Speed course wc fis gs factory r22 review

Overview

The Speed Course WC FIS GS Factory R22 is the top of Dynastar's giant slalom range for 26/27: the FIS-homologated World Cup GS that the brand says is inspired by the skis raced by Clara Direz. It comes in the two lengths that FIS giant slalom rules dictate, 188 cm (the women's minimum) and 193 cm (the men's minimum), both with the mandatory 30 m radius. Dynastar lists the sidecut as 101-65-82 mm at 188 cm and 100-65-82 mm at 193 cm. It ships on the pre-mounted R22 race plate without bindings.

On-snow performance

There is no mystery about what a 65 mm, 30 m, full-camber GS with two sheets of titanal does. The construction suggests exactly the behaviour racers want from a FIS GS: a long, stable platform that holds an edge on injected ice, stays calm at the speeds a World Cup-style course produces and gives energy back at the end of a fully bent arc. Dynastar's own words are "confidence, power and maneuverability to push your performance on race day", and the beech core, which the brand chose for its ash-like hardness and elasticity, is the part that should keep the ski lively rather than dead. The price for that is a ski that only works when it is bent hard: a 30 m radius does not turn by itself, and at recreational speeds or in a skidded turn it feels like a plank. It is built for a race course, full stop; soft snow, bumps and a crowded public piste are outside its remit.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: PEFC-certified beech, 710 g/m³. Dynastar describes it as very close to ash in hardness, elasticity and strength and says it is increasingly used on FIS skis.
• Metal: Full Titanal Layer, two full-width, full-length titanal sheets, one on each side of the core.
• 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 15 Rockerace or PX 18 WC Rockerace).
• Dimensions: 101-65-82 mm at 188 cm, 100-65-82 mm at 193 cm; radius 30 m in both.
• Weight: 2,200 g per ski with plate at 188 cm (retailer figure, matching Dynastar's table); Dynastar lists 2.6 kg for the 193 cm.
• Homologation: compliant with FIS standards, per Dynastar.

Who it's for & comparisons

This is a ski for FIS-licensed giant slalom racers and their coaches, and nobody else. Everyone else, including very good piste skiers, will be happier on the Speed Course WC GS R22 (20–25 m) or the Speed Course Master GS R22 (15–21 m) from the same range. The competition is the other brands' FIS GS skis, which share the 188/193 cm and 30 m regulation geometry: the Atomic Redster g9 fis (65 mm, 30 m at 188 and 193 cm), the Fischer Rc4 worldcup noize gs men (65 mm, 188/193 cm, 30 m) and the Volkl Racetiger gs r wc fis (65 mm, 188/193 cm, 30 m).

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• FIS-compliant World Cup GS geometry: 188 and 193 cm, 30 m, 65 mm.
• Two full-length titanal sheets, beech core and full sidewalls for maximum edge hold.
• R22 race plate with Look SPX 15 and PX 18 WC compatibility.

Cons

• A pure race tool: at recreational speed or in skidded turns it is stiff and lifeless.
• Only 188 and 193 cm, each sold as a separate article; nothing shorter.
• Bindings not included and limited to R22-compatible Look race models.
• Race-department price and the tuning and waxing upkeep that FIS skis need.

Verdict: The Speed Course WC FIS GS Factory R22 is Dynastar's regulation GS for racers who need the 30 m FIS ski: real World Cup construction, a plate ready for SPX 15 or PX 18 and two lengths that match the rulebook. If you are not racing FIS, buy the WC GS R22 or the Master GS R22 instead.