2027 Radar Vapor Pro Build Slalom Ski - Textreme / Cloud White
2027 Radar Vapor Pro Build Slalom Ski More space. Easier turns. More stability. Built for the moment that determines the pass. The all-new 2027 Radar Vapor is the result of more than two years of development, with a clear objective: build a Vapor that doesn't just perform for the best skiers in the world, but helps more skiers ski better. For 2027, Radar reworked virtually every part of how the Vapor interacts with the water—from its sidecut and bevel geometry to its rocker, forward support and construction. The goal was simple: Create more space. Make the ski easier to turn. Give the skier more stability and predictability. The result is still unmistakably a Vapor—fast, aggressive and capable of running the shortest lines—but it delivers that performance with a noticeably more level, connected and intuitive feel. Performance Ski & Surf First Look: Inside the 2027 Vapor On August 7, we spent time talking directly with Matt Rini about the development of the new Vapor and, more importantly, why he made the changes he did. As Radar's first dealer and one of its select Premier Dealers, we've been around the Vapor through every generation. What stood out in our conversation with Matt is that this ski wasn't developed around one isolated performance number or simply trying to make the Vapor more aggressive. Matt kept coming back to three things: More space. Easier turns. More stability. Once you understand those objectives, the new shape starts to make a lot of sense. New Sidecut — A More Level Platform Sidecut is one of the biggest pieces of the 2027 Vapor story. Radar narrowed the belly of the ski while adding width through the tail. According to Matt, this helps reduce the tendency of the ski to ride excessively tail-down or "wheelie" behind the boat. Instead, the new Vapor rides more level underneath the skier with a more consistent tip height. Why does that matter? A more level ski gives the skier a more stable platform, better leverage and the ability to carry speed without constantly managing fore-and-aft movement. The ski feels calmer underneath you—but it's still moving. The Bevel May Be the Biggest Change One of the most interesting parts of our conversation with Matt was his explanation of the new bevel philosophy. Think about the edge of a snow ski. When a snow ski is tuned, you don't sharpen several completely different edge angles along its length. You create a consistent edge. Matt applied a similar philosophy to the new Vapor. Instead of relying on multiple rounded or blended bevel transitions, the 2027 Vapor uses a consistent bevel angle running through the length of the ski. The width of that bevel naturally changes from the nose through the tail as the thickness and shape of the ski change—but the angle itself remains consistent. More importantly, the bevel has been moved farther underneath the ski. That change allows the Vapor to: Roll onto edge more easily Continue rolling farther onto edge Establish direction more naturally Respond more consistently as the skier commits to the turn The idea isn't that the skier has to force the Vapor onto edge. The ski wants to go there. And because the bevel geometry remains consistent through the ski, the feedback from tip to tail becomes more predictable. More Support When You Move Forward Another major change is where the ski supports the skier. The Vapor's wide point has moved forward, and the forward portion of the ski incorporates less concave to create additional support. Matt's explanation was straightforward: when you stand on the nose of the ski, there is more support there. That gives the skier greater confidence to continue moving forward through the turn rather than having to back away from the front of the ski. For an aggressive skier, that means you can confidently move over your front foot. For a skier still improving technique, it creates a more supportive platform for making the correct movement. Either way, the ski is working with you rather than punishing you for moving forward. Three Rocker Relationships Working Together The 2027 Vapor isn't defined by a single rocker measurement. Matt described three different contours working together through the ski: Top rocker Bevel rocker Center concave / tunnel rocker Those shapes work together to control how the Vapor sits in the water, transitions onto edge and moves through the turn. One particularly noticeable change is through the tail. From approximately the back of the rear binding inserts toward the fin, the ski becomes exceptionally flat. That flatter tail works with the new sidecut and bevel design to help the Vapor remain level, stable and efficient while carrying speed. Built to Stay Consistent Shape wasn't Matt's only priority. Construction was equally important. One of his goals with the new Vapor was to build a ski that was, in his words and philosophy, essentially bulletproof—not simply light and responsive when new, but structurally consistent and durable enough to maintain that performance for years. Radar returned to a more traditional construction philosophy focused heavily on improving the bond between the core and surrounding composite materials. The goal is: Better material bonding Greater manufacturing consistency Increased durability Better long-term performance More consistent feel from set to set Less variation as water and temperature conditions change The idea is that a great Vapor shouldn't just feel great during its first few sets. Set 500 should still feel like the ski you fell in love with. Pro Build Construction M-100 Core Radar's high-density 100 kg/m³ foam core provides the foundation for the Pro Build's response and long-term consistency. Its memory-retention characteristics help the ski maintain its intended flex and feel through repeated use. Textreme Carbon Fiber Textreme spread-tow carbon minimizes unnecessary crimp and resin, allowing Radar to create a structure that is lightweight, strong and extremely responsive. Closed-Chain Construction The ski's core and composite materials work together as one integrated structure, improving energy transfer while supporting the durability and consistency that were central to the 2027 development project. What Will You Feel Coming From an Older Vapor? Probably the most important question. Matt's answer continually came back to space and predictability. The 2027 Vapor should immediately feel more level underneath you. Tip height remains more consistent. The ski rolls onto edge naturally, carries speed efficiently and gives you more support as you move forward. There's less wondering about what the ski is going to do next. It feels more automatic. Not automatic in the sense that the ski does everything for you—but automatic in the sense that its reactions are more predictable. Move correctly and the Vapor responds. Push harder and the ski allows what Matt described as controlled aggression—the ability to attack the course while still having feel, stability and confidence underneath you. The Performance Take After talking with Matt about this ski, our biggest takeaway is that the 2027 Vapor isn't simply about making the Vapor faster or more aggressive. It's about making its performance more usable. More support when you move forward. More natural roll onto edge. A more level ride. More consistent tip height. More predictable feedback. And ultimately, more space before the next buoy. That's an important distinction. The 2027 Vapor retains the speed and short-line capability that have always defined Radar's flagship ski, but this generation was developed with a broader objective: Make a Vapor that allows more skiers to ski closer to their potential. When the pass gets short and everything happens faster, you shouldn't have to wonder what your ski is going to do. The 2027 Vapor is designed to be there for the moment.