Short Review: Volkl V-Werks Katana

[Rob Stokes]

I have a pair of 184's for sale in the sea to sky (BC). PM me if you are interested.

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[Shorty_J]

I have a pair of 184's for sale in the sea to sky (BC). PM me if you are interested.

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Price? Will you ship to alberta?

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[Shorty_J]

Nevermind... just bought a pair. I'm sizing up to the 184... pretty sure I can handle it but we will see.

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[Wetdog]

I’m 5’8” 155 lbs.

My 184 Praxis Freerides are mounted on the line, but that line is at -9cm.

I just feel like -13.9 is so far back. Was planning on +1 or +2 but holes dictate +3 or the line.

Thanks.

I am 6’3” 190lbs and am an advanced skier, but getting older, 59 now. I sold my 184’s only because in really deep snow they felt a bit teeter tottery. 191’s solved that issue, but otherwise, I didn’t notice much difference with the added length. I am mounted on the line.

Historically, I have been more of a traditional mount guy, but lately have been enjoying more progressive mounted skis and when I get back on the Katana’s it’s a bit of an adjustment for the first few minutes, but I quickly get back into it. They are designed to ski best from that mount point. I was marveling just a couple of days ago at how maneuverable they were slashing relatively tight turns through powder in the trees. They can be released into skidded turns fairly easily in deep snow as well as locking into fast carved turns.

I would recommend mounting them on the line and just getting used to them. If all else fails and you can’t live with it, remount further forward. They are very strong in the mounting area with dense wood and thick carbon layers and a remount is not a problem.

[rod9301]

I have the 184s, mounted 1.5cm forward. 165lbs, love them

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[Wetdog]

Great thread. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on some KVW 191 or 188 Rustler 11's to replace my 186 Confessions. I already have a BMT 109 for touring, so these would be dedicated resort......Anyone skied both? I'm 6ft 170lbs and ski mainly Whistler...

Guess I could entertain selling the 109 and do the KVW with Duke PT's as a one ski resort/touring pow quiver (also have Mantra M5's for low snow days)....

I have 191 VWK with M Werks King Pins and 186 BMT 109’s with Dynafit Rotations. Also have the 122 and 94.

I originally bought the VW Kantana’s as a resort cross over ski back in 2017 after demoing them and being blown away. I also demoed the 109’s and found them similar, but definitely more mellow.

Later bought 109’s to use as a dedicated BC ski as they are lighter and that difference is noticeable on long hauls and, as much as I like the 109’s, I have many times found their speed limit on big open faces and wished I had the Katana’s.

I swapped out the original Kingpins on my Katana’s for the lighter and easier to step into M Werks Kingpins which mounted in the same holes. This helped a bit with weight, but lately I have been contemplating getting a pair and mounting them with Alpinists or ATK raiders which would shave off another 300 grams.

Last spring I brought both the BMT 109’s and Katana’s on a Heli Assist back country trip where we skied some big challenging terrain. I started out on the 109’s and quickly switched to the Katana’s as they were so much superior skiing big steep terrain at speed. 109’s are great for trees and more mellow terrain, being softer, more rockered, and more progressively mounted and I love the looser more slavery feel for the average day, but they don’t hold a candle to the Katana’s for big mountain skiing.

[rod9301]

I have the mtn and they are bomber

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[rod9301]

Yeah, I'm at 1.5 cm forward

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[zion zig zag]

I recently changed bc boots from an older Maestrale to the new Atomic Carbon Backland XTD 120, with a shorter bsl. So that effectively changed my mount point from +1 to +1.5. But for what ever reason I feel like they’ve kind of lost that loving feeling, like I can’t drive them the same anymore. Flex of boots seems similar, forward lean is supposed to be within a degree, binding delta hasn’t changed….I can’t imagine that being half a centimeter further forward makes them harder to drive.

Anyway, it’s got me itching too try something new in the bc.

[turnfarmer]

I recently changed bc boots from an older Maestrale to the new Atomic Carbon Backland XTD 120, with a shorter bsl. So that effectively changed my mount point from +1 to +1.5. But for what ever reason I feel like they’ve kind of lost that loving feeling, like I can’t drive them the same anymore. Flex of boots seems similar, forward lean is supposed to be within a degree, binding delta hasn’t changed….I can’t imagine that being half a centimeter further forward makes them harder to drive.
Anyway, it’s got me itching to try something new in the bc.

