Volkl Bases?

I am riding last year's gotamas, and in about 5 days on them, I have gotten 2 massive coreshots already.

Now I'm not trying to put the blame on volkl, if I don't want my bases to get scratched then I should stick to the groomers, but I did not even notice hitting anything while skiing, it was only after taking the skis off that a big WTF expression came up on my face. And we do not lack snow up here at all...

Has anyone had the same problem before with volkl skis, are the bases chewy, hell I don't even know if the bases differ that much from brand to brand, but just wondering?

Search the threads for commentary on the softer bases that came along with last year's Mantras (softer in contrast to the Explosivs). Squaretail chimed in on the discussion somewhere along the line too.

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...t=Mantra+bases

This thread has some info but not too much regarding the bases

I hit a few covered rocks up at Blackcomb last weekend that I thought would leave a hole but my bases on my 06/07 gotamas came out with only small scratches. I do have one deepish hit right next to the edge that I recieved in early 7th heaven conditions and I wasn't too surprised to see it after hearing the sound of the rock.

I'd say you're hitting rocks under the snow that you don't realize are there, there's still enough of them around.

My bases seem to be holding up fine with some abuse.

I thought the Gotamas had the tougher freeride bases, not the race bases on the Mantras

My Sanouk bases have held up very well. Only small scratches or marks in the bases after I hit rocks and stumps under the snow.

Last years Gotama's have some of the strongest bases around, no joke. I have hit countless rocks HARD and did not get one core shot all last season skiing 100+ days. It is a proven fact that White Bases=stronger but slower and Black (Graphite) Bases= weaker (more susceptible to damage) but faster. You must just hit those rocks smooth...

ah ok thanks for the replies, I guess I just haven't had any luck, and it really pisses me off since within 5 days on these I got 2 massive gouges, even though I skied powder every one of those days... Was there actually an option of choosing the base color or did it just depend on the length (I have black bases)?

Here's the shot, really lucky I didn't blow out the edge at all.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/574/dsc00148zw7.jpg

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Originally Posted by filthyfrenchbum

Was there actually an option of choosing the base color or did it just depend on the length (I have black bases)?

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183 = white
190 = black

I've put some big coreshots in my 190s, but each of them has been deserved. I'd say the base material is good on these skis. Not as good as the bases on my Spatulas, but I'm convinced Volants came with some sort of force field around them. Their base material was damn near indestructable.

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Originally Posted by Arty50

183 = white
190 = black

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Actually, it was just a crap shoot. Some were black, some where white. I had the 183s and the bases were black.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by filthyfrenchbum

ah ok thanks for the replies, I guess I just haven't had any luck, and it really pisses me off since within 5 days on these I got 2 massive gouges, even though I skied powder every one of those days... Was there actually an option of choosing the base color or did it just depend on the length (I have black bases)?

Here's the shot, really lucky I didn't blow out the edge at all.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/574/dsc00148zw7.jpg

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Could have been worse, it looks like you didn't compress or pull out the edge. A good tech can fix that good as new.

I have the '05s in a 190, Black bases, and have hit many rocks this weekend at friggin' alpine. GRRRR! Waterfall blew chunks, and I hit many, many shark teeth at high and low speeds. I was totally expecting to have about an hour's worth of p-texing to do, but I flipped over the bases, and not one core. Mostly just 1/2 millimeter gouges/dings. These things are tough. Way tougher than my Scratch BCs, which look like swiss cheese.

My Karmas are incredibley bulletproof. I skied a rock face in ER 7 at LL last week and barley scuffed them! I have nailed quite a few rocks i thought would surely blow an edge or coreshot. Nothing... I have a mildy compressed edge after dropping off a cliff onto a rock, but even that is far far smaller then i thought it would be.

Just bought a pair of 176 Goats this week, but havent skied enough on them to comment on thier durabilty.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by filthyfrenchbum

I am riding last year's gotamas, and in about 5 days on them, I have gotten 2 massive coreshots already.

Now I'm not trying to put the blame on volkl, if I don't want my bases to get scratched then I should stick to the groomers, but I did not even notice hitting anything while skiing, it was only after taking the skis off that a big WTF expression came up on my face. And we do not lack snow up here at all...

Has anyone had the same problem before with volkl skis, are the bases chewy, hell I don't even know if the bases differ that much from brand to brand, but just wondering?

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Dude, How the hell do you find rocks around here this year? Are you ttowing your skis behind your car on the way to Semore?

Volkl bases have always held up supper well for me, even thou some of there skis have softer base material.

Before you go bitching about it, here are a few things to ponder.

Due to the degree of crystalinity of the base material, softer bases can actually be FASTER in the PNW. Secondly softer base material is WAY EASIER to REPAIR, and the repairs LAST LONGER.

Easy fix, just don't go sticking your finger in the core shot like so many love to do. The oil from your hands will effect how the weld takes.

Gripen-

1st day on the 190 gots today and I compressed about 2 inches of an edge and it also DESTROYED my sidewall. not dropping anything, just blowing through crud and banged it. SUCKS.

