History of the Volkl G4/ G40/ G41/ AX4

[El Chupacabra]

Just curious, because I just picked up a set of G41s --

I know the G4, G40, G41, and AX4 were all basically the same ski with different graphics. Some had cap construction, some had sidewalls, some had "Vertigo" in the name. I think some had a slightly different tail, but don't know which, or what the difference was. I thought the G4 (black w/ stripe) was the best looking version.

Anyone know the rundown? Model years, cap or sidewall construction, tail, name, etc., etc.

[irul&ublo]

Calling Squaretail....

I believe...

G41...sidewall; stiffer? DNR tail. I've seen some green ones.

G40..."power frame", slight turn up tail, 83 in waist, yellow. G4 (couple of different topsheets) and AX4 were same ski.

[skier666]

Threads have came and gone about the G40-AX4 legacy...some say they were all identical, some say shapes, construction differed. All I know is that they will go down in my ski memories as the best all-mountain ski any company has ever produced. From first skiing the G40's I fell in love. Fat for the time, a slightly twinned tail (about the same for most twin tips at the time), stiff as fuck, great carveability on the piste, fine in powder, and bomber construction. Thus, making it the perfect ski for EVERY type of terrain, from ice to pow, to park to pipe.

[Greydon Clark]

Plus, 666 has every incarnation, in closet utterly used, abused, and devoid of p-tex and edges.

[J-Rad]

Would love to hear about this as well, just picked up a pair of G4s and was wondering the same thing.

[slim]

Plus, 666 has every incarnation, in closet utterly used, abused, and devoid of p-tex and edges.

Seriously. That closet is that of a serial ski killer that likes to keep his favorite trophy pieces.

[El Chupacabra]

G41...sidewall; stiffer? DNR tail. I've seen some green ones.

These are the G41 I just bought -- haven't seen them in person yet, so don't know if they have a sidewall or cap.

[El Chupacabra]

Here's a pic of the G4:

[El Chupacabra]

Here's a pic of the 724 AX4:

[El Chupacabra]

I can't find a pic of the G40; I think that's the one with the white graphics, but otherwise similar to the G41 in green/black pictured above. I think the G40 and AX4 have the pebbled topsheet; from the looks of the picture the G41 has a smooth topsheet. From what I remember, the G4 has a smooth topsheet too, but more of a matte finish.

[schindlerpiste]

My everyday ski is the AX4 flat, but, IMHO the G40 is the best looking.

[irul&ublo]

I love my g4s.

[El Chupacabra]

Anyone know the years of production for the different models?

[schindlerpiste]

Totally different ski. The thing most similar is the graphic. Different dimensions, sidecut and construction.

My guess at years of production:
G40 = '99-'01 115-80-103
G41 = '01-'02 118-83-106
G4 = '02-'04 Same as G41 w/ different graphic
AX4 = '04-'05. Same as G4 w/ different topsheet

Please, correct me if I'm wrong (It wouldn't be the first time)

[DJSapp]

These are the G41 I just bought -- haven't seen them in person yet, so don't know if they have a sidewall or cap.

The G-41's have a cap. Don't worry about it though, I put about 100 days on mine before passing them on to another maggot as near dead rock skis. They are unpossibly sweet.

[bagtagley]

G40 was laminate construction, and I think it was a bit narrower all around. Also, weren't the lengths different intervals? Like the Explosivs (170, 180, 190)?

After the G40 they went to cap, including the AX4 I'm pretty sure.

I had G41s and hated them until I learned to love them.

[Powder Ho]

I'm not sure about the G40, but all the others have cap construction and the same dimensions (118-83-106). They also appear to have the same modified twin tail. The G41's have a glossy finish that's super bomber. The G4's have a matte finish and the AX4's have a fiber weave type finish. I've got tons of days on both the G41's and G4's and I really can't tell them apart as far as stiffness. I also have a pair of AX4's unmounted. I think the years were:
G41 2000-01
G4 2001-02 white and yellow stripe
G4 2002-03 silver stripe, my favorite
AX4 2003-04
They were my all-time favorite ski for years because they did everything so well and are pretty much indestructable. However, I made the mistake of buying some goats this fall and now I have a new love. I guess I'm pretty fickle. I tried to upload a picture of all of them but, that's beyond my infantile computer skills. You won't be sorry w/ the G41's

[schindlerpiste]

Any interest in selling the AX4s? 188?
I think you're right about the years. I forgot that no AX4 or similar was made in '04-'05

[crashnburn'd]

The G-41's have a cap. Don't worry about it though, I put about 100 days on mine before passing them on to another maggot as near dead rock skis. They are unpossibly sweet.

heh... I actually ended up skiing them all year as my everyday EC ski. Very fun and pretty bent, but still going mildly strong.

[gforce]

G40 has a smooth glossy topsheet. Came in even size lengths but line up exactly the same in dimension and size as G41/G4. 190 G40 = 188 G4/G41. When you hold a G40 up to a G41/G4 you see they are the exact same ski.

[Powder Ho]

Any interest in selling the AX4s? 188?
I think you're right about the years. I forgot that no AX4 or similar was made in '04-'05

Sorry, The AX4's are 178. I'm going to hold on to them. I thought it would be cool to break them out in 10yrs. Of course, they'll probably just sit in the basement and mock my impulsiveness every time I go past. I know my wife sure does.

[IHeartWhistler]

I'm still sitting on the G4's, and they're still so much fun. They're starting to loose their stiffness (100+ days), but compared to many skis they're still super stiff. It's funny how when I bought these things I thought they were super fat skis, but now with times changing... an 83 waist is tiny. I just look forward to going a little shorter and fatter with my next ski, it'll be sweet to have a ski I can whip around a little quicker in the trees.

[Lexi-Bell]

El c,

You've made a wise choice, my friend. The G41 you have pictured is a combo cap/sidewall construction, with a slightly turned up tail. I rocked the 198s for four years, as an everyday ski. The only ski I've been that comes close to all mountain.

By the way, I've got some cherry Superspeeds in a 168, you know you want em.

[El Chupacabra]

By the way, I've got some cherry Superspeeds in a 168, you know you want em.

Sell them to irul&ublo -- he thinks he wants 180ish Superspeeds, but really, it's all about the 160s these days.

[ulty_guy]

from my fading memory...

2nd year g40 switched to the 118-83-106 with the white and black still
when they went to the green g41 the had the powerframe cap but then sold out of all of those in the first year they had to go back to the sandwich of the 2nd g40. so, some of the green g41's are actually sandwich. after that year, they went to cap/powerframe and it pretty much stay the say except i heard that the ax4 was a bit softer....

[disclaimer]all of this is rumour and supposition[/disclaimer]