All Things Volkl Thread

**SnakeMagnet** · 03-14-2023, 05:54 PM

wish i knew

**Djongo Unchained** · 03-14-2023, 08:53 PM

That topsheet graphic has hudge potential to be made quite a bit more explicit.

**robnow** · 03-14-2023, 09:41 PM

The Powder7 video was a decent synopsis on what I found with the Revolt 141 191 after skiing it for a day at Lake Louise, albeit relatively firm bump conditions on the backside. Snakemagnet, I'm surprised you found the same pair to be easy to release, I detuned the fuck out of them on Monday and they definitely skied better that way.

While I'm totally used to the shape having skied all variations of the Billygoat since 2010, this is a stiffer version and sans RES obviously. IMO, I think it was too stiff, just lacked the suspension feel and energetic pop I'm so used to with ON3P (pardon for bringing ON3P into the discussion, been almost solely skiing the Woods110 due to low snow year). Loved cranking the Revolt 114 on groomers back to the lift and through the park but again, these felt stiff and dead otherwise. I thought I was going to love it but no, there's funner skis out there with as much damping but more energy.

**chicken feathers** · 03-15-2023, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by SnakeMagnet

To add the Blaze 114 is exceptional and the only thing that would keep it from any directional skier from loving it as a 50/50 setup would be the final weight of them.

As in too heavy or too light?

ETA: I read LT’s review again. Promising to hear it didn’t get deflected too much. The comparison to vwerks katana and bmt 109 is intriguing too. I’ve got blaze 94’s which I imagine are similar to bmt 94 which I never skied.

I find the blaze 94’s to be a better bc ski than a 50/50 ski. So wondering if the B114 would be the same.

**gregL** · 03-15-2023, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by SnakeMagnet

i think the 184 had a jank tune or was edge high because it was quite hard to release edge consistently, but not the 191.

I felt the same thing, and told the rep to detune the pair I skied on past the contact point when I got down - I checked and the tips were flat, though.

**Lord Thomas** · 03-15-2023, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by chicken feathers

As in too heavy or too light?

ETA: I read LT’s review again. Promising to hear it didn’t get deflected too much. The comparison to vwerks katana and bmt 109 is intriguing too. I’ve got blaze 94’s which I imagine are similar to bmt 94 which I never skied.

I find the blaze 94’s to be a better bc ski than a 50/50 ski. So wondering if the B114 would be the same.

I just saw a published weight for the blaze 114 184 at 1,995 iirc. After skiing it in decent conditions I could see this blaze 114 being just about my ultimate 50/50 ski, but would like to try it in other conditions to confirm. When I was skiing it I was, frankly, shocked by how well it floated and stayed maneuverable at low speed. Checked the dimensions when I got home and not surprisingly it has a HUGE ASS shovel...like Pescado size shovel. The super cool part of is that I really didn't get any hint of deflection in the chop like I would expect for that big a tip. Again, it was soft chop so a final opinion will require a bunch more time in varied conditions. This one is definitely worth investigating further.

**SnakeMagnet** · 03-15-2023, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by robnow

The Powder7 video was a decent synopsis on what I found with the Revolt 141 191 after skiing it for a day at Lake Louise, albeit relatively firm bump conditions on the backside. Snakemagnet, I'm surprised you found the same pair to be easy to release, I detuned the fuck out of them on Monday and they definitely skied better that way.

While I'm totally used to the shape having skied all variations of the Billygoat since 2010, this is a stiffer version and sans RES obviously. IMO, I think it was too stiff, just lacked the suspension feel and energetic pop I'm so used to with ON3P (pardon for bringing ON3P into the discussion, been almost solely skiing the Woods110 due to low snow year). Loved cranking the Revolt 114 on groomers back to the lift and through the park but again, these felt stiff and dead otherwise. I thought I was going to love it but no, there's funner skis out there with as much damping but more energy.

Alpenland's demo pair was at castle that day, don't think its the same one you rode. Leaves hope as i still found the 191 needing a little more deliberate action to drift, but at least was not hooky and yanking edge.

**Shorty_J** · 03-15-2023, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by SnakeMagnet

Alpenland's demo pair was at castle that day, don't think its the same one you rode. Leaves hope as i still found the 191 needing a little more deliberate action to drift, but at least was not hooky and yanking edge.

Did you play with the mount point?

191 is out of my interest level for size but I do have the Blaze 106 that I liked best at +2cm and it was almost full-reverse loose there... very easy.

