Katana 108 - the resurrerection

[ticketchecker]

^^hard to argue with that.


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[Shorty_J]

Yup... still love these skis!

I honestly think they make be a better skier, and I don't find them at all overwhelming in tight spaces or moguls.

If I was skiing moguls all day I might pick something else, but totally manageable.

[Bandit Man]

Yup... still love these skis!

I honestly think they make be a better skier, and I don't find them at all overwhelming in tight spaces or moguls.

If I was skiing moguls all day I might pick something else, but totally manageable.

So, no buyer’s remorse? [emoji6]

[Shorty_J]

So, no buyer’s remorse? [emoji6]

Nope! [emoji16]

There were a few moments today when I just shouted out loud as I calmly rolled over chop I would second guess on other skis.... so fun!

And I also find that the don't need speed... you can noodle around on them just fine if you want to.

[Bandit Man]

Nope! [emoji16]

There were a few moments today when I just shouted out loud as I calmly rolled over chop I would second guess on other skis.... so fun!

And I also find that the don't need speed... you can noodle around on them just fine if you want to.

I’m pretty stoked that your are so pleased with them. I know you wrestled with the decision, so happy to hear you are finding the benefits of the ski the same way I did.

And you are right, for such a powerful and stable ski, they are not demanding. I can’t wait to ski mine again after our next storm and improved coverage.


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[Shorty_J]

When are you taking yours out, kc?

[kc_7777]

When are you taking yours out, kc?

Glad to hear you still like yours. I still think open terrain choice will be key on the K108.

Expecting deep pow at Whistler this Saturday so it’s either Icelantic Nomad 115s or Dynastar Proto 118s or R11s or Salomon Blanks. Haha. All 4 rip pow. Dang.

Prolly will be a January midweek day, a few days after a storm, when the lift lines at Harmony are not crazy.

Heading to near Nelson for Xmas, and we’re hoping for deep pow at Red and Whitewater.

Honestly I am really looking forward to skiing the K108s on Volkl l’s middle line (+1 where you like yours)….with an open mind.

Regardless, you guys will be the first to hear what I think!

[Shorty_J]

^^^ right on.

I'm very interested to hear how you get along with them at that mount point

It makes complete sense to me that a more forward mount that you tried on the mantra made for too much tail and a bit of a more demanding ride.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

[SnowCreekChad]

Nope! [emoji16]

There were a few moments today when I just shouted out loud as I calmly rolled over chop I would second guess on other skis.... so fun!

And I also find that the don't need speed... you can noodle around on them just fine if you want to.

Glad to hear you like the K108. Such a great ski...

[Bandit Man]

It was so good to get back on these boards today. I forgot how good it was. After this next storm, I’m taking out my 191’s to see how much more stable they are. Why do I even own other skis?




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[Shorty_J]

Why do I even own other skis?




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This is a valid question. Right now I feel like I might be able to get away with a 2 ski quiver in large part because of the k108.

But I'll probably still bring more than 2 pairs for a bit while I figure out if this is really possible. [emoji1]

[bry]

I was talking last week to some guys on the revolt 121s and they love the 3D in those as well.

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[rod9301]

Do you think that the k108 skis bumps easier than the original metal katanas?

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[Bandit Man]

Do you think that the k108 skis bumps easier than the original metal katanas?

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Yes. It not as stiff of a ski. But I’ve only skied the 184 and they are quite manageable in bumps for how stable they are at speed and in variable stuff. Not sure about the longer 191.

[Lord Thomas]

It was so good to get back on these boards today. I forgot how good it was. After this next storm, I’m taking out my 191’s to see how much more stable they are. Why do I even own other skis?




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So you can determine that they are too long and will eventually kill you in the night... and that you want to sell them quick and cheap to me

[SnowCreekChad]

I was talking last week to some guys on the revolt 121s and they love the 3D in those as well.

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I think that will be my perfect 2 ski quiver.. The Revolt 121 and the K108.. The issue is finding a revolt right now... There isn't many around.

[Bandit Man]

So, I spent a few hours on the 191 K108 today. Conditions were cold but carve-able groomers and firm variable off piste with small pockets of leftover powder. I have Warden demos on them which makes them even heavier, and skied them on the line.

Oh my…these things want to run. They beg you to go as fast as possible on groomers and feel more stable than my 184’s. I also noticed the slightly larger turn radius under foot, which I preferred over the tighter radius on the 184. I tried, but couldn’t find the speed limit.

