There's currently a trove of Head X-Shape STX’s w/PR11 bindings available at Sportisimo.com (https://www.sportisimo.com/head/x-shape ... -11/50955/), an authorized Head dealer in the Czech Republic (14 pairs @170 cm, 17 pairs @ 177 cm) (you can check stock by holding the up-arrow key next to the “quantity” box to see how high it goes). They're 285 Euros ($317 at the current exchange rate), including free shipping anywhere in Europe (they don't ship to the US, but there is a way to get them here, for an additional 126 Euros = $140, for a total of $457*). The downside for me is they have the PR11’s (7 mm delta) instead of the PRD12/14's (~4 mm delta), but if you own (or purchase) the PRD12/14's, they can be swapped in, since these STX's have the current PRD rail system. The one caveat I need to mention is that they’re a bit clueless about how to pack skis, but they seem to arrive OK in spite of that (and they skied great). They are an established business — they're probably the largest sporting goods retailer in the Czech Republic, with 60 B&M locations (that's why they have so many of these). *I got them to the US by having Sportisimo send them to a Mailboxes Etc. store in France, who then shipped them to me via FedEx International Economy (takes ~5 business days). If anyone in the US is interested, I've given instructions in my second post, below.
If the stock goes to zero, it’s worth trying back occasionally, since the stock can go back up based on customers at their B&M stores reserving them and then changing their minds.
According to Harald:
Jay (Skier Synergy) also really likes this ski for his learning skiers.h.harb wrote:...the X-Shape is just as good [as the original/KERS Supershapes] and maybe the best ski for learning, tipping.
They're unique, in that they don't have the usual 2 metal sheets that are present in pretty much all the other PMTS-recommended carvers (original and KERS iSupershape, iSupershape Speed, Mya 7, and TT80/800). For a light skier like me (150#), this makes them versatile enough to work well in up to about a foot of powder (at the expense of some edge hold). That, plus their quickness, also makes them easier (for me) in moguls than the others I own (iSupershape KERS, Mya 7, TT80). Here's a mini-review I posted:
theorist wrote:BTW, regarding narrow off-piste skis: I find a narrow (<70 mm) carving ski works great in up to about a foot of powder (including heavy Sierra powder), if it's sufficiently quick (I like to ski steep tight spaces) and, most importantly, sufficiently bendable (powder requires greater bendability than groomers). And for me, at 150 lbs., that degree of bendability means they can't have metal sheets. Thus my (very quick and metal-free) 170 cm X-Shape STX's (68 mm) are my go-to all-mountain skis. [Indeed, I find they work better for me in powder than my 180 cm Rock 'n Rolls, which I thus no longer use.] I also have the iSuperShape KERS, Mya 7, TT80, and Stockli Laser SC, all in 170 cm; what they have in common are: (a) two sheets of metal; and (b) they're a struggle for me in powder….It's hard to find a high-performance carving ski that doesn't use metal. Their bendability and quickness also makes them the best (easiest) mogul ski I own (the Mya 7 comes in second). [According to Head, the only non-metal carving ski they currently make is the Super Joy, and I suspect it's not in the same league as the STX; plus, at 75 mm, it's wider than I like for a carving ski.]