Sent from my SM-A536W using Tapatalk

**Lord Thomas** · 03-15-2023, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

the Blaze 106 that I liked best at +2cm and it was almost full-reverse loose there... very easy.

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Yep, I'm finding most of these new directional/traditional mount point Volkls to be not "pivoty" per se, but rather really easy to smear any part of the ski on demand, even in 3D snow, while still being strong on edge when asked.

**SnakeMagnet** · 03-15-2023, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Did you play with the mount point?

191 is out of my interest level for size but I do have the Blaze 106 that I liked best at +2cm and it was almost full-reverse loose there... very easy.

Sent from my SM-A536W using Tapatalk

an hour of testing doesn't afford much time to do that especially when it takes half of that to ride the lifts there to where the testing snow is for just 2 runs. They felt almost exactly like a damper, not-as-fun on edge, more stable, but obviously more exhausting version of my Paradise Vice 113 at the line. They had a stiffer tip resulting in a more rounded flex pattern so I could ski them quite aggressive and had a larger sweet spot as a result with the tip not folding as much (and both skis hate any sort of backseat pressure). I would even try them back of the line because more tail is probably not what you want on them, it's stiff as fuck.

**se95** · 03-15-2023, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by SnakeMagnet

an hour of testing doesn't afford much time to do that especially when it takes half of that to ride the lifts there to where the testing snow is for just 2 runs. They felt almost exactly like a damper, not-as-fun on edge, more stable, but obviously more exhausting version of my Paradise Vice 113 at the line. They had a stiffer tip resulting in a more rounded flex pattern so I could ski them quite aggressive and had a larger sweet spot as a result with the tip not folding as much (and both skis hate any sort of backseat pressure). I would even try them back of the line because more tail is probably not what you want on them, it's stiff as fuck.

Agreed - I have the 191 r114s mounted at +1 and like them there, but wouldn’t go any further forward. The tails are definitely stiff. Agree with previous comments that they kind of feel like a combination of a Anima/Wildcat with the stability of a BO118 - but more directional, demanding than all of those skis. While they feel very stable, the suspension doesn’t feel as plush as the BO118, probably due to how stiff they are. I have yet to get them out in firmer conditions. My pair weighed somewhere between 2400-2500g.

**kevino** · 03-20-2023, 01:59 PM

What’s the going rate for used, good shape, 176 BMT 94 with one mount?

**Benneke10** · 03-20-2023, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by kevino

What’s the going rate for used, good shape, 176 BMT 94 with one mount?

I paid $600 for a pair in decent shape with G3 Ions and clapped out skins last fall, the seller didn't want to separate the setup. Would have rather just paid $400 for the flat skis.

**kevino** · 03-20-2023, 02:38 PM

Thanks, my wife is looking for a different spring ski. She has the Salomon MTN on the BMT and the pink Pomoca skins . Just trying to get a feel for the value

**Eluder** · 03-21-2023, 08:05 AM

I did some lazy looking but didn't find anything.

Does anyone have the actual length and mount point on the 184 Revolt 114s?

**naedward81** · 03-21-2023, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Eluder

I did some lazy looking but didn't find anything.

Does anyone have the actual length and mount point on the 184 Revolt 114s?

I haven't pulled a tape to it, but same as the R121 184, which Blister has listed at 182.2. Mount point is about -2cm or so back from the R121.

**Lord Thomas** · 03-21-2023, 09:38 AM

Anyone got more feedback on the newest Kendo? I tried the, let's call it the M5 version, and didn't care for it. I wanted to pull me into a turn a little too aggressively and didn't like to make large radius turns. Not the versatility I was looking for. That said, I would like to pick up something in the 80's underfoot and mid 180's long that won't suck off piste.

**naedward81** · 03-21-2023, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Lord Thomas

Anyone got more feedback on the newest Kendo? I tried the, let's call it the M5 version, and didn't care for it. I wanted to pull me into a turn a little too aggressively and didn't like to make large radius turns. Not the versatility I was looking for. That said, I would like to pick up something in the 80's underfoot and mid 180's long that won't suck off piste.

newest Kendo with the 3D radius is amazing. Been my daily driver, albeit I am in the midwest. Does what I want it to for turns and doesn't punish you.

