Like our name suggests, at Ski Racing Supplies, we’re primarily a race ski shop. But we recently sent out Olly Farr, one of our joint owners and a former ski-racer, to try out the Dynastar M-Cross 82 Konect NX12, a recreational, all-mountain ski for intermediate to advanced holiday skiers. Here’s what he thought.

What Actually Is an All-Mountain Ski?

Before we get into the review, let’s take a moment to talk about what an “all-mountain ski” is, and what makes it different from freeride or piste skis.

An all-mountain ski is exactly what it sounds like: it’s a ski designed to handle whatever the mountain throws at you, from fresh morning powder to late afternoon slush. They’re typically 75-90mm underfoot, so they sit in the sweet spot between being narrow enough for responsive transitions on groomed slopes whilst also offering good stability and float for heading off-piste.

They’re the skiing equivalent of a Swiss army knife – they’re not the best at anything, but they’re good at everything. If you’re looking for a dedicated ski for a specific discipline such as back country skiing or racing, you’ll find an all-mountain ski falls short. But if you’re a holiday skier looking to have fun across the whole mountain without needing to pack multiple pairs of skis, then all-mountain skis give you that perfect balance to do a bit of everything.

All-Mountain Ski vs Race Ski: Which Should You Buy?

It might seem obvious, but we get asked this question often. Simple answer; buy race skis only if you’re planning on racing. People often think race skis must be better than holiday skis, but in reality, one isn’t better than the other. They’re two different pieces of equipment designed for entirely different things, and which one is best depends on what you plan to use it for.

Race skis are designed specifically for skilled skiers to use in competition. They’re stiff and narrow, designed for precise turns and high speeds on groomed racecourses. If you’re a holiday skier, a race ski might feel unbalanced and difficult to control, even for someone skilled.

All-mountain skis like the Dynastar M-Cross 82 are built for enjoying the full mountain. They’re more forgiving and more versatile across different snow types and terrains, making them a great choice for holiday skiing.

Additionally, race skis usually cost significantly more than all-mountain skis; they’re designed as high-performance equipment for people who train and compete regularly. If you’re a serious racer or a parent of a junior ski racer, a pair of premium race skis are worth it. But if you’re heading to the Alps for a fun week out on the slopes with friends and family, an all-mountain ski is the better option.

What is the Dynastar M-Cross 82 Konect NX12?

The M-Cross 82 Konect is built to offer a balance between freedom and precision. They’re perfect for intermediate to advanced holiday skiers who want to feel confident on different terrains and snow types throughout the day, but without needing to change skis multiple times.

Developed in the heart of the Alps at Dynastar’s factory in the Sallanches, just moments away from iconic ski resorts like Chamonix, the M-Cross Konect NX12 is packed with some of Dynastar’s latest and most innovative technologies.

Dynastar Tech:

• Hybrid Core 2.0 – Dynastar’s patent-pending core design blending wood and PU for a perfect compromise between performance and weight. A three-direction wood layup reduces glued fiberglass layers, making it lighter and more environmentally friendly.
• Central Titanal Layer – Absorbs vibration and transfers power to the ski for a smooth ride even at speed.
• Full Sandwich Sidewall Construction – Full-length vertical edges from tip to tail to maximise grip, giving you precision, balance and power for confident turns.
• Konect Binding System – The binding seamlessly integrates with the ski thanks to Dynastar’s innovative Konect technology, offering 180-degree multi-directional release.
• Directional Rocker Profile – The long tip and tail height offers perfect height to length ratio to let you float over powder whole keeping your grip going into turns, letting you confidently handle all terrain types.
• Coround Topsheet – Gives you durability and protection against the everyday knocks and scrapes that naturally happen when you’re travelling and adventuring with your skis.

Our Dynastar M-Cross 82 Konect NX12 Review

Now you know a bit more about the ski itself, let’s get into the review and find out what Olly thought about the Dynastar M-Cross 82 Konect NX12.

The Pros

• Versatile enough to move from groomed courses to off-piste with no trouble.
• Can handle every terrain type from crisp powder to hard-packed snow and afternoon slush.
• Fast and responsive, making even easy terrain still feel fun.
• Wood and PU core reduces weight, which you can really feel over the course of a long day on the mountain.
• Full sidewall construction delivers excellent grip, while the directional rocker allows for responsive movement.
• Integrated Konect binding system allows the binding and ski work as one unit, improving energy transfer.

What Olly said:

“I’m used to really precise race skis, so I wasn’t expecting much, but the M-Cross 82 was so lively that it surprised me. Edge-to-edge is quick – quicker than I was expecting from an all-mountain ski – making it responsive on hard-pack snow. It’s not a race ski, but it still feels fast, so I had a lot of fun with it. This is the kind of ski I’d pick for heading on holiday with friends and family rather than reaching for my race skis. It’s pretty forgiving which makes it great for just relaxing, which is what I’m looking for from a holiday ski.”

The Cons

• Aimed at intermediate and advanced skiers – beginners should look for a softer, less demanding ski.
• Doesn’t meet FIS standards for racing, purely designed for holiday use.
• Doesn’t offer the same precision as a race ski – if you want a race ski, we recommend looking at our Dynastar race ski range!

What Olly said:

“It’s not a race ski, and if you’re looking for a race ski, you’ll find it disappointing. It’s not going to give you the same precision and you can’t make the same demands. It’s designed for having fun, and it’s great for that.”

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

If you’re an intermediate to advanced skier looking for a holiday ski, the answer is yes, definitely buy it.

The Dynastar M-Cross 82 Konect NX12 is what every holiday ski should be: fun and forgiving, but precise when you need it, and capable across the whole mountain.

It’s feels fun and rewarding but with minimal effort – and honestly, that’s all you want from a holiday ski.