Recommend double checking the delta. Even though the binding is the same , rocker soles on AT boots effectively vary the delta depending on how high the off the ski the pin holes are. Recommend double checking the delta.

[zion zig zag]

Recommend double checking the delta. Even though the binding is the same , rocker soles on AT boots effectively vary the delta depending on how high the off the ski the pin holes are. Recommend double checking the delta.

What’s the best way to check the delta?

[chicken feathers]

https://wildsnow.com/10733/get-up-ri...for-your-ramp/

Wildsnow (RIP)

[turnfarmer]

My pair is mounted with Duke PT, which put the heel a few mm higher than Griffon. Could be part of it.

IIRC Due PT is 10mm heel high and Griffon is 5mm heel high.

10mm is a lot.

[zion zig zag]

IIRC Due PT is 10mm heel high and Griffon is 5mm heel high.

10mm is a lot.

I believe the Salomon MTN is 8.5mm. But it makes sense that a shorter BSL would create more angle. Although I'm not sure how much a 10mm BSL change would make. And it seems like any way to "measure" the angle of the footbed in the binding would be subject to too much error to mean all that much?

[cat in january]

Heads up, I will be selling my 2015 katana 184 with atk raider bindings and coltrex near new glue skins. Bindings mounted with jig at 300. I will check how much range each has off that. Bases and edges in good condition except one very small edge compression. Topsheets also in good condition. Two previous mounts for kingpin and griffin for bigger boot than mine. custom skins for skis bought new, under 6,000’. Will separate skis and skins (Duke pt filling in?) but not bindings.

I also will have as close to a pristine version of 2016 bare carbon 186 bmt 109 with the newest alpinist 10 binding bsl 300. Pulled dynafit rotation off these that seemed like new. Bindings have not been skied. Took worthless silicon vacuum glue off custom skins and reglued with pomoca. Will not separate binding. Should get pictures up in gearswap in a few days.

[Blaster]

Hey Cat, I’ll take those bmts but you need to clear out your inbox so we can continue figuring out the details.

[NT]

Interested in the katanas, and also tried to send you a pm to your full inbox. Shoot me pm and clear your inbox and let's chat. Cheers.

[ezgzy]

Looks like these got updated for this season, anyone had them in hand yet?


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[singlecross]

Looks like these got updated for this season, anyone had them in hand yet?


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Yes, I have a set of ‘24 on hand bought in the Spring sales because I feared that Volkl was going to discontinue them.

No hole in the tip for skins and a blockier, more “modern” tip shape. Otherwise they appear much like my old ones. 1930 grams

[shank]

Weird to me that Volkl still sees this ski as enough of a meaningful part of its lineup that they gave it updates but not enough to push “new tip tech” marketing or the like in any of the usual outlets in advance of the season.

[Skip Dooley]

Yes, I have a set of ‘24 on hand bought in the Spring sales because I feared that Volkl was going to discontinue them.

No hole in the tip for skins and a blockier, more “modern” tip shape. Otherwise they appear much like my old ones. 1930 grams

1930 for 191??


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[singlecross]

1930 for 191??


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No, 184cm. I’m a Hobbit.

[kid-kapow]

isn't it the exactly same ski as always, just without the skin hole in the tip and some graphic changes that makes it appear slightly different (some optical illusions)?

Redesigned = new graphic in Völkl marketing speak, new = new (duh I know).

It is still a killer ski though, so I am glad that it has not been killed off like the BMTs. I am kinda curious how much they cost to produce compared to say a blaze. The carbon heavy construction and milled out core must equal a pretty damn expensive construction - even if the molds are a decade old by now.

[singlecross]

Old tip vs. new tip

If I put one on each foot to ski, I doubt that I could tell the difference. Al least I hope so, the old ones were rad until the sidewall started separating ( helped by some low tide rock strikes).

[kid-kapow]

oh, nice, thanks for posting - so some differences going on in the tapering up front there for sure, perhaps they will be slightly looser.

Any change in the rocker profile as well, or in the taper out back? Or rec mount point?