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Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

Dude, How the hell do you find rocks around here this year? Are you ttowing your skis behind your car on the way to Semore?

Volkl bases have always held up supper well for me, even thou some of there skis have softer base material.

Before you go bitching about it, here are a few things to ponder.

Due to the degree of crystalinity of the base material, softer bases can actually be FASTER in the PNW. Secondly softer base material is WAY EASIER to REPAIR, and the repairs LAST LONGER.

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I'm not bitching about volkl bases, I was just making sure it was nothing that had happened to anyone else previously, thanks for the base info anyways, I have noticed they were pretty quick un-waxed with slight scratches.

Hell I don't ride seymour, I've only been up to Whistler this season, and I think I have some kind of talent to find rocks. Last season I got 2 coreshots mid-january. I don't ski recklessly either, but I do like to explore to find untracked stuff since I ski inbounds, which might just be the problem.

Tough luck I guess, skis are made to be worn out, and the gots rock my world anyways...

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Originally Posted by powXer

Gripen-

1st day on the 190 gots today and I compressed about 2 inches of an edge and it also DESTROYED my sidewall. not dropping anything, just blowing through crud and banged it. SUCKS.

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Ouch.

FWIW I have the 05/06 Gots in 190 with white bases, and they have been basically bulletproof....know I hit some rocks and logs today as well as earlier in the season, and not even so much as a scratch.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by powXer

Gripen-

1st day on the 190 gots today and I compressed about 2 inches of an edge and it also DESTROYED my sidewall. not dropping anything, just blowing through crud and banged it. SUCKS.

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Man that sucks! Hopefully not indicative of newer Gots. Going to poke around in some cliff bands today, scoping out landings and lines for the next storm.

Maybe I'll take the Karmas instead! Like I said though, the Karma bases have been incredibly durable.

I've 183 Gotamas w/ white bases. Strong as a bull.

Irregardlesss, you are skiing off-piste early in the season, what do you expect?

The shape of the rock you hit and the angle of the impact prob has a lot to do with it as well. It sounds like you just got really unlucky. You can now consider all of your bad luck used up for the season. Dial it to 11 and have fun.

I think Jerr hit the nail on the head. I've had hits that felt nasty making me afraid to look at the bases that didn't mark the white bases at all. But I've also got a huge coreshot on one base that came from what felt like nothing at all. Shape and angle, roll the dice.

irregardless is not a word
grammar police checking in and don't use orientate either....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

Dude, How the hell do you find rocks around here this year? Are you ttowing your skis behind your car on the way to Semore?

Volkl bases have always held up supper well for me, even thou some of there skis have softer base material.

Before you go bitching about it, here are a few things to ponder.

Due to the degree of crystalinity of the base material, softer bases can actually be FASTER in the PNW. Secondly softer base material is WAY EASIER to REPAIR, and the repairs LAST LONGER.

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i love when you get technical
it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside that im not the only complete enginerd dork 'round these parts.

It's weird to hear about all the white bases being so bomber. I've got some 190 goats from last season with white bases. i put three coreshots in one ski in the first couple months I was riding them. At least one of them I remember thinking, how the hell did I do that? Because I didn't feel my skis hit anything. I think they've got the softest bases I've ever skied on.

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Originally Posted by waxman

irregardless is not a word
grammar police checking in and don't use orientate either....

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Irregardless of your own ignorance and lack of timing, it is a word. Non-standard word, but a word indeed. Grammar Internal Affairs say so:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/irregardless

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Originally Posted by PNW Skier

It's weird to hear about all the white bases being so bomber.

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Why should it be weird? The only difference between white and black bases is the black pigment added. There is no difference in the materials. Remeber base material comes in varying degrees of hardness (crystalinity). The color is just wich pigment happens to be added. Hell if the ski mfg is willing to pay the $$$ you can get any base material in any color you want.

Just remeber that sinisterd base material is always tougher than extruded.

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Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

Why should it be weird? The only difference between white and black bases is the black pigment added. There is no difference in the materials. Remeber base material comes in varying degrees of hardness (crystalinity). The color is just wich pigment happens to be added. Hell if the ski mfg is willing to pay the $$$ you can get any base material in any color you want.

Just remeber that sinisterd base material is always tougher than extruded.

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I was just referring to the guys talking about the black bases being less durable than the whites on the gotamas. Being that my goats are the only skis I have with white bases and they are the softest, easiest to damage bases I've ever had. It makes sense that the color wouldn't have anything to do with it though.

My 185 Karmas have white bases on them and they are pretty durable as far as I am concerned. I hit a few sharks on them early season and they have held up just fine. Just a question, if you need p-tex repair for a ski with a white base, do they have white p-tex for them? Honestly it doesn't matter what my bases look like, as long as they work.

you can only get black and clear PTEX, and sometimes red.

wiki-anything is not a valid reference tool and you will be docked marks in technical writing for the use of either of those words,,,,