The one word that percolates to top-of-mind position whenever testers try to sum up their experience of the Kästle MX89 is “solid.” The ski is so substantial, it feels impossible to lose one’s balance. Even when it’s rolling downhill at 40mph, sucking up terrain with the ease of a mamba descending a tree, the overriding sensation is of solidity. You can go as fast as you dare and you’ll still feel as if you’re riding magnetic rails that will never waver from their locked-on trajectory.

The MX89 earns its unshakeable calm by constructing a very traditional, wood-and-Titanal ski that ignores such current fetishes as rockered baselines, tapered tips and lightweight construction. The MX89 retains such exquisite snow contact because of its stout construction, fully cambered baseline and the shock-mitigating properties of its bright orange Hollowtech tip.

The MX89 isn’t meant to mollycoddle intermediates and its eyebrow-raising retail price will discourage bargain hunters of all abilities. This is a ski for serious skiers who ski not just because they can, but because they have to. It comes alive at speed where it responds to high edge angles at above-recreational rpms. At the moment when lesser skis are losing their grip, the MX89 imparts a sense of ease and serenity, as if the ski were doing 90% of the work. This is how a ski that prefers to be driven by a talented pilot earns consistently off-the-charts marks for Finesse properties. It’s not just the best Power ski in this genre, it’s also perceived by our panel to be the easiest to ski.

Rob from Boot Doctors in Taos hails the MX89 as “quick, lively and oh so smooth. Instills confidence at any speed.” Another Boot Doctors tester concurs, noting, “Incredible edge grip and very smooth. A very dependable ski, it skis easier than you think, a pleasant surprise. This ski gives you nice feedback.” The women who tried the MX89 in a 172cm (also available in 156 and 164) were even more impressed than the guys. “Control, safety, style preprogrammed to do exactly what you’re thinking,” raves Lindsey from The Sport Loft. “I was able to change my speed on a dime. This is a solid ski [that word again] that gave me full control.”