Phil,
I got involved with Lusti quite a number of years ago when our 'connection' to Kneissl disappeared due to the 08 financial meltdown. My friend Mike approached me about trying out a new ski line he was working on bringing over to the US to replace Kneissl. I was a huge fan of the White Star line up which was the top of the heap from Kneissl, especially when coupled to some high horsepower VIST race plates made of very thick polymer materials.
Mike got me on a pair of SCT cross race type 'cheater' 18 meter skis to use in a beer league race series which sported a few very high quality master's racers and college racers. I was blown away at the performance of the SCT's. I then got on the SCT Wide, 77 underfoot all mountain ski for softer snow days and loved it too. Next came the Lusti FR Slalom FIS 165's with a polymer speed lock VIST plate; again WOW, these are better than my White Star SL. FIS skis. Finally I got in a new pair of FIS 165 Lusti SL race skis with the VIST aluminum speed lock plate coupled to my VIST 614 Elite bindings; now you're talking!
I was always a slalom specialist, never great at GS, so my go to ski is a rock solid 165 cm, 65 underfoot super tortional stiff ski. The Lusti FIS slaloms are the best ski I have ever put on. I am anxious to try out the RC GS 175 cheaters with VIST speedlock 614 bindings. The plate is polymer, not aluminum, but it will give me the overall flavor of what this ski is about. If it proves to be what I think it will be, I'd like to see if they would build this in the FIS build, which is heavier titanal plates top and bottom. And then have the aluminum plate installed.
I will report back if we ever get any snow out here! It's still like spring and we are in December.
Bruce