**Perlhammered** · 03-21-2023, 11:11 AM

Got my R121s out in Mammoth this weekend, giving me the opportunity to give them a low tide test (still super fun) as well as in heavier snow than I skied in Utah last week (also still super fun). What an amazing ski, dang.

**naedward81** · 03-21-2023, 03:03 PM

Thinking about parting ways with my '23 R121 184 I skied a half dozen times last year and have sat this year. Liking the R114 too much.

**robnow** · 03-21-2023, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Eluder

I did some lazy looking but didn't find anything.

Does anyone have the actual length and mount point on the 184 Revolt 114s?

R114 191 measures 190 with mount point -8.

**FlimFlamvanHam** · 03-22-2023, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Lord Thomas

Anyone got more feedback on the newest Kendo? I tried the, let's call it the M5 version, and didn't care for it. I wanted to pull me into a turn a little too aggressively and didn't like to make large radius turns. Not the versatility I was looking for. That said, I would like to pick up something in the 80's underfoot and mid 180's long that won't suck off piste.

I've got a lot of days on a pair of '23's in absolutely all conditions except bulletproof but that is a rare thing in BC and I'd avoid it anyway.

I also have a '23 Brahma that I've been on more days but that ski, unlike the Kendo, has not seen deep snow.

I own both as an experiment to see which 88 I'd keep. They are actually more different than similar so I'll likely just keep them both.

I've not skied the M5. I own a first gen M102. The Kendo is a mini 102. Simple as that. I've never felt like the Kendo nor the M102 was pulling me into a turn. But then I've skied mostly Monsters since forever and am well used to the new Brahma so the Kendo (and M102) seem a tad numb on turn initiation.

Oddly, I find the 102 easier to ski slow (meaning bang off little swing turns). I'm a narrow ski guy: I prefer the precision and quickness and I love skiing shit (steep, shitty, icy bumps kinda thing) and I absolutely love railing groomers. The Kendo is a great all mtn ski but I'd take the Brahma for the skiing shit and railing; it's simply ridiculous on edge (even with a 3 side on the Kendo they are in different leagues when it gets firmer but as long as it's soft they are close enough). Where the Kendo is nuts is in deep snow and cut up. No crap, it's so good in deep snow that on a trip I'd just take the Kendo over the 102 if only taking one pair. In truly deep snow the 102 is obviously surfier (for an M102) but the Kendo is shockingly similar. Even though I've not had the Brahma in such deep snow I just cannot believe it would even be close. Camber and very soft shovel vs basically flat with low tip and tail rocker and agreeable firmish even flex tip to tail.

I'm 160lbs on 177 in everything.

The other big dif between the Kendo and the Brahma (for me) was how hard you can drive the shovels of the Kendo. This is not the case with the Brahma. The Brahma skis more neutrally relative to the Kendo. This kind of makes sense as the last half of the shovel + tip of the Brahma is quite soft. Still insane on groomers. Amazing what these companies can do with skis these days, even if they aren't built to last long.

**Beder** · 03-24-2023, 06:45 AM

^^^ your praise of the Kendo in powder is eyeopening. I don't think I'll be wasting a powder day on a 88 mm ski but I respect your opinion.
I just had 3 days at Targhee... 6 inch pow day, leftovers, 10 inch pow day. I skied Katanas the first two days then Salomon Blanks the last day. I concluded I just don't need a ski fatter then these two.

I had 3 generations of Brahmas but now own both Kendo and Enforcer 88. I thought I would let go of one or the other, but I really like them both. When rock season starts I'll probably ski the Nordica, if only because it's cheaper to replace.

**FlimFlamvanHam** · 03-24-2023, 12:01 PM

^^ I know too well what you mean as my intent was to depart with either the Kendo or the Brahma but the high edge angles the Brahma can accommodate at speed and how good it is in bumps actually has me preferring it over the Kendo which speaks not so much to the ski but rather how much I value those traits. The Brahma is a great bumper for a stiffish 88.

I know this is an outlier opinion, but I found the Kendo so good that if I was picking a true one ski quiver this ski would be it. It's performance off groomed cannot be denied and on anything better than icy groomers it's a ton of fun, so much so that I'd take it over the M102 and, without skiing it, the M6. I don't need either in chunk and deep when the Kendo is as good as it is while being (to me) a better and more versatile technical ski at 88mm.

Also an outlier opinion? But i do wish the 177 measured like everyone else's 177. It's really a 180. But we all know this about Volkl 177's. Just kinda weird is all.