Ski Reviews

2023-2024 MACH Spirit, 175 cm

Reviewer Username: Cholmeski

Reviewer Height: 5’8″

Reviewer Weight: 154 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 1 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Lenk/Adelboden

TEST TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers

TEST CONDITIONS: Extremely firm hardpack or ice | Pretty firm snow

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 7/10

FORGIVENESS: 7/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 7/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 8/10

STABILITY: 5/10

SUSPENSION: 5/10

EDGE HOLD: 6/10

PLAYFULNESS: 6/10

SKI LENGTH: It felt a bit too short (175 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Trees

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

The skis that came to mind most were the Fischer Ranger 96 and the Elan Rispstick 96, also lively, fast and fun skis that make me want to hit bumps and get small airs. Would love to try all 3 back to back

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

Had the opportunity to try these at a test stand near our favourite chair in Lenk/Adelboden. Was not familiar with the brand before, small Swiss company though they do have 9 different skis plus a junior model, ranging from 65 to 95 width. I tried the Mach Spirit 95 @ 175 and my daughter tried the Mach Eagle 77 @ 158. I would normally ski around 180 in this width but really enjoyed the ski, found it to be full of energy carving on firm pistes with a mix of scraped off ice and sugary softer snow. For reference was skiing directly after my Head Monster 88’s @ 177 so there was a huge weight difference (Monster’s are around 2000g, the Mach Spririt is 1599g in this length). Not surprisingly the Mach felt livelier, quicker, less stable, higher energy than the Monster’s. More tip rocker and splay than the Monster as well as more tip taper, kind of blocky tips that look a bit like Wildcats! Tails are flat with a small amount of taper. Would be interesting to ski a version with more rocker in the tail. Given the conditions on the day would have been smarter to have picked one of their narrower options, but had a lot of fun on them and would have happily skied them all day rather than just a few runs. Only rated as somewhat unlikely to buy as a) I have too many skis already b) I would want to ski it more to understand full capabilities c) being a small Swiss brand it’s expensive (CHF999 w/o bindings), and not likely to be bought at a discount (carvers were more expensive, this was the cheapest option they make!)

My daughter also liked the Mach Eagles, no listed weight but felt heavier in the hand than her daily driver Rossignol Experience 84’s @ 160, carved nicely, good on edge.