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Individual Review 2021 Stereo Piste RS/78

Eric Edelstein

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Stereo Piste RS 2020-2021
118-76-105 mm r=17.2m @ 175cm

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Manufacturer Info:

STEREO SKIS
Org. 992060263
Hasleveien 15e
0571 Oslo
Norway
https://www.StereoSkis.com
[email protected]

Suggested Retail Price (MSRP):

$1,300 usd w/Marker Piston WC Plate

Usage Class:

Wide-ish Technical GS Carver

Rating (with comments):
(1="get me off these things"->10="I have to own a pair")

9 for groomer trenching and cruisng
7+ for mixed conditions

Background:

Jens-Martin Johnsrud started Stereo skis in 2008 by making twin-tip wakeboards and brought his passion to snow skis with design help fron Norwegian ski champions. Jens-Martin has launched a full fleet of powder, freeride and carving skis designed in Norway and manufactured by the modern, renewable-energy powered Skandinavian ski facility at Åre Skidfabrik in Sweden.

Manufacturer's Description:

"Stereo Piste RS marks the beginning of a new chapter for Stereo Skis. It has an aggressive construction and is the one ski in our collection that is closest to a racing ski, yet is still easy to turn. A full-width titanal construction combined with triaxial fiberglass, a beech/poplar wood core and rubber dampening provides outstanding responsiveness and torsional stiffness. The 78mm width under foot and a 18m turn radius makes it versatile, and the flex makes it easy to turn. The ski has been developed and tested together with Norwegian alpine skiing champions. Comes with a world cup plate."

Technical Ski Data:


Beech-Poplar core
Full width Titanal sheets
Marker WC Piston race plate
VDS rubber dampening
Pre-peg Triaxial fiberglass
Slight early rise tip - cambered, essentially flat tail
Measured 2194g & 2204g with Marker World Cup Piston Control Interface Plate

Bindings, Boots & Wax Used:

Marker X-Cell 16 race bindings mounted to Marker World Cup Piston Control Interface Plate (included with ski)


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Salomon S-Max 130 Carbon boots


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Lange RX 130 boots


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Green Ice Waxes

Pre-Skiing Impression:

This is a "semi-wide body" GS-like ski with race ski construction, including a Marker World Cup Piston raceplate as standard equipment. At 118-76-105 r=17.2 @175cm length (proportioned to 122-78-107 @ 183cm), it occupies a relatively rare spot in the ecosystem of frontside race-carvers (The Head E-Rally is 132-78-114 r=15.3 @ 177cm). Hand flex is softer than you might imagine, even with the plate, and torsionaly compliant, neither stiff or soft, but strong, giving the impression of a serious specialty tool for carving medium to large-radius arcs into firm surfaces. Very handsome, slightly understated graphics in a textured topsheet. Semi-cap construction. Excellent fit-and-finish, with a nice tune and base pattern out of the box. Anything with a raceplace as standard equipment means you need to expect a serious dialog between yourself and the ski..so that's what we thought...until we skied it. The Piste RS gives the impression of being a racecarver...but somehow different...it's hard to describe.

Test Conditions:

Eastern boilerplate, man-made hardpack, packed powder, corduroy, multi-day regroomed and windbuffed surfaces, boot-deep powder and skied-out conditions.

Summary:

The Stereo Piste RS is a specialty tool for ex-racers and large-radius carving enthusiasts who want a race-like build underfoot with a wider performance envelope on the groomers to handle "serious carve-cruising" and race-carving on civilian slopes devoid of other skiers. The Piste RS has taken the 110% concentration level required to drive full-on GS skis at peak performance down to 75% without reducing the speed limit, yielding a bit of laser-like death grip found in pure GS race skis for a more compliant range of edgehold at various angles and degree of forgiveness you will never find in an FIS-spec GS race ski. If you were a serious GS race specialist, the Piste RS is the ski you take out "on your day off".

The Piste RS has a softish turn initiation, but that merely gets you to the business section of things in the forebody where raceplate-enhanced grip and control deliver a powerful, yet damp and civilized degree of carving intensity. The Piste RS likes to be driven with a forebody focus, leaving the midbody and tail as the finishing segments. You can drive it gently or dedicate the entire essence of your being into the turn and the Piste RS delivers a rock-solid arc of impressive edgehold and dampened control. You pick. The Piste RS has an interesting and unique feel since you can drive it with a little bit of effort and cruise securely at pretty much any speed you want, or you can press it into pro-level intensity and it happily executes the arc as deeply as you want, never seeming to waver, complain or lose its focus...all while being eerily quiet underfoot..but not dead-feeling or heavy-feeling. While you can drive it with a moderate effort and get superb carving behaviors...it really craves the pilot to get out over it, press the forebody into the turn and increase intensity to get its sweet spot activated, rewarding the skier with high edge angles at high speed.

