Elite 8 review

Overview

The Elite 8 is the Konect-plate model in Dynastar's 26-27 women's Elite piste line. It uses exactly the same geometry as the Elite 7 — 118-67-103 mm with a 9 m radius at 149 cm, 118-68-103 mm and 11 m at 158 cm, 119-69-104 mm and 13 m at 166 cm — and the same core and metal package: Hybrid Core 2.0 poplar/PU, Omega Ti steel-and-titanal inserts and full sidewalls. What changes is the interface and the intent. Instead of the Xpress rail it sits on a Konect plate and is sold with the Look NX 12 Konect GW (DIN 3.5–12), and Dynastar's description shifts from "intermediate to confirmed" skiers to "confirmed" skiers; Sport-Conrad calls it a sporty piste ski for advanced women and Glisshop lists it as confirmed to expert. Dynastar's size chart gives 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 kg for the three lengths, 100 g per length above the Elite 7, which matches the heavier plate.

On-snow performance

On paper the Elite 8 should ski like a slightly more planted Elite 7. The sidecut gives the same short, eager turn, 9 to 13 m depending on length, with a 67–69 mm waist that flips from edge to edge quickly. The Konect plate adds a few millimetres of stand height and a stiffer connection between boot and ski, which the construction suggests will translate into more leverage over the edge and a firmer bite on hard snow, at the cost of a little of the Elite 7's easy-going feel. The Omega Ti inserts and the PU-damped core are there to keep the ski calm when the piste is scraped and the speed rises; Dynastar's own phrase is that it lets confirmed skiers absorb vibrations on varied terrain for perfectly controlled lines. The moderate tip rocker keeps initiation soft, but once on edge the whole length of the edge is meant to work. Expect a ski that rewards a clean, forward stance with grip and rebound, and one that is still happy to skid a turn when you want to; it is not a slalom race ski. Soft snow and bumps remain an afterthought at 67 mm.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Hybrid Core 2.0 — poplar laminated in three directions with polyurethane; less glued fibreglass, by Dynastar's account.
• Metal: Omega Ti — two steel and titanal inserts wrapping the core in an omega shape.
• Reinforcement: unidirectional fibreglass.
• Sidewall: Sandwich Full Sidewall construction.
• Profile: Tip Rocker — moderate rocker in the tip only, camber underfoot.
• Sidecut: Adaptativ Sidecut (Sport-Conrad lists it as Adaptativ Power Sidecut).
• Base and finish: Sintered Factory Base, Reinforced Durability topsheet with semi-integrated tip protector.
• Plate and binding: Konect plate with the Look NX 12 Konect GW B80, DIN 3.5–12, GripWalk compatible.
• Dimensions: 118-67-103 mm / 9 m (149), 118-68-103 mm / 11 m (158), 119-69-104 mm / 13 m (166).
• Weight: Dynastar's size chart lists 1.4 kg (149), 1.5 kg (158) and 1.6 kg (166).

Who it's for & comparisons

The Elite 8 is for confirmed women piste skiers who carve most of the day, want a short radius but also want the ski to hold when the snow is hard and the speed is up. It is the middle step of the Elite line: the Elite 7 is the same ski on the lighter Xpress rail for less committed skiers, and the Elite 9 narrows to 66 mm and stiffens up for faster, more aggressive skiing. Against the field, the Atomic Cloud c12 (69.5 mm) and the Salomon S max n12 (72 mm) are the direct plate-carver rivals at a similar level; the Head Super Joy (75 mm) and the Nordica Belle dc 72 are slightly wider and a bit more relaxed.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Omega Ti steel-and-titanal inserts and full sidewalls for hard-snow grip.
• Konect plate and NX 12 give a firmer boot-to-ski connection than the Xpress version.
• Short 9–13 m radius for quick carved turns.
• Sold as a complete, mounted package.

Cons

• Only three lengths, 149 to 166 cm.
• The Konect plate ties you to Look/Rossignol Konect bindings.
• Heavier than the Elite 7 for the same shape.
• A 67 mm piste specialist with no soft-snow ability.

Verdict: The Elite 8 is the Elite 7's shape with a stronger plate and binding and a clear brief for confirmed skiers: pick it if you carve hard on firm pistes and want more bite and stability than the Xpress model. If you ski at a more relaxed pace, the cheaper Elite 7 gives you the same turn.