What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I raced the Redster S7 Gen S Stiff Skate Ski on a firm, fast course where I could really load up on each kick, and the stiffer flex gave back exactly the energy I put into it. It took a stronger stride to unlock, but once I found that rhythm, the ski held its speed through long glides without losing pop. This is the build I reach for when the snow is hard and I want every stride to count."The course is firm and fast today, and the Redster S7 Gen S Stiff Skate Ski from Atomic wants you to attack it, not ease into it. Load your weight into a hard, committed kick, feel the ski hold its shape and spring back with real snap, and let that power carry straight into your next stride instead of leaking away underfoot. That reward for effort comes from a build tuned for stronger skiers. The stiffer flex demands a more powerful, committed kick, but returns that energy with a sharper, more explosive glide than a softer setup allows, especially on firm or icy tracks where less flex means more direct contact with the snow. Paired with the Speedline sidecut's forward arc and Racewall construction's solid edge connection, this stiffness is built for racers who already have the technique to make the most of it.