It's an addicting feeling racer-types will immediately take a liking to when they want a day off their pure race boards. The Piste RSs do a decent job of cutting through skied-out surfaces smoothly with unwaivering control. They prefer to be slightly on-edge, but you can toss them sideways a bit to scrub speed without fear of being high-sided since their camber is moderate. Smooth and deceivingly powerful are the words to describe the Stereo Piste RS. The level of effort to ski the RS at high levels of performance is remarkably low. If you want a GS-like carving cruiser to mimic your GS racing days at lower speeds and pressure levels, yet still blur your vision and risk losing your lift pass to the Gendarmerie, Piste RS is a technical tool for the job. If you want a ski with similar GS carving behavior but more compliant for less intense ski styles and lower top-speed...the RS's sibling Piste V3 might be the ticket.

Hardpack and Boilerplate:

The Piste RS really wants hard surfaces or squeeky-tight groomed surfaces, and it reacts wth a clean, quiet commanding grip on the hardpack. Vibration control is excellent (it better be with a Marker WC Piston plate!), and the Piste RS feels balanced in its engagement along its length as you press it onto hard surfaces. The stock tune was a touch grabby up front, but a quick pass with a hand file brought the edge down to eliminate the hooky feel. While the Piste RS feels damp and quiet, it remains sensitive to the changes in surface density and communicates the conditions to the skier really well without deadening the experience or being annoying. Edge angles from low to high on hardpack are equally responsive and the RS does not seem to care if you are tipped way up on edge or running nearly flat...the control and feel for the hard surface remains consistent and predictable at lots of different speeds. The Piste RS really feels like it softens the hardpack a bit rather than sharply biting into it...if that makes sense.

Mixed Surface & Variable Conditions:

For a ski with a raceplate, the Piste RS does remarkably well cruising through mixed snow conditions, skied-out fresh snow, windpack and inconsistent materials. The plate can be felt coming into play if you flex deeply into some bumps...but the RS is really not meant for that...it wants to cruise. It's most at home arcing GS trajectories through mixed conditions, but it rides dead-quiet..like a Euro luxury sports sedan ignoring potholes and pavement irregularities. It can be ridden flat through mixed conditions, but reacts more lively to a bit of angle in a banked turn through variable snow rather than dancing-flat across the surfaces. It's not a hardpack-only ski, despite its raceplate....but you might find it a little tiring if you ski it all day in roughed-out snow conditions at a fast pace unless you are in good athletic condition.

Powder Conditions:

We only got a chance to ski the Piste RS in boot-deep fresh powder, where it preferred a bunch of speed to get planing, but behaved really well for a purely directional GS-like ski due to its somewhat softish forebody, so if it snows a few inches the night before your ski day...you don't have to start off on a different ski...unless you really want some smearing, surfy turns. Point 'em and go.

Turn Initiation, Apex & Finish:

The Stereo Piste RS felt like it was mounted a bit too far forward for one tester, yet right-on for others. We tried the bindings mounted on-the-mark as well as -1cm and with a bit of a shim under the toepiece. Turn initiation is really easy due to the soft-ish flex and compliant forebody torsional resistance, making the start of any turn a zero-calorie affair. You begin initiation...wait just a moment..and then the easy initiation begs for more forebody pressure which gradually stiffens into the midbody where your apex can be reached with passive or powerful intent, leaving the tail to finish off more accurately than you might guess for a rounded tail shape rather than a square-flared tail most race carvers display. Addictingly tasty feel. Racy-instructor type skiers or technical carving enthusiasts can coax the Piste RS into its carving shape at slower speeds than you might imagine for a race-plated, 17m radius ski. Otherwise, bring it up to 20 miles per hour (at least with our 175cm test ski) and lay it over while applying pressure to start the silky arc. Edge changes are quicker than you might imagine possible, and the Piste RS rewards a smooth, technical approach to turn sequences.

Manufacturer's Mounting Position:


Several testers liked it mounted on-the-line, while one tester thought -1cm was better.

Analogies: ("This ski is like...")

An Audi RS4 Avant sport wagon with aftermarket suspension. Cruise to the store, or peel the tires off the rims under pressure while getting the exhaust manifolds cherry-red on the mountain road....while enjoying a nearly soundproof cabin and finely-tuned climate control.

Notable Tester Comments:


Brian Finch:

The most obvious starting point for the skis from Stereo is to talk about them as a group. What I appreciated from all of them is that they felt like a well thought out and coherent family of skis. Often times manufacturers produce things that seem unrelated or aberrant in nature. These all appeared to be well thought out with a similar lineage and feel.

