2027 Dynastar M-Cross 82

Dynastar is taking the year and putting a lot of thought and effort into the graphics side of the equation, so the 2027 M-Cross 82 gets a fresh new look but returns otherwise unchanged. This is a ski that jumps off the snow in terms of the first and overall impression. By and large, many skiers will gloss over this ski as it’s not the top ski in the line, or a ski that’s highly regarded, but then you get on it and it really sings. It’s quick, poppy, energetic, and fun. We’re stoked to get a new look this year at the M-Cross 82 because in all seriousness, this is a fantastic option for many all-mountain skiers.

Dynastar employs some nice sophistication here in the build. In the 2027 M-Cross 82, it all starts with Dynastar’s Hybrid Core 2.0. This futuristic-sounding build starts with a poplar core with three directions of wood fiber. Rather than using a lot of glue to adhere different stringers of wood together, Dynastar mills and joins their wood laminates together using friction and pressure. We’re getting interlocking laminates of wood to give the ski a unique feel and a good sense of power while the hybrid aspect of the ski uses polyurethane along the sides of the ski. This PU material gives the ski a smooth and silent character, and it complements the energy and pop of the bonded poplar laminates. On top of the core, we get a unidirectional fiberglass laminate and an H-Tech layer. This upper layer provides more power with the arms, keeping the forebody and tail of the ski firmly planted on the ground and ready for the next turn. In the 176, the ski sits on the scale at 1600 grams per ski, which is on the light side—one of the benefits of having a ski with PU and a lack of adhesive. Tester Christian Strong states that “This ski felt quick and lively in short turns, and very smooth in longer turns. Edge control was great! This would be my pick for hardpack groomers and more firm conditions. At 82 in the waist it really has some nice edge control. Great ski for today's conditions, firm groomers with a fresh inch on top. Sweet ride!”

At 82 mm underfoot, there’s some interesting applications here, from groomers to bumps and trees. The shovel is the overarching aspect of the shape, as the 129 mm tip is wide for a ski this narrow underfoot. This leads to strong initiation, and it’s a good thing the ski has enough torsional stiffness to generate those higher edge angles in the turn. At 82 mm underfoot in the 176, the ski is very agile and quick from edge to edge, with the drop in taper being substantive enough to make for more of a pin tail style of ski. That is, wherever you point it, it’ll go, and it won’t hook up in the back side when pushed. The ski is a lot smoother in this manner. That same 176 produces a 14-meter turn radius, so it’s on the short side for an all-mountain ski. With minimal rocker in either the tips or the tails, this M-Cross 82 feeds off of the long camber underfoot. With the long camber we get a long effective edge. With the increased contact in the snow, we’re getting a smoother feel overall. This pairs well with the build to provide a unique ski experience for on-trail carving and some off-piste adventures. Tester Grant Wieler calls it a “Quick front side carving ski. I found this ski highly maneuverable and responsive! 14 m radius turns means it is quite zippy, but easy to break in and out of a turn and enjoys a multitude of turn shapes. The ski loves to play on any type of groomer. I tested it on some pretty rough East Coast hard pack and had a blast! This ski was a hoot.”

This is such a good example of a ski that flies under the radar. Good, strong skiers who get on the M-Cross 82 all seem to be impressed and surprised at the performance and overall character of the ski. The cambered profile pairs well with the shape and build to make an energy-riddled ski that provides a ton of feedback and excitement. We find that if you are interested in bumps and quick turns, this is a fantastic option.