SKI CANADA TEST 2022
XO SKI 77 V7 * ON-PISTE
BEST FOR: Intermediates and up looking for a light but powerful carver.
Retired French World Cup ski racer Stéphane Exartier founded XO Skis to build the ski he wanted in retirement. Something light but stable, versatile but performance-oriented. Handmade in Switzerland, it lacks the metal and riser plates we’d expect from an ex-Olympian. XO says it’s 30 per cent lighter than a similar ski and testers definitely noticed. “This is a featherlight ski, but it has surprising carving capability,” said tester Eric Gauthier. He found both the v7 and the v3 models were quick and agile in a range of turn shapes. The v7 is more demanding of the skier, but also more stable as he cranked up the speed. The extra stiffness created a nice rebound at the end of the turn, projecting him into the next one. “I would have liked to test it on an icy slope,” Gauthier wrote. “I’m confident it would have made me smile.”
LENGTHS: 148, 154, 160, 166, 172, 178
DIMENSIONS: 126/77/107
RADIUS: 15 @ 172
OTHER MODELS: v3
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $1200
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