Katana 108 - the resurrerection

[SkiJitsu]

No. I wanted to stay down in waist. I thought about the 105, but rolled the dice on the katana.


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I think 105 is the ticket if you’re looking for something more like a bodacious or corvus.

I have the FL105 and FR110 and ordered the R105 to get something a little closer to what you are describing. The 110 shape, mount point and flex make it very different than any of the skis you mentioned. I think you’ll be happy with the 105 (regardless if you got FL or R).

[SoVT Joey]

I think 105 is the ticket if you’re looking for something more like a bodacious or corvus.

I have the FL105 and FR110 and ordered the R105 to get something a little closer to what you are describing. The 110 shape, mount point and flex make it very different than any of the skis you mentioned. I think you’ll be happy with the 105 (regardless if you got FL or R).

The 105 in a 185 never made it east for me to try. Just the 178 came east. And from the review he gave me, it wasn’t going to be enough ski for me. I’ve been eyeing katanas for a long time. So I rolled the dice in hopes.


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[forumskier]

They rip. I love mine. I love wide skis that handle firm snow spectacularly, and these are that. Probably the best 108 on firm snow I’ve ever tried. Monster 108s are right up there (and more charger), but technically 110mm or 109mm underfoot in the 191 and 184 respectively.

These are much better in soft snow than Monster 108s tho. My only complaint is the 21m radius, which actually feels a bit tighter, and I only don’t like it when I’m trying to go as fast as I can. Those fat ass tips. I wish they were a true 25m with thinner tips, which I don’t think would affect mogul performance much with the amazing rocker profile. I like my 191 K108s in moguls a lot more than most chargers.

[gaijin]

Eventually Volkl is going to have to address the elephant in the room, though.

Their entire Mantra lineup is a lineup of tuning forks. Yes, they're precise. Yes, they rip. But they hurt my ears.

There are many skiers, perhaps the majority, who don't care. But there are also diehard Volkl rippers (like myself) who can't handle the ear pings.

I type this with sad abandon. The Mantra series from the 2020 M102 onward has pushed me away from Volkl for the first time in more than 30 years.

It's sad for me. I've always loved their engineering. But I can no longer handle the sound.

[forumskier]

I feel like every Volkl I’ve had since 2012 sounds/feels like that. Maybe the modern Mantras are a bit worse, but I barely notice.

[Bandit Man]

Eventually Volkl is going to have to address the elephant in the room, though.

Their entire Mantra lineup is a lineup of tuning forks. Yes, they're precise. Yes, they rip. But they hurt my ears.

There are many skiers, perhaps the majority, who don't care. But there are also diehard Volkl rippers (like myself) who can't handle the ear pings.

I type this with sad abandon. The Mantra series from the 2020 M102 onward has pushed me away from Volkl for the first time in more than 30 years.

It's sad for me. I've always loved their engineering. But I can no longer handle the sound.

Have you been on any of the “Mantra” line since the OG102? My OG102’s are pingy as you stated, but my newer ones aren’t. Neither are my Katana 108’s nor M6’s. I think the pingy sound thing is now just in your head. [emoji6]

[iriponsnow]

Who wants to tell Joey that he can get matching bindings?



^marker makes a pink x comp for the Deacon 72s

[bennettc14]

Pingy is the right way to describe some of them recently. Went Enforcer 104 vs Mantra 102 this season because I was concerned about the same.


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[SoVT Joey]

Saying a ski is pingy in the tips is a full admission of not knowing or being able to initiate a turn with proper tip pressure and proper technique. Unless it’s a carbon build.


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[gaijin]

Ah… ok.

It’s also an admission that some skiers hate carbon. Period.

I can’t think of a single carbon application that has won me over in 40 years.

Conversely, every ski that is garnering my attention has zero carbon in the build.

If you want me to buy your ski— remove carbon.

Don’t insult me in that I can’t turn a ski.

[Mustonen]

Feels like you guys are talking past each other. I skied the katana and the snow sound it made was weird. Sounded sorta like riding a mountain bike with loose spokes. It wasn’t loud, but it was there. I didn’t love it really, and combined with multi radius it created an impression that the ski wasn’t fully there even if it was still a strong ski.

I didn’t hate the ski at all and would have been happy to daily it long term. I chose not to because there are so many great skis out there.

[big kook]

Saying a ski is pingy in the tips is a full admission of not knowing or being able to initiate a turn with proper tip pressure and proper technique. Unless it’s a carbon build.


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STFU nerd.

For anyone crying about the sound just tie a condom around the tip problem solved.

[bennettc14]

STFU nerd.

For anyone crying about the sound just tie a condom around the tip problem solved.

Nah dawg it’s all about feel


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[gaijin]

Feels like you guys are talking past each other.

Probably. It’s summer. We have a typhoon rolling in. And for some reason it’s the right time for me to declare that I don’t like carbon.

/shrug.

Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to cunt up this thread.

Someone pass the mosquito repellent. Those things are annoying.

