Another favorite pastime on warm spring days at Jackson is gang-skiing tram laps. The goal here is to enjoy the company of your friends while simultaneously trying to follow, out-jump, and / or ski faster than those around you. I loved the FX104 for this, and they stomped everything. Landing small, 5–15-foot drops at the top of Cheyenne Bowl was easy, and the FX104 was stable from the landing through the bumpy run-out. If I happened to get really backseat in the air, the stiff tails would punish my laziness upon landing.
Gang tram laps were also never complete without some wiggling, and the Kastle FX104 was fun for that, too. (For those who have not skied Jackson in the springtime, a “wiggle” is a line of deep ruts carved into the snow by repeated skiing—think slalom bike course sans jumps. On Rendezvous Bowl, the wiggle runs almost the full length of the bowl, and the walls had grown to three or four feet high by the end of the spring.) The stiffness in the tail allowed me to maintain the forward lean necessary to anticipate and stay ahead of the turns.
Unsurprisingly, when it comes to pure powder performance, the FX104 is lacking. As you should expect from a 104mm, non-rockered ski, there are better skis to take out when the snow is fresh and deep. In four inches or more, I prefer something with rocker that floats to the top. That being said, the FX104 did surprisingly well for a ski with traditional camber. The wide tips and overall stiffness of the FX104 allowed the ski to power through deeper patches of snow where other traditional skis would get bogged down and dive.
Comparisons:
Salomon Shogun
The FX104 was more maneuverable than the 191cm Shogun, while being significantly more stable than the 182cm Shogun.
In powder, the Shogun is a bit easier to ski than the FX104 at high speeds, as the Shogun’s rocker lifts the tips and gets the ski planing earlier.
In variable conditions, both skis perform well, but I prefer the FX104 for its ease and predictability.
On groomed snow, I prefer the Kastle for its traditional-camber feel. I mentioned that the FX104 can feel dead while carving, but I believe that some rockered skis—the Shogun in particular—lose a lot of feel and energy because of the tip rocker.
Atomic Coax
The Coax is not quite as predictable and dependable as the FX104 in variable conditions. Both skis do well in soft snow, but the Atomic’s lack of metal causes it to feel slightly more playful and have more feel for the snow, where the Kastle is damp. For carving, the Coax outperforms the FX104 with real rebound energy.
Bottom Line:
The FX104 is ideal for someone looking for a versatile, directional ski that can be skied everyday. This ski isn’t for beginners, but the dampness and predictability of the FX104 does hold certain advantages for the newer skier: it responds well to skier input and will not be pushed around when it snows. For intermediates, this will be a good ski that you can use now and grow into, although I see it as more of a quiver ski than a first or second ski. If you’re an advanced skier, have at it. This is a great everyday ski for strong skiers who like a medium-stiff, damp ski that handles all conditions.
Also, do not let the 184cm length (the longest FX104 produced) turn you off to this ski. The FX104 is an ideal mix: it skis longer than 184 in more open terrain yet is convenient for hard maneuvers in tight spaces. Case in point, a 6’3″, 200-pound coworker of mine also loves this ski and has no problem with the length.
If you own a carving ski and a powder ski, the Kastle FX104 will fill that in-between gap well. Jibbers won’t be interested as the FX104 is the opposite of playful: a damp workhorse that performs well and responds predictably, with a penchant for variable conditions.
Ryan, great review. It’s fitting you reviewed this ski as I am considering it for my backcountry/soft snow ski for western Maine. From your Bio I see that you are very familiar with the area I generally ski, any of the resorts in Maine to a few trips a year to Mount Washington. I already have a pair of Fischer Progressors for front side carving and a pair of Line Prophet 98s for soft snow resort days. I am looking for a ski for deeper soft snow days and expanding my backcountry trips. Thinking about making the jump to some tech bindings and a binding freedom plate along with this ski.
I am a technically proficient skier with a racking background, 6′, 175 pounds, physically fit. I like stiff skis and carving when appropriate. Other skis that I am considering are the Cochise and Wailer 99. Demos are scarce in this area, especially the Kastle and DPS. I appreciate your thoughts on this, thanks.
