All Things Volkl Thread

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Originally Posted by gaijin

Okay. I’m just gonna say it—

Some random dude dropping in to any ski thread all like “I had them @ -3 and really liked them.”

Is absolute bullshit.


Say something.

Who are you? What’s your boot size? What the fuck are you talking about?

“I choose to stand 3cm behind the engineers’ recommended spot, and I liked that, so you should all listen to me.”

TGR posters- get your shit together or we’re gonna have to call Jongslaughter back to the table.


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We're all random dudes here. Question was pretty short as was my answer. I don't recall who exactly, but some team riders mount it there (google might help you). I generally prefer more traditionally mounted skis (M102, K108, BMT109, KVW etc.) and at -3 they didn't require tons of adjustments in my stance and I was able to maintain a forward stance in about 18" of fresh dense snow. I sold them anyway since they are not versatile enough for me once things are tracked out and I don't do spins or land switch.

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Paul Forward was saying that some heli guides even go -6cm.

Also I have no respect for the designers mount point on most forward mounted skis, a lot of them have mounts that are 5+cm in front of the center of the sidecut which automatically adds to the playful and easy to turn nature, this is also why a lot of them suck at rec.

Hello everyone,

Looking to replace my 177cm kendo 88 (1st gen 3d radius). Although I like it for its maneuverability, ability to make any turn shape and it’s a very good carver it lacks a bit of top end stability and I would like something longer, wider with longer radius that’s better off piste . It’s my narrower ski in my 2 ski quiver, with the wider being the 192 blizzard rustler 11 (the orange one) which I really like. The ski I mostly consider is the new mantra 102 but I don’t know which size to get, 184 or 191. I know the 191 is a big jump from the 177 kendo but it always felt short and I never had any problem with the 192 rustler. I also consider the Nordica enforcer 100 but I am open to any other suggestion.

Me: 1.86m and 85kg, I consider myself I high intermediate who likes to ski fast and aggressive, mostly open terrain.
Thank you all!
(not sure I posted at the right thread)

Not saying you should do this or that, but 184 Mantra 102s are a lot more ski than 188 Rustler 11s.
No idea about comparisons between the longer lengths, but I would be very surprised if the 191 Mantra weren’t very much more ski than your Rustlers.

That being said, the 102s are great skis, and I’ve never wished for more ski than the 184s. I simpely don’t need it. Especially in the 1st gen 102s. The new ones a supposed to be slightly easier going

The new M102 is more fun/energetic while maintaining most of the stability of the first generation version. It feels like a wide, more stable M6 to me. I’m more apt to recommend it than the original, which can end up being too much ski for modern tastes.

God damn I still love the OGs so fun. Got my first grind after ~30 days and was nervous about how it was going to go but they were nice and loose in the tip and tailhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d29117efa9.jpg

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Originally Posted by bry

God damn I still love the OGs so fun. Got my first grind after ~30 days and was nervous about how it was going to go but they were nice and loose in the tip and tail

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Twss

Heh

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Originally Posted by MottN

Nice, thanks! That's exactly what I am going to do. Are you using the freeride spacer or without?

My original concern was that the hole would be more like this and the drill center just off the plate would make the hole wander. But I had the dimension for the narrow toe and the narrow heel like the crest has mixed up in my head.

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I'm using the freeride spacer. I haven't tried the ATKs without, but I can say they definitely ski well with them.

I didn't notice any drill bit wandering.

Skied them more and they seem fine. Relating to the rest of this thread though, the recommended mount point on these seems real far back. I might remount them +2.

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Originally Posted by bry

God damn I still love the OGs so fun. Got my first grind after ~30 days and was nervous about how it was going to go but they were nice and loose in the tip and tail

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Twss

Heh

ATK haute route 10 (BD Helio 200) just showed up for mount on Volkl Rise Above 88 and seeing the screws will narrowly penetrate the edge of the H plate. Seeing some comments above that the H may be marketing bs. Can anyone confirm before I spend cash on a wider binding adjustment plate?
Attachment 455650

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Originally Posted by skialpy

ATK haute route 10 (BD Helio 200) just showed up for mount on Volkl Rise Above 88 and seeing the screws will narrowly penetrate the edge of the H plate. Seeing some comments above that the H may be marketing bs. Can anyone confirm before I spend cash on a wider binding adjustment plate?
Attachment 455650

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It’s not bullshit, despite what people may say. If you’ve looked at some Volkl skis with clear sections in the top sheets, like the old VTA series, you can see the H shape sections where they use a harder wood. It’s darker in Color and clearly visible. Also the grooves they cut in the base of the core to lighten it aren’t present under the H binding pattern. Having said that, I know plenty of people that have mounted Volkl skis with the H shaped binding pattern with binding hole patterns that are outside that area and have had no problems. I’ve always respected it though and have ried to find bindings that fit within it. You never know.


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Originally Posted by skialpy

Can anyone confirm before I spend cash on a wider binding adjustment plate?

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it is a thing, but I would have absolutely zero concerns mounting the depicted bindings.

the "ignore it" sentiment is usually concerning v werks construction skis where the "only use Marker bindings" was marketing bullshit.

I'll concede the point. The many v werks skis I've drilled have had no difference with the supposed H zone. But I haven't had a non v werks volkl since the og gotama.

If other models do have a plate or core wood difference to the H zone, then I stand corrected and will back off the rant. I'd like to see some OQE, though, if someone can post a picture.

Carry on.

