Speed course master gs r22 review

Overview

The Speed Course Master GS R22 is Dynastar's masters giant slalom ski for 26/27: a plate-mounted GS with World Cup construction but a shorter, more usable radius than the FIS skis. "Speed Course" is the giant slalom name in Dynastar's race line (the slalom skis are Omeglass). It comes in 169, 173, 179 and 183 cm with a sidecut of 115-70-98 mm (115-70-97 at 179 cm and 115-71-96 at 183 cm) and a radius that runs 15, 17, 19 and 21 m. It ships on the R22 race plate without bindings.

On-snow performance

Dynastar's own description sums up the intent: World Cup GS power "with enhanced agility not found in a pure FIS race ski", and a sidecut that "brings them to life off the race course". Full camber, two titanal sheets and a stiff beech core are the ingredients for edge hold and calm at speed on hard, prepared snow, while a 15–21 m radius is far easier to finish and link on a public piste than the 30 m of a FIS GS. The 173 and 179 cm lengths at 17–19 m look like the sweet spot for long carved turns at speed, with the 169 cm acting as the quick, round option and the 183 cm as the proper masters gate ski. It is a ski that needs to be driven: skidded, slow or upright skiing will make it feel heavy and stiff, and soft snow, bumps and off-piste are not what it is built for.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: PEFC-certified beech, 710 g/m³. Dynastar says its hardness, elasticity and strength are very close to ash.
• Metal: Full Titanal Layer, two full-width, full-length titanal sheets, one on each side of the core.
• Reinforcement: an additional fiberglass layer.
• Sidewall: Sandwich Full Sidewall Construction with rectangular, vertical sidewalls from tip to tail.
• Base: Sintered Factory Base, a very high-density sintered base.
• Profile: full camber, no rocker.
• Plate: R22 race plate pre-mounted; sold without bindings (Look SPX 12 Rockerace GW is the retail pack option).
• Dimensions: 115-70-98 mm (169, 173), 115-70-97 mm (179), 115-71-96 mm (183); radius 15, 17, 19 and 21 m.
• Weight: 2,050 g (169), 2,100 g (173), 2,200 g (179) and 2,250 g (183) per ski with the plate, per Snowleader's size table.

Who it's for & comparisons

This is a ski for masters racers, club racers and strong ex-racers who want GS geometry with R22 leverage, plus expert piste skiers who prefer long, fast arcs on hard snow and are not put off by weight. Within the group, its twin is the Rossignol Hero master lt: the same 169/173/179/183 cm lengths, the same 15–21 m radius progression and a 71 mm waist, so choosing between them is largely a matter of brand and graphics. The Salomon Equipe gs pro (67 mm, 175–182 cm, 17 m at 179 cm) is the Salomon take on a non-FIS race GS, and the Atomic Redster g9 rsm (67–68 mm, 176–190 cm, 21–27.5 m) is the longer-radius masters GS for skiers who want something closer to a FIS shape.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• World Cup sandwich construction with two full-length titanal sheets and a beech core.
• 15–21 m radius progression gives real choice between a tight GS carver and a masters gate ski.
• R22 plate for direct power transmission and free flex under the binding.

Cons

• 2.05–2.25 kg per ski with plate; heavy to carry and tiring over a full day.
• Bindings not included and limited to R22-compatible Look models.
• Demands speed, a strong forward stance and committed carving; unforgiving when skidded.
• No length below 169 cm, so lighter or shorter skiers have no option.

Verdict: The Speed Course Master GS R22 is the giant slalom ski for people who race for pleasure: full race construction, an R22 plate and a 15–21 m radius that works on a public piste as well as between gates. Cross-shop it against the Rossignol Hero master lt; if you want more agility, the Omeglass Master SL R22 is the slalom sibling.