Ski Model Acronyms: AX AR DH FX GS HT LX MX RC RX SX SC SG SL TX ZX etc

[LiquidFeet]

I changed all the Xs from "construction" to "cross."
What does "cross" mean? Is this "cross" as in "cross-training" meaning it can work in different conditions, take you pick?

Feel free to copy the whole list in order to add, change, or correct.

A - All mountain/all purpose
AX - Stöckli All mountain Cross
AR - Stöckli All mountain Race
BMX - Kästle Big Mountain Cross
C - Carving/Carver. Short to medium radius turn, narrow under foot.

DH - DownHill (race)
DX - Kästle ________ Cross
FIS - FIS Alpine. The ski has dimensions to whatever year world cup specs.
FX - Kästle ________ Cross
GS - Giant Slalom (race)

HT - ________ ________
KX - Kästle ________ Cross
LT - Rossi Long Turn
LX - Kästle Light Cross
MT - Rossi Multi Turn
MX - Kästle Mountain Cross or Mountain Cross

R - Race-ish. Sporty, narrow under foot.
RC - Rennen Carven, Race Carving
RD - Race Department
RS - Riesen Slalom (i.e., GS)
RX - Kästle Race Cross

S - Slalom, Sporty, Short turns/radius and narrow under foot, short in length.
SC - Stöckli Sport Carve, or Slalom Carve
SG - Super G (race)
SL - Slalom (race)
ST - Rossi, Atomic Short Turn
SX - Stöckli Ski Cross, Atomic Skier Cross

T - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski"
Ti - (or Titanium) - there is titanal in the skis (not Titanium)
TX - Kästle's Touring Cross; also Telemark Cross
X - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski" or construction
WC - World Cup
ZX - Kästle ________Cross

 

[cantunamunch]

X - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski" or construction

There was a model cycle when Head had their groomer skis marked X with a numerical designation. Supposedly there was an 'X' frame *shrug*, notice that X is also a cross (of St. Andrew). It started after the Head Cyber SpaceX - and then the 'Space' was dropped - so we had the Cyber X20, X22, X24, X40, X44, which then morphed into the XP series.

Oh and - there was such a thing as a "Monster" Cross designation at the time. I am absolutely certain marketing departments remember that era and don't just refer to monster cross as a cycling thing:

Head Skis 2001-02

Gear

www.skimag.com

In that instance, the 'Cross' is almost certainly a reference to skiercross, the race discipline, and not a cross-shaped X in the ski.

I am not even going to try to get into Head's XRC and iXRC letter salad, especially with the various construction designations like SW

 

[Philpug]

Going back to change all the Xs to "Cross".
@Phil, what does Cross mean in simple terms; what does it tell the buyer, if anything?

Cross=Versatility. Not being pigeon holed into one segment.

 

[Bob Simpson]

So all the German manufacturers have retired Reisenslalom and Abfahrt?

As a young racer, nothing was more fun than saying "Abfahrt" and not getting the stink eye!

 

[Philpug]

I changed all the Xs from "construction" to "cross."
What does "cross" mean? Is this "cross" as in "cross-training" meaning it can work in different conditions, take you pick?

Feel free to copy the whole list in order to add, change, or correct.

A - All mountain/all purpose
AX - Stöckli All mountain Cross
AR - Stöckli All mountain Race
BMX - Kästle Big Mountain Cross
C - Carving/Carver. Short to medium radius turn, narrow under foot.

DH - DownHill (race)
DX - Kästle ________ Cross
FIS - FIS Alpine. The ski has dimensions to whatever year world cup specs.
FX - Kästle ________ Cross
GS - Giant Slalom (race)

HT - ________ ________
KX - Kästle ________ Cross
LT - Rossi Long Turn
LX - Kästle Light Cross
MT - Rossi Multi Turn
MX - Kästle Mountain Cross or Mountain Cross

R - Race-ish. Sporty, narrow under foot.
RC - Rennen Carven, Race Carving
RD - Race Department
RS - Riesen Slalom (i.e., GS)
RX - Kästle Race Cross

S - Slalom, Sporty, Short turns/radius and narrow under foot, short in length.
SC - Stöckli Sport Carve, or Slalom Carve
SG - Super G (race)
SL - Slalom (race)
ST - Rossi, Atomic Short Turn
SX - Stöckli Ski Cross, Atomic Skier Cross

T - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski"
Ti - (or Titanium) - there is titanal in the skis (not Titanium)
TX - Kästle's Touring Cross; also Telemark Cross
X - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski" or construction
WC - World Cup
ZX - Kästle ________Cross

