Rest assured, Laser AX fans, the 2023 Montero AX is every bit of awesome, and maybe a tad more. By adding a bit of width to the ski, they made it more stable and fun-loving, while still retaining the fantastic carving performance and all-mountain qualities that the ski previously possessed. Now at 80 mm underfoot, we’re getting a slightly wider and more approachable footprint, but it definitely doesn’t make the AX ski any more sluggish in the least.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber / Rocker
CORE MATERIALS
Flex Torsion Control
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Groomers, All Mountain
Benny Wax ripped around on the 173 and noted that the length was perfect. He scored top marks of 5’s out of 5 for most categories including overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, quickness, maneuverability, and stability. Other scores of 4 out of 5 round out his card, leading to a very high baseline average. Benny notes that it’s a “Touch wider than Laser AX. Just as stable as predecessor but a little quicker and turnier😊😊😊 Best choice for a single eastern ski! So much fun😊😊😊.” The smiley emojis really hammer home Benny’s love for the Montero AX. Chris McClelland also skied the 173, but noted that it was a bit short for him, as he’d opt for the 183 for himself. Regardless, he had top marks of 4 out of 5 for overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge hold, and stability, with the rest of his scores as 3’s. Chris states that “As a staunch fan of the Laser AX I was blown away by how the Montero AX felt. They felt versatile and powerful but not overbearing. The tail felt much more reactive in the Montero compared to the Laser which I personally loved. I could feel the tail load up and release a ton of energy between turns giving the ski a livelier feel. It also felt like it didn't take as much speed for this ski to "come alive" compared to the Laser which I also liked. Overall, I think this is a step in the right direction for the AX and any advanced to expert carving enthusiast will really enjoy the versatility the now 80mm waist provides.”
Matt McGinnis, also on the 173, states that “For a ski with two layers of metal, these skis were super maneuverable, thanks to their super low camber profile. Given that, these skis were super easy to ski at low speeds, almost able to pivot when you can’t get them on edge. That said, the edge hold on these skis is phenomenal, and really the highlight of their performance. At speed and on edge, these things rail, offering a super stable platform that inspires confidence. While these skis aren’t for true beginners, I think an intermediate skier could get on these and really experience what it’s like to hold a solid edge for the first time. Likewise? Advanced skiers would love these skis as well.” Jeff Neagle actually got to ski the 178, and with a lone 2 for flotation, the rest of his scores were all 4’s and a 5 for overall impression. “What a tremendously rewarding skiing experience! I pretty much instantly fell in love with this ski. It could easily be my favorite ski in this width range. It's such a fun carving ski. Absolutely rips turns when you want it to, but it has some forgiveness and ease of use to it that not a lot of skis in this category can match. It's kind of like Stockli took the previous Laser AX and Laser AR and combined them into this new Montero AX. It's as precise as the Laser AX, but more capable around the whole mountain and in different snow conditions, which is something the Laser AR always did well. It has plenty of grip for most skiers and has that Stockli smoothness that's almost impossible to describe with words. I did try to race on it, which didn't go super well, and was an excellent representation of what you don't want to do with it. A slipped out, icy race course isn't what this was designed to do. It's designed for railing turns on packed powder groomers, not injected race slopes. It might have been slightly disappointing for me at the time that it lacked a little torsional stiffness for racing, but it was also a nice reminder that Stockli builds real race skis, so you shouldn't necessarily expect this to compare. I honestly want a pair and think I would ski them quite a bit, even though I typically prefer skiing on twin tips and/or wider skis. I just have so much fun skiing the new Montero AX.”
Overall, this seems like a positive step for Stockli with the Montero AX. It’s funny, because there was nothing wrong with the outgoing Laser AX, not even in the least, but if ski companies aren’t pushing forward, then they’re likely doing something wrong.
