Elite 9 review

Overview

The Elite 9 is the top model of Dynastar's 26-27 women's Elite piste line, built, in Dynastar's words, for fast and fluid skiers who have a taste for speed. It is narrower and more serious than the Elite 7 and 8: 118-66-103 mm with an 11 m radius at 158 cm and 119-67-104 mm with 12 m at 166 cm, in just those two lengths. It sits on a Konect plate and ships with the Look NX 12 Konect GW (DIN 3.5–12). The build uses Dynastar's Hybrid Core 2.0 poplar/PU core wrapped in Omega Ti steel-and-titanal inserts, inside a sandwich full-sidewall construction, and at 1,700 g per ski in the 166 cm length it is the heaviest of the three Elites, which points to more material where it matters.

On-snow performance

Everything about the Elite 9 on paper says short-to-medium carved turns at speed on hard snow. The 66 mm waist and 11–12 m radius are slalom-carver numbers, and Snowleader describes the shape as inspired by Dynastar's FIS slalom skis. The Omega Ti frame and the extra mass should give it the damping and edge pressure to hold a clean arc on icy, scraped pistes where the lighter Elite 7 would start to chatter; Dynastar's own pitch is stability and control first. The Adaptativ Sidecut and the moderate tip rocker are meant to make the entry smooth rather than hooky, and the full-length sidewalls transfer pressure straight to the edge. The flip side is predictable: at 1.7 kg per ski plus a 1,080 g binding this is not an effortless ski at low speed, it wants to be driven from the front of the boot, and the 12 m maximum radius means long, high-speed GS arcs are not its forte. Soft snow and bumps are outside its brief.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Hybrid Core 2.0 — poplar laminated in three directions with polyurethane.
• Metal: Omega Ti — two steel and titanal inserts wrapping the core in an omega shape, from the Speed Omeglass race line.
• Reinforcement: unidirectional fibreglass.
• Sidewall: Sandwich Full Sidewall construction.
• Profile: Tip Rocker — moderate, tip only, camber underfoot.
• Sidecut: Adaptativ Sidecut.
• Base and finish: Sintered Factory Base; Reinforced Durability topsheet and semi-integrated tip protector.
• Plate and binding: Konect plate with the Look NX 12 Konect GW B80, DIN 3.5–12, GripWalk compatible, 1,080 g per binding.
• Dimensions: 118-66-103 mm / 11 m (158), 119-67-104 mm / 12 m (166).
• Weight: 1,700 g per ski at 166 cm, binding not included.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Elite 9 is for advanced and expert women who spend their days carving on firm pistes, ski fast and want a damp, planted ski with a short radius. Within the line it is the step up from the Elite 8, which shares the core and metal but uses a slightly wider 67–69 mm shape and a longer length run. Against the field, the Nordica Belle sl dc fdt (69 mm) is the closest slalom-carver rival; the Atomic Cloud c12 (69.5 mm) and the Salomon S max n12 (72 mm) are a touch wider and more forgiving; the Head Power Joy (70 mm) is the other heavy, metal-rich women's carver in this class. In Dynastar's own range, the unisex Dynastar Speed 650 covers similar ground in longer lengths.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Omega Ti reinforcement and full sidewalls for hard-snow grip at speed.
• Slalom-style 66–67 mm waist and 11–12 m radius for quick, precise carving.
• Heaviest, most damped ski of the Elite line.
• Complete package with the Look NX 12 Konect GW.

Cons

• Only two lengths, 158 and 166 cm.
• At about 1.7 kg per ski plus binding it is a heavy women's carver.
• Demands speed and a forward stance; little reward at a relaxed pace.
• Konect plate restricts binding choice; pure piste use only.

Verdict: The Elite 9 is Dynastar's women's piste ski for skiers who want race-carver bite in a short-radius shape, and its weight and metal back that up. If you ski fast on hard snow it is the one to buy; if not, the Elite 8 gives the same construction in a friendlier package.