Any thoughts on the Karma?

[Miss Zula]

I saw the Karma at my local ski shop, felt rather stiff and i was considering it for in-bounds this season. Anyone tried it or have any thoughts? How does it compare to the Manta or Explosive?
Im wishing it had a slightly fatter tip but the 87 waist seems rather appealing for everyday skiing. This would mean i'd have to get another pair for the deep days i guess.

[AfroMullet]

Karma wasn't stiff at all when I hand-flexed it. It felt a shit-ton softer than a 'sploder. The Public Enemys I bought felt stiffer...we'll see.

[Miss Zula]

Karma wasn't stiff at all when I hand-flexed it. It felt a shit-ton softer than a 'sploder. The Public Enemys I bought felt stiffer...we'll see.

They didn't have an explosive around to compare to... but it seemed stiffer than the gotama.

[marshalolson]

imo:
the karma is truly twinned. if you flex it w/o the effect of the twin, it is pretty stiff (stiffer than a PE, especially after 20 days).
do you want a haulass (not quite) fat ski (mantra) or a superburl jib ski (karma).

both ski well, but what do you want? i personally wouldn't consider anything less than 110mm underfoot, for everyday, but that is just me.

[laseranimal]

I flexed both the Karma and the PE and the new PE is WAY more stiff then the karma

[summit]

And the PE is truly twinned

[marshalolson]

I flexed both the Karma and the PE and the new PE is WAY more stiff then the karma

interesting... so other than fatter, the new PEs are beefed up quite a bit over the last couple of years?

edit: or did they get rid of that metal topsheet in the karmas?

[squirrelmurphy]

i ski the 177 as an everyday EC ski, and its really fun. its got basically no speed limit, even in chopped up bumpy crap. i loved skiing it in 6-8 in of wet pow in the woods, its pretty turny in the trees.

fun ski, if you have a good price get it, if not go with the PE, maybe a mantra

[marshalolson]

And the PE is truly twinned

i though we were comparing the karma and mantra...

[marshalolson]

"The PE is soft flexing and forgiving, but with K2’s torsion box construction it still hooks up and carves well on hard snow. It’s probably the softest-feeling of the park and pipe skis, but like all K2’s they hook up well in most conditions."

http://www.footloosesports.com/revie...e.php?prid=159

i tend to find their reviews pretty spot on, in general

[Truckee Joe]

I used the Karmas as my everyday ski all last season. Loved them, they are the one ski quiver. They are stiff and have a good sidecut. No speed limit on these babys, they like to grip it and rip it. I ride the 177 they are perfect, however I wish I had the 185's on those big pow days. I do ride them switch and they seem to turn themselves. bottom line, if you have a choce i would get the volkls over k2 anyday... my 2cents

I think I am going to turn my karmas into a touring ski.

[laseranimal]

interesting... so other than fatter, the new PEs are beefed up quite a bit over the last couple of years?

edit: or did they get rid of that metal topsheet in the karmas?

To be more specific the Karma seemed to have a rounder "C" shaped flex its not a noodle but after being told that it was a crossbreed of the G4 and V-Pro it wasn't what I was expecting.

[Miss Zula]

To be more specific the Karma seemed to have a rounder "C" shaped flex its not a noodle but after being told that it was a crossbreed of the G4 and V-Pro it wasn't what I was expecting.

As in it turned quicker, smaller radius but still stable at speed or just plain not the volkl you were hoping for?

I was thinking of getting rid of my 188 AX4, leaving my rather beat-up 183 sugar daddys as a touring set-up and getting a 177 Karma for the high-pressure days and hoping that a Legend Pro deal would go through. Does that cover the bases in your (the collective maggots who love to give them) opinion?

[laseranimal]

Zula

never skied the karma just shop flexed it and was taken aback by how soft it was for a volkl

Marsh I just saw a pair of old PE's and flexed them in comparison to my new PE's and the old one flexes similar to the Karma where the new one is a much more burly flex

[marshalolson]

Zula

never skied the karma just shop flexed it and was taken aback by how soft it was for a volkl

Marsh I just saw a pair of old PE's and flexed them in comparison to my new PE's and the old one flexes similar to the Karma where the new one is a much more burly flex

suprising... i totally believe you, but i'll give a flex at the store next time i'm through...
i can say that i have skied both skis, and though the last years karma skied stiffer than last years PE, IMO.


anyhow, miss z, you'd be psyched either way you go. if you are alos getting LP'd get the karma. if no LP, just the mantra would be sick.

[laseranimal]

i can say that i have skied both skis, and though the last years karma skied stiffer than last years PE, IMO.

After flexing last years PE and having flexed L8APX's Karma's I would definitely agree with that assessment

I was in the market for Karma's but after flexing the new Soviet propaganda PE's's against this years Karma's I was sold(well that and the $200 differential in price)