With the new winter approaching, we have talked to SkiTrab about their upcoming new pairs of skis in the 75 to 85 mm range that are based on the famed Magico 2 and Maestro 2 models, but at a substantially lower price points.
SkiTrab has been around for close to 8 decades and in the recent years has prided itself with a 14-layer technology that allows them to tweak the performance while keeping weight down and durability high.
SkiTrab’s flagship ski mountaineering skis are the Maestro (925g at 164cm and 108-76-94) and the Magico (1032g at 164cm and 118-85-104), both suitable for more extreme ski mountaineering objectives as they can deal with demanding snow conditions. However, both will be better appreciated in steep terrain and by those that prefer stiffer skis.
New Softer Skis for 2020/21: Ortles, Stelvio and Gavia
To make their skis light yet stiff, SkiTrab uses Aramid-honeycomb core which is used in aerospace and military applications as it provides a superb strength/lightweight ratio. However, this structure also increases the price of the final product.
For the new winter season, SkiTrab has created 3 models based on the Magico and Maestro platforms as it replaced the Aramid core with light wood. While this change has sightly increased the skis’ weight it has also made for a softer and a more forgiving ride. And the prices are much lower.
Ortles Skis (118-85-104 and 1055g at 164cm)
With the same dimensions as the Magico 2 skis the Ortles shaves around $250 off the price and adds only about 30g.
This ski is still build for demanding skiers yet offers a smoother ride as it absorbs shocks better, and also performs slightly better in softer snow than the stiffer Magico, but that depends on riders style and weight.
Stelvio85 and Stelvio76 Skis
The 85 version has the same dimensions as the above Ortles skis while the 76 model adopts its shaped from the Maestro 2 (108-76-94).
The weight has increased by about 120g for both the Stelvio76 and Stelvio85 compared to the Maestro and Magico models. But again, the price is much lower, about $350 less.
Gavia85 and Gavia76 Skis
SkiTrab refers to these models as the softer version of the Stelvio models, featuring more flex, and recommends them for lighter skiers (or beginner to intermediate). Also, women might prefer these skis over the Stelvio line.
The weights are slightly lower than for the Stelvio models and price stays about the same.
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