Katana 108 - the resurrerection

Can anyone here give a direct comparison to the OG Cochise? I'm currently on the 185 Cochise, and I really like them, but sometimes I have to force myself to ski them aggressively or they just punish me. Like today, typical resort a few days after a big cycle, where there is still lots of soft crud, but the trenches are starting to get really deep and bigger moguls are forming. I felt like I had to ski three runs before it came together for me today and I was driving them.

I ski the V-werks Katana as a bc setup and it may be my favorite ski ever, but I think it would be too light for me in the resort.

Skied the OG Cochises 185 exclusively for 7-8 years and now on the K108 184. In a nutshell the OG Cochises are a muscle car from the 70s and the Katanas are current. The Katana does imo everything better except buttery slarves and that’s even close. Tried my Cochises last week for the first time in two years to see if I was missing something. Took one run and changed back to the K108s. I also ski the Vwerks which are also one of my favorite skis for certain conditions.

Sylvan’s and Bandit Man’s reviews are spot on.


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Originally Posted by swissbro

Skied the OG Cochises 185 exclusively for 7-8 years and now on the K108 184. In a nutshell the OG Cochises are a muscle car from the 70s and the Katanas are current. The Katana does imo everything better except buttery slarves and that’s even close. Tried my Cochises last week for the first time in two years to see if I was missing something. Took one run and changed back to the K108s. I also ski the Vwerks which are also one of my favorite skis for certain conditions.

Sylvan’s and Bandit Man’s reviews are spot on.


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Awesome thanks, I think I need to get on a pair and try them.


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Another question, I found a pair, mounted on the line for a 295bsl. I’m at 305 bsl and seller confirms that the bindings have enough adjustment to work without remount. However, that would put me at 1/2 cm back from the line and it seems most here like these at plus 1cm from the line.

Am I going to notice being back 1/2 cms (1.5 cms from what most are mounting)? I guess I could always remount the toe a cm forward and end up plus 1/2 cm from line. Am I overthinking this?

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

Another question, I found a pair, mounted on the line for a 295bsl. I’m at 305 bsl and seller confirms that the bindings have enough adjustment to work without remount. However, that would put me at 1/2 cm back from the line and it seems most here like these at plus 1cm from the line.

Am I going to notice being back 1/2 cms (1.5 cms from what most are mounting)? I guess I could always remount the toe a cm forward and end up plus 1/2 cm from line. Am I overthinking this?

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How big are you and what size are you skiing?

Was going to say, ski them and remount the tow if they feel too long, but you figured it out. They have a pretty decent sweet spot and you know when you’re in it, because the ski works and becomes relatively easy to manage. Get in the back seat and it gets a bit tougher to turn. The tail isn’t overly stiff, though. Great ski that is hard to beat if it works for your style and locale.

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

How big are you and what size are you skiing?

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5’11” and 170. 184’s.

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

5’11” and 170. 184’s.

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I think you’ll be fine. The 184 is the right size. And if you want to get on the shovels more, do the remount. I’m 5’ 8” and 200-lbs. I have some weight on you, but I’m a 25.5 mounted on the rear line, which some would say equates to being -1-cm behind it. I’m pretty happy with them there.

Also, you asked about comparisons to the OG Cochise in the 185. I’ve had a pair since they came out. I believe that the new Katana is a better resort ski in every way except maybe for pivoting or smearing in trees where the zero camber Cochise gets the edge. I’d say they are neck in neck straight-lining in crud, but that the Katana floats better in deep snow where the Cochise tends to submarine. I’ve only skied my OG Cochise twice since owning the Katana and am seriously considering selling them. The Katana is just more fun, less work, and far more versatile.

Deleted for reading compression fail.

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Originally Posted by Bandit Man

I think you’ll be fine. The 184 is the right size. And if you want to get on the shovels more, do the remount. I’m 5’ 8” and 200-lbs. I have some weight on you, but I’m a 25.5 mounted on the rear line, which some would say equates to being -1-cm behind it. I’m pretty happy with them there.

Also, you asked about comparisons to the OG Cochise in the 185. I’ve had a pair since they came out. I believe that the new Katana is a better resort ski in every way except maybe for pivoting or smearing in trees where the zero camber Cochise gets the edge. I’d say they are neck in neck straight-lining in crud, but that the Katana floats better in deep snow where the Cochise tends to submarine. I’ve only skied my OG Cochise twice since owning the Katana and am seriously considering selling them. The Katana is just more fun, less work, and far more versatile.

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Ok, I swear I read it here but can’t find it now; which line of the three is the recommended line? I assume the center line and then the other two are +1 and -1?

Just getting the bindings adjusted to my boot and trying to determine where I’ll fall. He claimed he was on the line at 295 bsl but I don’t think he was.

Furthest back is rec, then +1 and 2.

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Originally Posted by Sylvan

Furthest back is rec, then +1 and 2.

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Interesting. The guy I bought them from assumed the shop had mounted them “on the line” for him at 295, but he was +2. It looks like at 305 I am +1.5 cm now.

I assume I may lose a touch of float in powder but will that bother me at all in typical 2 day after the storm resort conditions? I’m excited to give them a try either way.

Mounts are obv personal, but I’m at plus 1 and happy (317 BSL/P15/Krypton). Didn’t try ‘em elsewhere though. Think Shorty played with mounts via demos and landed plus 1 as well. I would personally prefer plus 1.5 to the line. YMMV and Happy New Year!

1st powder day on the k108. 1ft-1.h ft, medium density powder.
I'm 160 lbs, and the skis are 177, mounted on the most forward if the three lines.

My last skis were 184 metal katanas 112.

I felt today that if i load the tips like on the 112s, the tips were diving. I adjusted my stance and they skied ok.

