- Joined
- Mar 5, 2017
- Posts
- 1,202
Philpug
Size tested: 175
Location tested: Loveland CO/Snowbasin UT
Conditions tested in: Fresh corduroy, scoured wind buff
There is an old saying, “Don’t make a change for the sake of making a change.” Well, Stockli didn’t get that message. There was nothing wrong with Laser AR; it had a Pied Piper-like following and a name that didn’t need changing. Sure the AR wasn’t a “Laser” in the truest sense but that didn’t stop the zealots from flocking to it. But, Montero? That could stop sales from some of the loyalists buying the lime green selling machine. OK, off of my soapbox. How does the new Montero AR perform?
The Montero AR performs, even with the additional millimeter underfoot, like an AR. It is smooth, clean, and quiet, especially when mounted with the all new Salomon Strive Binding, a big step over the old Warden AM, which was probably the most popular binding for the AR. New sizing aside, this is the ski that the majority of loyalists will come back to once they get past the new name and color motif.
Andy Mink
Size tested: 175cm
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: Softening cut up groomers, small piles
Did I hear the breaking of many hearts as the Laser AR morphed to the Montero AR? Will tears fall like rain? Not to worry, the heart of the Laser is beating strongly in the Montero. Graphics and name do not a ski make. The Montero AR still has all the feel of the Laser that Stockli fans tout. It's quiet, calm, and connected. However...
I did have to go back to my past review of the Laser AR from a couple of years ago to see what I was missing in the Montero. All notes lined up: smooth, easy to ski at any speed, good grip through snow on top of hardback, and confidence inspiring. This time around, though, I had a note that made me ponder: the Montero AR felt "sluggish" from turn to turn, edge to edge. I was skiing in the conditions this ski should have slayed (surface snow on hardpack) but I didn't get an excited, poppy feel. It was more of a relaxed, deliberate feel, definitely more different from the Montero AX than I would have expected.
Length tested: 175
Location: Mammoth
Conditions tested in: hard snow, mixed terrain.
So, as sweet as the construction is, I never bonded with the current AR either. It seemed a bit slow for its size, and wasn't any more exciting or inspiring on piste than something like a Stormrider 88. Off piste, the original wasn’t as good as I’d hope, and this new one seems to follow suit. It feels quiet, solid and Stöckliesque, but a piste style ski this wide just seems to give up that edge-to-edge quickness turn engagement. Dare I say, it feels a bit sluggish. It’s a great ski, but I would choose the AX for more on piste, and SR 88 for more off piste if I were choosing after skiing them all back to back.
Who it’s for: East coaster who wants a wider piste ski with premium feel, or west coaster who likes slightly slower to edge or wider on piste skis.
Who its not for: Someone looking for an exciting skinny ski.
One thing I would change: Tough to say, It's a tough niche for me, maybe I'd tweak it more toward off piste with a more off piste tip design and shorter effective edge to add quickness on piste and more playfulness off.
Winks
Size tested: 175cm
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: Hero snow
Did something change going from the Laser to the Montero? The answer is no, not at all! The AR is still just as amazing as before, a strong ski that is very quiet and holds a great edge. This ski was built for the west coast skier that is looking for a carving ski. Although Stöckli calls it an all mountain ski, I still very much see it as a morning ripper until the snow softens up a bit; not really a ski I would spend my entire day with. The AR is a complement to a quiver of skis, not exactly the one and only. Comparing this ski to the AX is natural as they are siblings. The AR feels a bit more sluggish edge-to-edge but overall a bit beefier, which is not a bad thing. In my opinion, it just feels like a wider, smoother longer turn version of the AX.
Fact is, Stöckli makes great skis. All you need to do is choose your flavor; you really can't go wrong.
Size tested: 175
Location tested: Loveland CO/Snowbasin UT
Conditions tested in: Fresh corduroy, scoured wind buff
There is an old saying, “Don’t make a change for the sake of making a change.” Well, Stockli didn’t get that message. There was nothing wrong with Laser AR; it had a Pied Piper-like following and a name that didn’t need changing. Sure the AR wasn’t a “Laser” in the truest sense but that didn’t stop the zealots from flocking to it. But, Montero? That could stop sales from some of the loyalists buying the lime green selling machine. OK, off of my soapbox. How does the new Montero AR perform?
