History of the Volkl G4/ G40/ G41/ AX4

[MassLiberal]

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

You ski slut you!!!!

[J-Rad]

You ski slut you!!!!

Yeah baby, yeah.

[flatlander#2]

I had the G-41 for years, one of my buds had G-4 then the AX-4. I loved them, but they take some big kid legs. You get used to just pointing them and busting through shit, really lax about it just thinking oh I can just whip through that crud. Get on a different, less stiff whatever ski and there is a bit of a learn curve. Fun though, very fun. Think I'll take mine to the basin this weekend.

[Arty50]

that the ax4 was a bit softer....

Not in my experience. After my old G4s got relegated to rock ski status, I bought a pair of AX4s. The AX4s are noticably stiffer and snappier than my G4s which have a lot of days on them. They have the feel I remember from my then new G4s.

[BC_Mike]

Ok guys, lots of info here but I have THE scoop on the early years. I won a pair of G40 Pros from the Volkl rep while working in ski shop, and he gave me the goods:

- 1st version was the Vertigo G40 Pro. 80mm waist, sandwich construction, white/black graphics (same color as SnowrangerLtd). This has a flat tail, and no rubber on the tip. This ski was apparently tough to make in the factory, and they had to make them by hand because they wouldn't fit in the machines. All the pros like Leif Z-G were waiting and waiting to get them in the winter of 99/00. I got a pair of these in spring of 2000 and still have them today. Volkl did a production run or two of these in 170,180,190,200cm lengths then sometime in Dec-Feb, they realized they had the next year's design ready to go. So, they gave up on the handmade sandwich ski, and started to make the 00/01 ski (same design and green G41) with the 99/00 colours for the later half of the season. This ski has half-cap construction, 83mm waist, rubbertip, slightly turned tail and comes in the 178,188,198cm lengths.

- 2nd was the Vertigo G41, the green ski. half-cap construction, 83mm waist, rubbertip, slightly turned tail and comes in the 178,188,198cm lengths. Was out for the 00/01 season. Another great ski.

- The 01/02 season, the black G41 comes out. My knowledge here is a bit more shakey as I was not longer working in the ski shop. I believe this ski is full or half cap. I also believe this ski to be stiffer than the green ski.

- The 02/03 season, the black G4 ski comes out. Not sure what changed. They likely were starting to play with the motion binding system.

The rest I'm too out of touch to comment. The ax4 and 724 enter the fray and other can tell the story better.

When I'm on the lift with people in the know, and they see my G40 sandwich skis, it always starts a conversation. I remember thinking that 80mm waist was going to be unruly in '00. Nowadays, people are saying 95mm is on the lean side, so go figure.

The 190cm G40 Pro has been super tough. Just like the Explosives, but with more sidecut, narrower waist. I posted some pics up on biglines a while back of these skis if you're really keen.....