turns, perform well at speed and hold an edge like a dream. Oh, also, they will definitely make you smile.” We like that Nifer compared them to a slalom race ski as realistically, they’re very close to a slalom race ski. The length that Nifer skied has a 12.6 m turn radius, which is only a fraction longer than their FIS slalom ski.

The Laser MX is definitely a dedicated carving ski. It’s best for someone who will be using it on-trail at least 90% of the time. 67 mm is a little too narrow to take off trail into softer snow conditions, so not the best choice if you’re looking for a true all-mountain ski. Skiers who are specifically looking for a frontside ski and especially one with a preference for quick turns and a lot of energy, however, will absolutely love the Laser MX. As a reminder, even though this is the only women’s specific Laser, there’s no reason why a woman can’t ski any of the other models if you’re looking for longer lengths, longer turn radii, etc.