ARC-Atomic Racing Cup and later a (short lived) binding interface for the Nomad skis
VAS-Vibration Absorbsion System (Rossignol)
NGT: New Graphic Technology
Ti-Team Issue (Atomic)
STi-Soft Team Issue (Atomic)
CAS-Custom Adaptive Shape (Tecnica)

 

[Bob Simpson]

ARC-Atomic Racing Cup and later a (short lived) binding interface for the Nomad skis
VAS-Vibration Absorbsion System (Rossignol)
NGT: New Graphic Technology
Ti-Team Issue (Atomic)
STi-Soft Team Issue (Atomic)
CAS-Custom Adaptive Shape (Tecnica)

Phil,
What did the "12" stand for in the old days of Kastle RX 12 competition skis? I own 2 modern Kastle semi race skis. One is RX 12, the other is just RX. Thank you, sir!

 

[KingGrump]

KX - Kästle ________ Cross

KX = Kiddie Cross

 

[Joby Graham]

L.S./M.F.T. ?

 

[Philpug]

TSBD-Tight Spot Big Drops
LT.U-Long Term Update

 

[LiquidFeet]

Just a few left. Anyone want to fix those?
Brief explanations are good too. There are a few already.
The goal is for the community to generate a list that's useful for general readership.
Feel free to copy the whole list in order to add, change, or correct.

A - All mountain/all purpose
ARC - (Atomic) Racing Cup; later a (short lived) binding interface for the Nomad skis
AX - (Stöckli) All mountain Cross
AR - (Stöckli) All mountain Race
BMX - (Kästle) Big Mountain Cross
C - Carving/Carver. Short to medium radius turn, narrow under foot.
CAS - Custom Adaptive Shape (Tecnica)
DH - Downhill (race)
DX - (Kästle) ________ Cross
FIS - FIS Alpine; the ski has dimensions to world cup specs for its year of issue.
FX - (Kästle) ________ Cross
GS - Giant Slalom (race)

HT - (Kästle) ________ ________
KX - (Kästle) Kiddie Cross
LT - (Rossi) Long Turn
LX - (Kästle) Light Cross
MT - (Rossi) Multi Turn
MX - (Kästle) Mountain Cross or Mountain Cross
NGT - New Graphic Technology

R - Race-ish; sporty, narrow under foot.
RC - Rennen Carven, Race Carving
RD - Race Department
RS - Riesen Slalom (i.e., GS)
RX - (Kästle) Race Cross

S - Slalom, Sporty, Short turns/radius and narrow under foot, short in length.
SC - Stöckli Sport Carve, or Slalom Carve
SG - Super G (race)
SL - Slalom (race)
ST - (Rossi) (Atomic) Short Turn
STi - (Atomic) Soft Team Issue
SX - (Stöckli) (Atomic) Skier Cross

T - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski"
Ti - (or Titanium) - there is titanal in the skis (not Titanium)
Ti - (Atomic) Team Issue
TX - (Kästle) Touring Cross; also Telemark Cross
VAS - (Rossignol) Vibration Absorption System
WC - World Cup
ZX - (Kästle) ________Cross

 

[TheArchitect]

That perspective has helped create the Chris Davenport signature collection, the Kastle FX Freeride skis, a high-performance, all-mountain offering.

Chris Davenport and the high-tech Kastle ski design process

Sometimes, the design of a great pair of skis begins with a conversation. Chris Davenport should know. “Dav,” as he’s known in the ski world, is one of the most

www.si.com

 

[Hakuba]

FX seems like corresponding to Freeride X
DX? Damp X?

 

[Hakuba]

https://www.si.com/edge/2014/11/19/...h-Kästle-ski-design-and-manufacturing-process

You are earlier

 

[Steve]

L.S./M.F.T. ?

Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco

remember when 99 and 44/100% pure was a good thing? Now what is that 56/100%?

 

[Philpug]

AM-All Mountain (Blossom & Augment)

 

[DanoT]

As a young racer, nothing was more fun than saying "Abfahrt" and not getting the stink eye!

At Sun Peaks they have several runs with international names like Fair Dinkum, Ca M'a Fait Plaisir, Carpe Diem, Czesc , Chikamichi, Hasta La Vista, and Ausfahrt; known collectively by locals as the unpronounceable runs.

So one day I am sharing a chairlift ride with an out of town couple and they ask me what is my favourite run. My response: "Ass Fart,... I don't name 'em, I just mispronounce 'em". They replied that when their 10 and 11 y.o. looked at the trail map the night before, they started giggling when they saw Ausfahrt.

