The Dynastar Speed Course Fluid is the second in the GS-like line of skis at Dynastar. It is a very similar ski to its brother the Speed Course Pro R20 Racing. With just a 40gr. difference on the weight, it is very easy to think we are talking about pretty much the same ski. The manufacturer fails to explain the difference between them. They both use the same technologies, sandwich construction, dual core, fibre-metal reinforcements, etc. So… the difference could be minimal as some lesser use of fibre-glass, a thinner metal layer or it could be none.
Dynastar Speed Course Fluid
© Skis Rossignol SAS
As explained in the Speed Course Pro R20 Racing model review, the Dynastar Speed Course Fluid comes with a more than generous 125mm. shovel, a big 106mm. tail and an astonishingly wide waist of 76mm. that conform its sidecut profile. The result is a 16m. radius for a GS-like ski, which isn´t the expected nor the required.
If we take a look at the skis construction, we´ll find the usual features in all the high-end Race range models from every brand. Dynastar states they are using the Dual Core Technology in their skis’ cores. Basically, they use a mixture of two wood types. You might think that, since we’re speaking about this kind of top notch gear, one would find expensive state-of-the-art materials, specially at the core. But surprisingly, this is not the case in the Dynastar Speed Course Fluid nor in its “older” brother, the Speed Course Pro R20 Racing. Poplar is a cheap wood, and so is pauwlonia. They are both used in industrial applications. But they are cheap and aren’t considered high quality woods whatsoever. So… why is Dynastar using this type of cheap and common wood in the top race range, pricy models? Well, the low cost of these woods is one key factor, but there are other technical relevant aspects that do matter a lot. Availability is one, since these woods grow at a very fast pace, which also satisfies the “green mandate policy” of current thinking. Poplar grows quite straight, which is good for skis since you can use more wood and there are not many waisted planks. The other two important reasons are its lightness and flexibility. Cheap, available, light and flexible. They can be used in pallets but also inside ski cores.
Don´t be disappointed. There are some other renowned brands that use cheap woods in their cores for their top range models. Some aren’t even using wood at all. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Synthetic cores can perform well too, and sometimes they can even outperform the natural ones. One thing is also clear: synthetic cores are more regular in their mechanical properties, and therefore easier to control in large production environments. And some of them maintain their properties longer than natural materials. So why still use wood? Did I say price somewhere before?
Look NX 12 B80 Fluid Binding
© Skis Rossignol SAS
Now… if the construction is pretty much the same, the sidecut is identical, the weight difference can be counted in gr. units… what is the difference between the cheaper Dynastar Speed Course Fluid and the Speed Course Pro R20 Racing? It is dead simple. The plate and the binding. Is this relevant? Yes, it is. How much? Well, that is a very good question and good questions need good and complex answers, too. But in short, the NX 12 Fluid B80 is not as racy as the R20 Racing plate. It makes the ski easier to bend, so you don’t need to generate big inertia in order to make it work properly.
So which one to choose? Read both, try both and go for the one you like the most.