It was quite effortless to change from one ski to the next ski without having to feel that I would re-learn the brand or have to adjust. The Piste RS had very elegant semi cap construction and a very even flex throughout. The asymmetrical graphics in the angular tips and tails made this ski stand out in a crowd. The turn initiation was simply effortless. Round turns were rewarded and increasing edge angles were simple on the ski. The mid-70s width did not feel as sluggish as I would’ve expected. this ski handled uneven terrain on groomed piste very well and unlike V3, could be pressured as hard as you want to without having the shovel disengage from the snow. The tail was predictable but not as snappy as I would’ve appreciated – yet overall this was a very smooth ride.

What struck me with this ski was that it looked to have the most commercial success or ability to have commercial success of the ones that we were testing. I gas pedal’d the toes & steering was near metacognitive.

What was especially nice about this set up was the smooth and easy ability to gain or ditch speed without having to do dramatic maneuvers.

If someone is getting tired of their Stockli’s or Head SuperShapes, this would be a step up. The graphics are simply exquisite and the bases are elegant with the die cut emblem on the tips. Over and over again people stop me in the lift line to discuss this. when called upon they would also do very appropriate short swing turns as well.

I happened to toss a very discerning European friend on these for a couple runs and two things occurred. She did not want to give them back and she instantly was able to rail the ski down the hill at GS speeds.

This is the ski for the charging technical skier that doesn’t have a substantial race background. Maybe they’re a little bit older and perhaps they are not in plug boots, but they want to rip on a ski that will could take them there.

Quick Comments:

Smooth, smooth, smooth.
Quiet, impressively controlled race-like GS turns without intense effort.
High-quality ride. Thoroughly refined feel.
Likes focus on the forebody.
Secure and confident race-carver for medium to large-radius turns at any speed

Things I Would Change About This Ski:

Offer it without a plate or with other plate options.

Short Answer When Someone Asks "What Do You Think About This Ski?":

The Stereo Piste RS is a seriously quiet, elegant tool to etch GS-like turns into groomers without intense input effort from the skier. Very refined. It occupies a place outside "traditional" race-carvers, with a bias toward smooth, stable, perhaps elegant personality rather than rough-and-tumble race-carver. If I was an ex-WorldCup GS racer...the Piste RS might be my daily driver for resort frontside trench-digging and cruising.

What kind of skier is this ski good for and not suitable for?

The Piste RS is for the ex-racer, technical high-speed aficionado, athletic technical instructor or groomer-zoomer enthusiast with a craving for large arcs at various speeds. Beginners, intermediates or feeble skiers would be overwhelmed by the Piste RS.

Advice To People Considering This Ski:

These skis feel true-to-size on snow. They deserve to be kept in impeccable tune and waxed condition. These are not for bumps, they belong on open terrain. Buy a new helmet.

Other Reviews:

None found.

Pics:

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Brian Finch angulating Vermont packed powder on Stereo Piste RS


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Stereo Piste RS Midsection


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Stereo Piste RS Tail Profile

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Stereo Piste RS Tip Profile

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Stereo Piste RS Tip Detail

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Stereo Piste RS Tail Detail

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Stereo Piste RS Tail Detail

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Stereo Piste RS Standard Base Grind

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Stereo Piste RS Midsection Profile

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Stereo Piste RS Tip Detail

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Stereo Piste RS Sidewall Profile With Plate

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Top-To-Bottom: Stereo Piste RS, Stereo Piste V3, Stereo Apex V3

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Left-To-Right: Stereo Piste RS, Piste V3, Apex V3

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Left-To-Right: Stereo Piste RS, Piste V3, Apex V3

 
Last edited:

bob.knox

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Throwing in my $0.02 on the Stereo Piste RS

Ski Tested: Stereo Piste RS, 175 R17.2/76mm Waist

Boots: Head Raptor 120RS

Height/Weight: 6’, 155lbs

Age/Years Skiing: 49, 43

Home Court: Crotched, Sunapee, Pat’s Peak

Regular Destination: Snowbird/Alta

Huge thank you to Stereo, and Marshal in particular, for the opportunity to get on the Piste RS. Thank you also to Eric from ExoticSkis, whatever that wax was, it was spot on for the conditions.

I am your typical “joe average” skier who does not own a quiver a skis. I tend to ski very fast/large arcs and have only owned GS race skis my whole life (always lived in the Midwest/East). I ski by feel and love the sensation of carving trenches on edge, accelerating through turns to feel the g’s, and floating though transitions. I drive my daughter nuts because I will wait at the top of a run for it to clear out so I can rip. My current ski of reference is the Stockli FIS GS 185/R27 that I’ve owned since 2010-ish. I am looking for a ski that is still fast/stable but more versatile and could come along on Utah trips.