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Originally Posted by skialpy

ATK haute route 10 (BD Helio 200) just showed up for mount on Volkl Rise Above 88 and seeing the screws will narrowly penetrate the edge of the H plate. Seeing some comments above that the H may be marketing bs. Can anyone confirm before I spend cash on a wider binding adjustment plate?

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I've been skiing a pair of Rise Above 88s for about 60,000' vertical with ATK crests mounted. The crest mounting pattern looks like it shares the back holes with the Haute Route but the front heel holes are wide enough to hit fully within the H. No issues personally so far. Was mounted by Telemark Pyrenees and they didn't take issue with it either - don't know if that's much evidence one way or the other though.

Thank you all for the response and sorry for the late reply!

I think I will go for the 184 to keep it a bit more maneuverable

Question for the masses.

I've really enjoyed a pair of BMT 122's I picked up this season to the point where I haven't touched my older voile chargers and try to rationalize taking them over my 0G 105s in anything over 3 inches of new snow. I'd like to replace the chargers with something that has the same, gives zero fucks about conditions, dampness, and shape as the bmt 122s, but is a little better suited for the 2-8 inches of new snow on top of firm I keep taking the BMTs out in.

The BMT 109s is the obviously choice but I'm not sure about them being softer than the 122s as I like how hard I can push the 122s. It's rare I actually get the BMT 122 tips to to flap/chatter, but really like how much they love big high speed turns and wouldn't want to compromise too much on that. A friend swears by the v-werks katana which seems look a solid option aside from being a touch heavier that I like to tour on and overlapping more with the BMT 122 than I really need. For what it's worth I'm #160 and would only be using these skis in the BC.

Thoughts? Recs of other volkl or non-volkl skis I should consider are appreciated. Thanks in advance

How 'bout Heritage Labs C113?

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Originally Posted by waxoff

How 'bout Heritage Labs C113?

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Compelling, but the grad student budget probably means I’m limited to picking something up used.

Thanks

Nunataqs
If you can find a pair.

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Originally Posted by Blaster

Compelling, but the grad student budget probably means I’m limited to picking something up used.

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I own Dynafit Beast 108s as a budget BMT 109. BMTs are better in pretty much every way, but I am happy with the way the Dynafits ski for the price. Other than the Heritage Lab skis, they are the most similar skis available to the BMT 109 that I have tried. I have also heard good things about the current-gen Dynafit Free 107. The Volkl Blaze 106 may also be worth considering since it can be found cheap, but it has more sidecut than the BMT and the Beast.

I actually didn't like my K108s with the factory tune. They were a bit edge high and overall inconsistent. On harder snow they were chattery/skittery and did not carve worth a shit. I took them to the Moment factory for a base grind and tune. I think they do a 1.5/1.5. Made a huge difference to where they became a wide ski with a harder snow bias. They still suck in terms of floatation in powder as a perennial bottom feeder. I would have sold them if it wasn't for the new tune.

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Originally Posted by Blaster

The BMT 109s is the obviously choice but I'm not sure about them being softer than the 122s as I like how hard I can push the 122s. It's rare I actually get the BMT 122 tips to to flap/chatter, but really like how much they love big high speed turns and wouldn't want to compromise too much on that.

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BMT109s and 122s ski pretty similarly. Their flex pattern should be fairly similar too. The main difference is the amount of splay and the length of the flatter section underfoot - more of the former with BMT122 and more of the latter with BMT109s.
Attachment 458362Attachment 458363
I have yet to try any touring ski series that I like as much as the original BMT94/109/122 lineup. BMT90s are great too imho. Their main issue nowadays is that their carbon heavy construction - 6 layers - has gotten incredibly expensive post covid. I am actually kinda surprised that Völkl still make them as Rize and Blaze skis must take up the vast majority of sales in the touring segment, but I am for one glad that they are still being made. Absolutely killer skis.

That being said, especially blaze skis have been getting very favorable reviews for striking a similar balance between precision and feeling loose & schmeary. I have not tried them, and while they are not as light as BMTs they sure are a lot cheaper.

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Originally Posted by Blaster

A friend swears by the v-werks katana which seems look a solid option aside from being a touch heavier that I like to tour on and overlapping more with the BMT 122 than I really need.

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Katana's are fun too, but their mount point is a bit too far back imho and they are not quite as smooth and loose as BMTs. They are better on edge though and has a fair bit more umph to handle variable, but I still prefer BMT109s to them by quite a bit.

I am also constantly trying to not buy my fifth? pair of Mantra VWerks to give them another go. I really liked them in the past, but always ended up prefering the various BMTs to them and letting them go. I gues I should do the sensible thing and just mount my new to me BMT94 176s and leave the Mantra VWs alone.

I guess a Faction La Machine 3 Mega could fit the ticket as well. Dispatch110s look somewhat similar on paper, but skis a bit less potently imho.

In addition to BMT 122,109 & 94’s, I have Katana’s and VTA 108’s. The Katana’s weight pretty much exactly the same as the 122’s but are more chargy. I really like the VTA 108 for serious touring and big open face skiing when I want a more locked in feel skiing fast. They are very versatile. Just came back from skiing them in Norway where I preferred them to the BMT 109. Sadly, they are no longer made and hard to find.


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Thanks all, it seems like my concerns about the 109s weren't as justified as I thought and I should probably try to pick up the used pair for sale in my neighborhood and go from there. Any other thoughts on the speed limit of the 109s are welcome.

Skiing stoke for ski advice karma
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All the BMT discussion makes me want some 109’s too. Too bad this group of skis isn’t still being built. I’m stoked to get out on new to me 94’s here soon.


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