I took some runs of trail even though conditions were in the firm side and everything was skied out and bumped up. In the bumps, they felt planky. My 184’s are much more manageable there. The tails are easy to break loose, but I did notice the extra length in the shovel. They weren’t anywhere near as “automatic” for me as my 184’s when navigating tight quarters. They definitely took some focus and effort there. The tips and the heavy swing wait were very noticeable. These felt like a much bigger ski and just more ski than the 184.

So, big skis for a bigger mountain than I was on today. I look forward to getting my ski legs and trying them out somewhere I can let them run.

[kc_7777]

Bman - I still haven’t been on my K108s….too much snow at Whitewater. Can’t believe you are on 191s.

My 11 yr old daughter is loving her 148cm Mantras and 153cm Confessions. She even did a little skiing behind the truck with a water ski rope on her 153cm Confessions (like a Katana for kids)…she appreciated the full rocker in the deep snowbanks:

[Bandit Man]

Bman - I still haven’t been on my K108s….too much snow at Whitewater. Can’t believe you are on 191s.

My 11 yr old daughter is loving her 148cm Mantras and 153cm Confessions. She even did a little skiing behind the truck with a water ski rope on her 153cm Confessions (like a Katana for kids)…she appreciated the full rocker in the deep snowbanks:

Looks like good times! Maybe Volkl should add “truck tow skiing” in their marketing copy for their kids skis? [emoji6]

As far as the 191 K108’s are concerned, I love the stability but not the effort in tight, technical places. Would love it at Whistler, but not sure about Blackcomb. [emoji16]

[cstefanic]

I've been on playful gear all season and then took these out today and it's funny to feel them go "yeah boy you wanna do that shit over there, but like, 20% faster than you're used to?"

What a great ski.

[Beder]

Yeah me too. Been on mine a bunch already this season, including some really deep days. Once I thought about going back to the truck for something fatter but quickly discarded the idea. These are great. Of course we are having the greatest December of all time in Sun Valley.

[Lord Thomas]

I've been on playful gear all season and then took these out today and it's funny to feel them go "yeah boy you wanna do that shit over there, but like, 20% faster than you're used to?"

What a great ski.

Looks like a fucking perfect home for K108's

[Shorty_J]

I was going to rent an m102 today... mostly to see if I got along with the (184) longer length.

But I got lazy and just took my 177 k108... and I'm glad I did. There were enough pockets of soft to warrant the extra width, and even if this makes me look bad I'm willing to admit this ski carves as good or better than I can handle anyway, so why even worry about adding the narrow cousin?

I really love these skis!

[Bandit Man]

I was going to rent an m102 today... mostly to see if I got along with the (184) longer length.

But I got lazy and just took my 177 k108... and I'm glad I did. There were enough pockets of soft to warrant the extra width, and even if this makes me look bad I'm willing to admit this ski carves as good or better than I can handle anyway, so why even worry about adding the narrow cousin?

I really love these skis!

So here’s the funny thing between the M102 and K108. For comparable sizes, the underfoot radius on the Katana is tighter/smaller than the Mantra. So even though the Katana is wider, it feels like it “wants” to be on edge and can turn a tighter radius. The Mantra skis “looser” and doesn’t feel like it needs to be in a smaller radius turn.

That means that after skiing the 177 K108, my guess is that the 184 M102 is going to ski a lot “bigger” and will be a little less intuitive to get on edge. It’s like Volkl got the underfoot radii backwards. I wonder if Volkl made the underfoot radius on the K108 a little tighter to make the ski less of a beast?

I prefer to let the M102 run a bit more since it is happier in a bigger radius. It never feels hooky but is super easy to throw sideways or to start a turn at high speed.

I also love the K108, especially if there is anything soft. I love that it can ski powder, blow thru crud and mank, and then rail groomers back to the lift. It floats better a bit better than the M102.

Glad you are digging yours so much.

[Shorty_J]

^^^ interesting... I never noticed that about the under foot radius but the tip and tail radius is larger in the k108 (and even larger in the blaze 106 I think?).

And what I like about that is that it almost feels like 2 different skis... lay them over a little and do a super wide radius turn with no effort, lay them over a little more and they link up very tight... my choice.

I think I also might not like the lack of the very long radius part of the m102.