I was at Crotched Mountain Monday night 2/22, and it was DUMPING snow. The hill was empty, and the trails had 4-5” of fresh snow with minimal chop at the beginning. It only took maybe ½ a run to get comfortable on the Piste RS. I tried skiing these things as hard as I could, but they were impossible to overdrive. Ski Tracks said my max speed was 33.1mph, but that was the max the snow would allow on these trails not the skis. Fast/slow/in-between didn’t matter, these skis plowed effortlessly though everything. Even in powder I enjoy driving skis, and the Piste RS was totally OK with that. The surprising thing was that they were perfectly comfortable on autopilot too, something I'm not used to. Just get some speed, lean over a bit, keep your weight neutral, and they would float an arc through the piles with total calm. It didn’t matter if I was jamming a turn in the troughs or floating in untracked, these skis were really up for anything. I was actually hoping for hardpack/ice to test the damping, but the snow was too soft. Even hopping off little jumps in the park didn’t shake the Piste RS. Based on the 17.2 radius I was concerned these skis would j-turn if pressed hard, but that didn’t happen either which was a surprise considering how soft they are when hand flexed. Just for comparison I tried my Stockli’s for 2 runs (max speed 31.9mph), but they were not having it. They wanted to either skim across the top at speed or torpedo into the piles with each ski needing individual guidance, not fun.

I actually believe the marketing on these: “the ski for a GS skier’s day off”. I think that perfectly sums up the character. Looking down from the chair at most East Coast hills, it’s a bit sad that mainly coaches/ski team kids are actually carving turns. I wish more people could experience the addicting feeling of a perfectly carved turn on edge. A ski like the Piste RS could definitely bring it to the masses since it does not require the precision/effort of a full on GS ski.
 

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Marshal

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I wish more people could experience the addicting feeling of a perfectly carved turn on edge. A ski like the Piste RS could definitely bring it to the masses since it does not require the precision/effort of a full on GS ski.

Appreciate your thought @bob.knox - glad you gave them a go. And hoping @Eric Edelstein can confirm the wax, since you liked it too :D
 
Thread Starter
TS
Eric Edelstein

Eric Edelstein

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@bob.knox : Glad you like dthe Piste R/S...looking forward to some firm-surface observations....

The Stereo Piste/RS demo skis were prepped with Green Ice Wax Ultimate. If you liked the way the skis ran with their "universal" non-flouro, biodegradable wax, you will REALLY like the way the skis run with their GI-1000 wax or GI-2000 race wax. Full disclosure... Green Ice Wax sponsors ExoticSkis.com with waxes for our ski tests... but we wouldn't use waxes that don't work well...even if they are given to us. The stuff works well and ticks all the boxes for "eco-friendly" wax products....and it's made in New England!
 

Marshal

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@bob.knox : Glad you like dthe Piste R/S...looking forward to some firm-surface observations....

The Stereo Piste/RS demo skis were prepped with Green Ice Wax Ultimate. If you liked the way the skis ran with their "universal" non-flouro, biodegradable wax, you will REALLY like the way the skis run with their GI-1000 wax or GI-2000 race wax. Full disclosure... Green Ice Wax sponsors ExoticSkis.com with waxes for our ski tests... but we wouldn't use waxes that don't work well...even if they are given to us. The stuff works well and ticks all the boxes for "eco-friendly" wax products....and it's made in New England!

Didn't realize they were domestic production too, very cool, and keen to give it a go myself!
 

bob.knox

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Round Two

Location: Wachusett Mt night skiing
Conditions: 20F, good man-made base with boilerplate underneath

These were the conditions I wanted to test since this is the “snow” I ski on 90% of the time. Again the Piste RS impressed. The edge hold was tight for a relaxed GS ski, but needed a bit more effort to make quick turns in the “snow cone” piles on the sides. Full disclosure, I did struggle to balance edge angle, load, and turn arc. When I applied full load/angle (like I do on my GS skis) the skis made a tighter arc than I expected. This is just a personal issue so if you are after straight up medium radius turns like a GS course, the 175 R15 is the ski for you. I am guessing if you (like me) drive larger arcs closer to Super G, the 183 R18 would be better. That said, I tried to push higher speeds (max 44.6mph), and the skis did not hit a stability limit. Going faster meant less angle and load which did not give me the edge confidence I expected (required more faith than feel). The Piste RS is also a ski that rewards a skier with stiff/precise boots. The feedback from the skis through the boots is excellent. The damping was noticeable and appreciated, but the skis are far from dead. One last point I loved about these skis, they go straight! As my legs get tired, I will straight line the last bit of runs down to the chair. I have tried various 175’s over the years and most of them start to wander if you run them flat and glide. Not the Piste RS though, they just fly straight.
 

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