Lucas,
Thanks for reading the review. I have not skied the Cochise or Wailer 99, but I am sure you have read our reviews of those skis. Here is my recomendation based on my understanding of the other skis you are asking about.
If you are going to be using this ski primarily for deeper days, my initial reaction is to go with the Cochise. I’m thinking you are skiing this more on resort pow days and in untracked soft snow in the backcountry than at Tucks in the spring. The Cochise has the widest footprint and is slightly more soft snow oriented with flat camber and a rockered tip and tail. I think this will be the best compliment to your current quiver.
If you are going to use this ski more for technical steep skiing in variable conditions (i.e. more Tucks than soft pow), I think the Kastle will be better. The flat tail and full camber is more predictable and reliable when making complicated maneuvers in higher consequence terrain.
The Wailer 99 will most likely overlap the Prophet 98’s while being slightly better in soft snow. I would personally prefer the extra 9mm underfoot of the Cochise for deeper days.
Hopefully you get the goods this year and can make use of the new sticks!
Thanks Ryan, unless you have any other suggestions, Coshise it is.
Has anyone gotten on the new 104 with early rise?? It’s on my short list but a demo is not an option and there aren’t too many reviews available.
To respond to a few comments: I have the FX104 with early rise. I use it with dynafit bindings. For comparison, my daily resort ski is the 2013 Line Influence 105. Although I don’t have a ton of time on the Kastle yet, I will say that I think there are a lot of similarities between the Kastle and the Line. I think the tail on the Line may be a little more forgiving, though I haven’t really take the Kastle in anything but soft snow, so it’s hard to say. I think it’s a great, nimble feeling skiing that traditionalists will love. That said, I also love the Influence 105, which replaced my gold buddha gotamas (another ski I loved). It would be interesting to see how the Supernatural 108 skis- it sounds awesome as well!
Very helpful thread. I’ve been skiing the FX 84 as a JH carver; tons of fun. Any side-by-side of the FX 104 vs. Kastle’s BMX 98 or 108s?
Any thoughts/comparisons between the FX and the Belafonte/Cochise. I have a 190 Bibby as my soft ski and looking for one other to function as the daily driver at Alta for all conditions shy of the Bibby. I have narrowed my choices down to these three.
Thanks
Craig,
Beware of the Cochise if you want to make a “traditional” carve. For all but the biggest turns, the Cochise like to be pivoted or skied from the center rather than driven from the tip. For that reason you don’t see a lot in Vermont anymore, despite being everywhere when they first came to the market. On a softer groomer day they are still fun so maybe fine for Alta, but I ditched mine in favor of the Katana for better hard snow performance. You can drive that ski from the tip like a race ski if you want, and what I love is that the tail is there when you want it, but can be pivot when you don’t need it.
I have skied the FX94, not the 104, but from my experience with that ski the FX is going to have a much more traditional feel. It likes to be driven from the tip and you will know the tail is there in a big way – at least I did on the 94. Not that its too long or anything, it just won’t pivot like the Cochise. Whether this is a great thing or a bad thing depends on the type of skier you are and what you want the ski to achieve.
As for the Belafonte, I have skied the 190 Bibby and also the 186 ON3P Vicik which is very similar to the Belafonte. Based on that experience, my sense is that if you like the Bibby and want something for harder conditions you will like the Bela and that it will have a familar feel. Personally, I’d rather have something with metal in it for a groomer ski.
AK…thank you for the reply. I just noticed this by fluke and you are right on the money.
I had the Cochise two years ago and was not the biggest fan as I missed the camber.
I will demo’ing the FX’s this weekend. Who knows maybe end up with a 94 and 104 and call it good.
I am tired of wide skis with rocker this and rocker that coupled with infrequent snow. Its time to just ski again. Thinking the FX’s and possibly next years Line Supernaturals may become the new go to’s.
Thanks again….great advice. Wish I had seen it sooner!
Craig,
Please let us know how the 104 skis for you if you find a pair to demo. It’s been slim pickings as far as reviews of the new 104 with a rockered tip. The ski continues to be on my short list despite my inability to try it out.
I too am very excited about the Supernatural based on the reviews here. I was a huge Prophet 100 fan but haven’t liked much Line has offered since.