TEST: Kastelaar Quattrovalvole, the wooden coaches

on Tuesday 15 March 2011
by Federico Casnati
photo by casnas

Guarda i vari modelli Kastelaar e le immagini dello skitest di Neveitalia.

A ski

â€‹â€‹unique, carved from a single plank of wood that is exposed, on which they are installed and the slab edges. Surely queued facilities curiosity is drawn and there are topics of conversation, but can compete with the more famous models of houses? Here are the top range of our test Quattrovalvole

The bet:
Of Vicenza Kastelaar we have already spoken, by presenting the catalog in a recent article. The idea is as audacious: to revolutionize the world of skiing, going back to the origins, using current technology. About

ski: Ski
trial, called Quattrovalvole, is ski touring high level proposed by Kastelaar. The entire range of guidance to advanced skiers, and this is the model for the wide curves.

is available "pure" or with carbon inserts or metal tip. The carbon makes the paddle more stable and is not heavier carbon unidirectional bends but does not fold diagonally, providing torsional stability. How's

:
race today is twofold: it is the Quattrovalvole 178cm 168cm. 114-70-104 sidecut same but totally different character.

First we must say that are skiable. And sure they are skiable. The wood is tough and after a year of testing, the engineers managed to stabilize Kastelaar, under attack skiing is plenty of tall, taller than a cross-country race of wood it was used!

Quattrovalvole 178cm in trial version is no carbon reinforcements and immediately denotes an ease of entry into the curve and a certain lightness in the first 15-20 cm of the ski. A light that at first a feeling of instability in the first meters of curve, but with a few more minutes of skiing becomes only a method of getting fast cornering.

The turning radius is quite high and you can hear everything, but after entering the curve may decide to go with the side-cut or bite into it and then close the curves that is a delight, with ease , perhaps more than a ski "normal".

What is surprising about this car (as well as a ski is conceivable that!) is the direct contact with the snow. The absence of metal inside (very sensitive to temperature variation) is indeed an honor that no one today can afford to ski. The flex of the ski is very mellow and always gradual, without stiffeners or unexpected. How much force will be, so go back gradually, without pushing on. The slopes should be smooth

that is a pleasure, while the ruined structure entirely of wood would be excessive broadcasts in the bumps and grooves do not react like a race ski, becoming unstable, losing contact with the ground but only by losing the pleasure of skiing and the feeling with the ground.

cortoraggio on this 178cm is very complicated, in fact, the reactivity is not such as to allow a perfect conduction.
The advantage is that it is able to adapt, although carving, in skiing also old-fashioned, in sliding.

Quattrovalvole 168cm, tested with the reinforcement of carbon on the tip, is much more versatile.
The curve radius is significantly shorter and especially the spatula has the consistency in more which allows to have suffered great confidence in these skis.

Since the radius of medium size can be perfectly wide curves that curves in cortoraggio, with the advantage that on the hard and on the steep does not move very much and guarantees a precision worthy of the best RC in circulation.
is one Ski with which even advanced skiers can easily get in touch, which hardly betrays expectations and satisfying in every respect. The only drawback is perhaps the tight turning radius that "necessary" to keep an average pace, making inaccurate skiing if you greatly extend the range.

The verdict:
Kastelaar The project is only the beginning of his life, but already shows a maturity enviable. There are still some steps away the most popular manufacturers, including at craft, but the road taken is the right and above all, we must always remember, they can make us skiing (well) and especially fun on a single plank of wood! In fact, skiing is only processed wood and seasoned, proofed fiberglass. And that's a plus that no house can give now.

Stampa