 

[Rudi Riet]

Updated and ready for more copy-and-paste:

A - All mountain/all purpose
AF - Abfahrt (i.e. German for downhill - mostly retired from brands)
ARC - (Atomic) Racing Cup; later a (short lived) binding interface for the Nomad skis
AX - (Stöckli) All mountain Cross
AR - (Stöckli) All mountain Race
BMX - (Kästle) Big Mountain Cross
C - Carving/Carver. Short to medium radius turn, narrow under foot.
CAS - Custom Adaptive Shape (Tecnica)
DH - Downhill (race)
DX - (Kästle) ________ Cross
FIS - FIS Alpine; the ski has dimensions to International Ski Federation specs for its year of issue (some are for youth racers, others for adult racers)
FX - (Kästle) ________ Cross
G - (Atomic) (Rossignol) Giant Slalom (race)
GS - Giant Slalom (race)

HT - (Kästle) ________ ________
KX - (Kästle) Kiddie Cross
LT - (Rossi) Long Turn
LX - (Kästle) Light Cross
MT - (Rossi) Multi Turn
MX - (Kästle) Mountain Cross or Mountain Cross
NGT - New Graphic Technology

R - Race-ish; sporty, narrow under foot.
RC - Rennen Carven, Race Carving
RD - Race Department
RS - Riesen Slalom (i.e., GS)
RX - (Kästle) Race Cross

S - (Atomic) (Rossignol) Slalom, Sporty, Short turns/radius and narrow under foot, short in length.
SC - Stöckli Sport Carve, or Slalom Carve
SG - Super G (race)
SL - Slalom (race)
ST - (Rossi) (Atomic) Short Turn
STi - (Atomic) Soft Team Issue
SX - (Stöckli) (Atomic) Skier Cross

T - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski"
Ti - (or Titanium) - there is titanal in the skis (not Titanium)
Ti - (Atomic) Team Issue
TX - (Kästle) Touring Cross; also Telemark Cross
VAS - (Rossignol) Vibration Absorption System
WB - (Atomic) "wide body" (i.e. wider waist specific to carving models - see Redster X9 WB)
WC - World Cup
X - (Atomic) Cross or combi w/race construction (e.g. Redster X9, Redster X7)
ZX - (Kästle) ________Cross

 

[TheArchitect]

A - All mountain/all purpose
AF - Abfahrt (i.e. German for downhill - mostly retired from brands)
ARC - (Atomic) Racing Cup; later a (short lived) binding interface for the Nomad skis
AX - (Stöckli) All mountain Cross
AR - (Stöckli) All mountain Race
BMX - (Kästle) Big Mountain Cross
C - Carving/Carver. Short to medium radius turn, narrow under foot.
CAS - Custom Adaptive Shape (Tecnica)
DH - Downhill (race)
DX - (Kästle) ________ Cross
FIS - FIS Alpine; the ski has dimensions to International Ski Federation specs for its year of issue (some are for youth racers, others for adult racers)
FX - (Kästle) Freeride Cross
G - (Atomic) (Rossignol) Giant Slalom (race)
GS - Giant Slalom (race)

HT - (Kästle) ________ ________
KX - (Kästle) Kiddie Cross
LT - (Rossi) Long Turn
LX - (Kästle) Light Cross
MT - (Rossi) Multi Turn
MX - (Kästle) Mountain Cross
NGT - New Graphic Technology

R - Race-ish; sporty, narrow under foot.
RC - Rennen Carven, Race Carving
RD - Race Department
RS - Riesen Slalom (i.e., GS)
RX - (Kästle) Race Cross

S - (Atomic) (Rossignol) Slalom, Sporty, Short turns/radius and narrow under foot, short in length.
SC - Stöckli Sport Carve, or Slalom Carve
SG - Super G (race)
SL - Slalom (race)
ST - (Rossi) (Atomic) Short Turn
STi - (Atomic) Soft Team Issue
SX - (Stöckli) (Atomic) Skier Cross

T - marketing needed another letter; may stand for "ish" or "ski"
Ti - (or Titanium) - there is titanal in the skis (not Titanium)
Ti - (Atomic) Team Issue
TX - (Kästle) Touring Cross; also Telemark Cross
VAS - (Rossignol) Vibration Absorption System
WB - (Atomic) "wide body" (i.e. wider waist specific to carving models - see Redster X9 WB)
WC - World Cup
X - (Atomic) Cross or combi w/race construction (e.g. Redster X9, Redster X7)
ZX - (Kästle) ________Cross