2025 Stockli Montero AX

With some slight tweaks to the metal laminates, the 2025 Stockli Montero AX remains one of the smoothest front side and all-mountain performers out there. These skis still have the same top end of performance, but are amenable to slower speeds, lower edge angles, and easier turning. At the end of the day, these AX skis are still the cream of the crop in the 80 mm waist range for carving mid-radius turns on firm snow and ice while keeping a slight adventurous spirit for mixing on and off-trail capacity. There’s nothing like the smoothness of a Stockli ski—if you’ve ever been on one you can feel the difference. That’s part of the handmade process with Swiss precision that makes these skis incredibly unique and engaging. Best when used by advanced and expert skiers, the Stockli Montero AX is a mid-radius carver with the utmost of precision and quality.

With all that performance, you may assume that a dense and hefty wood core is the start, but it’s lighter and more flexible than that. The majority of the core is wider poplar stringers with six narrow beech stringers spaced throughout. We get a full layer of metal on the bottom and then on top we see a new twist on the upper layup. While the previous Montero AX used a milled and curved slit in the upper layer to allow for greater torsional flex, the new skis have two in the tip and tail to boost this process. It does not take anything away from the upper end of the ski’s performance, rather, it increases the slower speed compliance by allowing easier access to higher edge angles at more moderate speeds. This Tip and Tail Flex technology makes the AX feel like a very versatile ski in the carving process. Tester Marcus Shakun notes that the AX is “Smooth and more versatile than expected. It is quick and smooth edge to edge. Can open up the turn and lock in the turn at higher speeds. Wasn’t squirrely in the heavy snow actually tracked very well.” The new build helps keep the ski agile in softer snow while it retains its strength and power in the carving realm.

The shape and profile of the ski return unchanged. With measurements of 123/80/112 at all lengths, the ski produces a 16.5-meter turn radius in the 178 cm length. Between the AR and the AS, the AX is the mid-radius carver of the Montero group. This makes it equally adept at more slalom-like turns as it is opening it up to more GS style arcs. There’s some slight tip and tail rocker, but it’s more for initiation and smoothness than it is for off-piste or softer snow skiing. That said, for an 80 mm underfoot ski that’s built and shaped to carve on groomers, we’ve found this to be a very capable all-mountain performer. Benny Wax states that while “skiing through chopped powder, it just cruises through it all without missing a beat. Still has tons of stability. Great all-mountain ski for intermediates and beyond.” For mixing turn shapes and styles, with a bit of adventure built in, the AX is totally willing and capable of responding at a very high level.

As with anything that’s at the top of its class, this product comes with a higher price tag. It’s not like it’s crazy expensive anymore—just don’t go out to dinner a few times per year and that’s the difference. If you want the smoothest, quietest skis out there, that’s what it’s going to take. Simple budgetary changes are easy for most of us, and if you really want something that’s better than other things, it’s worth the sacrifice.