[kootenayskier]

Don’t really need them, but couldn’t resist a pair of 184cm K108s (minor blemishes on base) for CAN$284 from Corbetts. Also grabbed a pair of Secret 102s ($264) for my wife.

[Shorty_J]

My wife has the secret 102s in a 172. She's not a great skier but loves them as long as the snow isn't too deep.

I put demo bindings on them and toom them out for a rip before i subjected her to them (to make sure she would not get owned).

Super easy to ski and just as stable as the larger men's sizes.

I'm usually a high 170s to low 180s ski guy so these are a little short but still were fine being pushed and skied fast.

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[kiril.gueorguiev@gmail.com]

I’m of the same opinion. Over the last couple of years I’ve ridden BC Corvus, OG Cochises and Bodacious, Rustler 11s, and Revolt 114s in similar conditions back to back with my Katanas. None of them for me have the versatility to handle whatever conditions one might find. Just spent the day on the Katanas in the John Paul area at Snow Basin. Tight gullies are a bit more work, but a little extra effort is well rewarded.


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Hey man,

I am very Interested in your opinion on a comparison between the K108/184 which I like very much and the Revolt 114/191 which I would like to add to the quiver as a more open space directional charger, please?
I have discussed the Declivity X with Sylvan who enjoys the K108/191 and finally I realized that the Declivity X/192 and the Revolt 114/191 are quite similar in parameters. Now I am torn between the two. Even thought about buying the K108 in 191 cause I like them a lot.
And have also experienced the twitchinness of the K108/184 while opening them up in larger areas and in more than subtstantial amounts of snow.

BR
Kiril

[forumskier]

Can't wait to ski these. Ended up being my most used ski last season. Have a few new challengers, will be a tight race.

[Island Bay]

No fan of noisy carbon tips either. One of reasons LP105s and Monsters are so satisfying to ski.

My wife has a pair of 2018 Volkl Kenja (88 underfoot?), and their construction is bomber. Full titanal. Those skis changed her skiing and doubled her speed in a day. A hypothetical 185 100mm version of that ski would sorely tempt me.

Back to scheduled transmission, and good luck with the 108s.

[kiril.gueorguiev@gmail.com]

My ol lady also joined the Secret 102 club; kinda jealous actually.



Hey Kiril, Hopefully Swissbro or another mag can chime in that's skied both, but I have a 191 R114 in the garage, undrilled, and FWIW, the flex pattern makes way more sense for a guy your size. Pretty stiff, no weird hinge in the shovel, and based on the profile, doubt they ski crazy long. Some good info in Bandit's Revolt 114 thread.



Hard to have a bad day on em, which makes em hard not to grab when unsure of conditions.

Hey Sylvan,

Thank you for your input, it is absolutely on point.
I have my mind set on the R114/191 already given the info I read from Bandit as well.
Any direct comparison with the K108/191 are welcome.

How is your ankle rehab going btw?

BR
Kiril

[forumskier]

Hard to have a bad day on em, which makes em hard not to grab when unsure of conditions.

I will most likely grab another pair before Volkl stops making them. Not a huge fan of the pink this year though.

[Bandit Man]

I will most likely grab another pair before Volkl stops making them. Not a huge fan of the pink this year though.

Great minds think alike. I grabbed another pair of the all black 184’s I’m going to mount up this year. Going to give my black and yellow ones to my son to complement his OG M102.


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[gaijin]

Not a huge fan of the pink this year though.

Evo is rumored to be releasing a pink pivot soon. There's also purple CAST. And there's purple ATK.

But you're forumskier... so you probably already know that. ;-)

[forumskier]

Great minds think alike. I grabbed another pair of the all black 184’s I’m going to mount up this year. Going to give my black and yellow ones to my son to complement his OG M102.


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Good score! I’ll regret not getting a backup pair, just like I regret not getting a backup Katana 10 years ago. Too good to miss.

I really want the Reds from last year in 191cm

Evo is rumored to be releasing a pink pivot soon. There's also purple CAST. And there's purple ATK.

But you're forumskier... so you probably already know that. ;-)

I’m not a big fan of pink. Maybe when it’s paired with teal like the Super Blackops. I am a much bigger fan of certain shades of purple. Lots of pinks and purples this season though, and it’s slightly overwhelming.

[kiril.gueorguiev@gmail.com]

Cheers Kiril. Was kind of a shit show, but progressing well now. Opening day is the plan.



I hear ya. Hard to find, at least up here. Imagine now that they changed the name, we'll have a couple more seasons to hoard. Also saving my pennies to see what HL has in the pipeline. Marshal's profiles seem to be getting better and better; the 95 profile looks pretty sick IRL.

Last year's K108 is available for 399 euro, on sale from 900, plus shiping in Europe.
I guess it goes the same way with the US brands for you guys their.
I discussed a pair of drilled FL 113 with Marshal but could not find the logic given the prices and the availability of EU based products over here.