2027 Stockli Stormrider 88

The 2027 Stockli Stormrider 88 is a carryover model featuring the same construction, shape, profile, and graphics as last year. At 88 mm underfoot, this ski is supremely versatile, holding court both on-trail and off. There are very few limitations here as the Stormrider 88 carves like a dream and then is able to handle bumps, trees, light powder, crud, slush, and anything else you can throw at them. At the same time, the ski is unflappable, even though it’s on the light and mobile side of the spectrum. This continues to stand out in this crowd as a pleasing ski with a strong tail and fantastic snow feel.

Stockli does not shy away from amazing construction here. Built with a lighter blend consisting of poplar, paulownia, and beech in the core, the skis still get two sheets of metal. The wood mix is fine-tuned by Stockli to create a specific effect, leading skiers to the ultimate in energy and stability. The upper metal laminate pulls double-duty as the topsheet, putting the metal closer to the feet and delivering a smoother overall feel. The tail is slightly softened for increased mobility and the skis also get a full rubber insert in the tip for even smoother and quieter performance. This adds to the already-legendary silence due to the implementation of rubber dust in the adhesive laminates. Tester Bob St.Pierre states that "there's not a whole lot this ski can't do at a very high level. I'm almost nervous to take it in the bumps and trees because they're just so nice looking, but I do have to remind myself that they're going to be just fine. Amazing smoothness—nothing skis like a Stockli."

The footprint of the Stormrider 88 is squarely in the frontside range. We still see a very angular tail here to hold on tight until the end of the turn while the shovel is a bit rounder to make the initiation phase somewhat accessible. The 179 cm length uses measurements of 130/88/114 to generate an 18.3-meter turn radius, keeping the ski on the faster side of the spectrum. You can certainly let it run and ski it fast if you wish—the two sheets of metal definitely keep up with the pace. While Stockli refers to the profile in the tip as “Powder Rocker,” it’s more on the traditional side, just with a bit rounder of a shape for this year. St.Pierre continues to note that "the turn shape of the ski is easy to alter but beware of the ski's desire to finish a turn despite Stockli stating that the tails are 'softer.' I think they are very precise and responsive overall, but especially still in the tail."

Stockli continues to have a winning formula here with the Stormrider 88. With a well-rounded shape and fantastic performance, these skis can handle pretty much any all-mountain conditions and terrain. They do it with such a high level of smoothness and precision all while keeping the weight down, so it's a unique blend of attributes that this ski is able to lean on to keep it apart from the competition.