The Montero AR performs, even with the additional millimeter underfoot, like an AR. It is smooth, clean, and quiet, especially when mounted with the all new Salomon Strive Binding, a big step over the old Warden AM, which was probably the most popular binding for the AR. New sizing aside, this is the ski that the majority of loyalists will come back to once they get past the new name and color motif.
- Insider tip: Strive binders for the win.
- One thing I would change: Go back to the Laser name.
Andy Mink
Size tested: 175cm
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: Softening cut up groomers, small piles
Did I hear the breaking of many hearts as the Laser AR morphed to the Montero AR? Will tears fall like rain? Not to worry, the heart of the Laser is beating strongly in the Montero. Graphics and name do not a ski make. The Montero AR still has all the feel of the Laser that Stockli fans tout. It's quiet, calm, and connected. However...
I did have to go back to my past review of the Laser AR from a couple of years ago to see what I was missing in the Montero. All notes lined up: smooth, easy to ski at any speed, good grip through snow on top of hardback, and confidence inspiring. This time around, though, I had a note that made me ponder: the Montero AR felt "sluggish" from turn to turn, edge to edge. I was skiing in the conditions this ski should have slayed (surface snow on hardpack) but I didn't get an excited, poppy feel. It was more of a relaxed, deliberate feel, definitely more different from the Montero AX than I would have expected.
- Insider tip: Change is not always bad. If you like the Laser AR, you'll like the Montero AR.
- One thing I would change: As with the AX, the tail graphics disguise the AR. It'll take a while for folks to figure out what it is
Length tested: 175
Location: Mammoth
Conditions tested in: hard snow, mixed terrain.
So, as sweet as the construction is, I never bonded with the current AR either. It seemed a bit slow for its size, and wasn't any more exciting or inspiring on piste than something like a Stormrider 88. Off piste, the original wasn’t as good as I’d hope, and this new one seems to follow suit. It feels quiet, solid and Stöckliesque, but a piste style ski this wide just seems to give up that edge-to-edge quickness turn engagement. Dare I say, it feels a bit sluggish. It’s a great ski, but I would choose the AX for more on piste, and SR 88 for more off piste if I were choosing after skiing them all back to back.
Who it’s for: East coaster who wants a wider piste ski with premium feel, or west coaster who likes slightly slower to edge or wider on piste skis.
Who its not for: Someone looking for an exciting skinny ski.
One thing I would change: Tough to say, It's a tough niche for me, maybe I'd tweak it more toward off piste with a more off piste tip design and shorter effective edge to add quickness on piste and more playfulness off.
Winks
Size tested: 175cm
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: Hero snow
Did something change going from the Laser to the Montero? The answer is no, not at all! The AR is still just as amazing as before, a strong ski that is very quiet and holds a great edge. This ski was built for the west coast skier that is looking for a carving ski. Although Stöckli calls it an all mountain ski, I still very much see it as a morning ripper until the snow softens up a bit; not really a ski I would spend my entire day with. The AR is a complement to a quiver of skis, not exactly the one and only. Comparing this ski to the AX is natural as they are siblings. The AR feels a bit more sluggish edge-to-edge but overall a bit beefier, which is not a bad thing. In my opinion, it just feels like a wider, smoother longer turn version of the AX.
Fact is, Stöckli makes great skis. All you need to do is choose your flavor; you really can't go wrong.
- Insider tip: Stay on top of the ski and it will reward you with lots of smiles per hour.
- One thing I would change: The naming of this series.
- Awards
- Who is it for?
- Those who are more concerned with what the ski is as to what it is called. A well healed skier looking for a very calm and collected ski across variable conditions. East coaster who wants a wider piste ski with premium feel, or west coaster who likes slightly slower to edge or wider on piste skis.
- Who is it not for?
- Those who tend to get lazy or relax on skis. Carvers looking for quickness edge to edge who still desire that Stockli feel should lean toward the Montero AX.
- Skier ability
-
- Advanced
- Expert
- Ski category
-
- Frontside
- All Mountain
- Ski attributes
-
- Groomers
- Off Piste
- Segment
-
- Men
Specifications
- Available sizes
- 165, 170, 175, 180, 185
- Dimensions
- 128-84-114
- Radius
- 16.3m@175cm
- Rocker profile
-
- Camber with tip and tail rocker
- Size Scaling
-
- None
- Construction design
-
- All new
- Binding options
-
- Flat
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