But I'm wondering if i mounted them to far forward. The ski in front of the binding looks really short even compared to my 178 vwerks mantras.

Any comments?

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Shorter length of a ski that skis kinda short, mounted at +2, and you have some tip dive? Fascinating.

If it were me I’d mount at recommended and see if that felt better.

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Originally Posted by Mustonen

Shorter length of a ski that skis kinda short, mounted at +2, and you have some tip dive? Fascinating.

If it were me I’d mount at recommended and see if that felt better.

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+1...and the K108 is narrower with less rocker. I would also add that the K108 does fine in up to about a foot of powder, but it wouldn't be my choice as a powder day ski...more like for the day after.

Which one is the recommended like?
There are 3

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Originally Posted by rod9301

Which one is the recommended like?
There are 3

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The long one. Then +1, +2.

I skied mine for the first time. I’m 5’11”, 165 pounds mounted at +1.5 on the 184. They skied great on groomers and anywhere without moguls that I could let them run but I’m not sure they are the daily driver I’m looking for. In moguls, I found them to be a handful. Moguls were medium to large size (for Snowbasin) with a little bit of softness to them, and random spacing. I fully admit that this may be a technique thing as it’s not my favorite condition and never been a strong suite. It felt like I had a hard time staying in the front of my boots through the bumps. I can probably let this go as I’ll normally search out something else to ski.

The other area that I had some trouble was in steep, tight trees with lightly tracked to untracked, settled snow of about 12 inches. They felt a little too locked into turns for this condition. Like I would commit to a turn but then see the spacing in the trees differently and it didn’t feel like I could easily release and change the turn shape, which would put me off of my preferred line.

I’m going to spend some more time on them and see if they click. I have a feeling that if I could spend a sunny day in open terrain I would love them for that. But I am looking for the elusive quiver of one here.

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

I skied mine for the first time. I’m 5’11”, 165 pounds mounted at +1.5 on the 184. They skied great on groomers and anywhere without moguls that I could let them run but I’m not sure they are the daily driver I’m looking for. In moguls, I found them to be a handful. Moguls were medium to large size (for Snowbasin) with a little bit of softness to them, and random spacing. I fully admit that this may be a technique thing as it’s not my favorite condition and never been a strong suite. It felt like I had a hard time staying in the front of my boots through the bumps. I can probably let this go as I’ll normally search out something else to ski.

The other area that I had some trouble was in steep, tight trees with lightly tracked to untracked, settled snow of about 12 inches. They felt a little too locked into turns for this condition. Like I would commit to a turn but then see the spacing in the trees differently and it didn’t feel like I could easily release and change the turn shape, which would put me off of my preferred line.

I’m going to spend some more time on them and see if they click. I have a feeling that if I could spend a sunny day in open terrain I would love them for that. But I am looking for the elusive quiver of one here.

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Seems like you had a pretty typical K108 experience. :) They absolutely rule in the proper environments and you start to see the limitations in tight spaces and deeper snow. I tend to avoid bumps when I'm on them. I also find them quite manageable in like 6"-8" of fresh snow is fine, but the minimal tail rocker is an issue when it gets deeper or heavier. They are one of the more "serious" skis out in the market today, albeit fairly accessible when they have room to run.

My one-two DD approach is either my M102/K108 on firmer or variable days and my MFree108's when it's deeper and softer. Sounds like you had them out on an Mfree108 kind of day. ;)

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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

I skied mine for the first time. I’m 5’11”, 165 pounds mounted at +1.5 on the 184. They skied great on groomers and anywhere without moguls that I could let them run but I’m not sure they are the daily driver I’m looking for. In moguls, I found them to be a handful. Moguls were medium to large size (for Snowbasin) with a little bit of softness to them, and random spacing. I fully admit that this may be a technique thing as it’s not my favorite condition and never been a strong suite. It felt like I had a hard time staying in the front of my boots through the bumps. I can probably let this go as I’ll normally search out something else to ski.

The other area that I had some trouble was in steep, tight trees with lightly tracked to untracked, settled snow of about 12 inches. They felt a little too locked into turns for this condition. Like I would commit to a turn but then see the spacing in the trees differently and it didn’t feel like I could easily release and change the turn shape, which would put me off of my preferred line.

I’m going to spend some more time on them and see if they click. I have a feeling that if I could spend a sunny day in open terrain I would love them for that. But I am looking for the elusive quiver of one here.

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You might like the new QST 106 too. I own both. The QST has much more camber and more early rise, especially in the tail. It skis lighter and quicker than the Volkl. I thought I would probably sell one of them but they are different enough to keep both.

BTW, I scored them not long ago from Ptex1 at a nice price.

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Originally Posted by Beder

You might like the new QST 106 too. I own both. The QST has much more camber and more early rise, especially in the tail. It skis lighter and quicker than the Volkl. I thought I would probably sell one of them but they are different enough to keep both.

BTW, I scored them not long ago from Ptex1 at a nice price.

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Curious what length you are on for both skis?


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Originally Posted by zion zig zag

Curious what length you are on for both skis?


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184 Katana and 181 QST. I hesitated with the 181 thinking no way, too short, but it feels right.

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Originally Posted by Beder

I hesitated with the 181 thinking no way, too short, but it feels right.

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Ha, exactly. I may have to try some, I’m curious now.

Can anyone compare K108 and MPro 105? Have been enjoying my Katana but snagged a pair of new MP105 and now have some remorse to mount them if no one buys it.

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You should enjoy having both. You would grab the LP105 less but when you skied it it would put a huge smile on your face. Once you nail the tune to your spec to offset the camber, you can't beat that build and shape IMO

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