*DEMO UPDATE*
2/10/21 - 2/11/21
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Volkl Secret 92
Length: 163cm
Conditions: corduroy + moguls @ Alpine; knee-deep powder + crud @ Squaw
Love at first turn!!! Beautiful bowls of empty corduroy awaited on an empty Wednesday morning, and these skis lived up to their brand's racing roots. Even my brother, who usually far outpaces me, noticed (and, dare I say, was impressed) that I was right by his side this time. Moving into bumps, what I lacked in skill the Secrets made up for me in pure pile-crushing power. I am totally okay with this, though others may find the ski less playful.
I ended up renting them again the next day after a disastrous first run down a freshly-powdered chute on my park skis (which I had unwisely picked thinking that at least they were fatter with floatier tails than my old metal ones...). My powder technique was no better, but at least my newfound friends could barge through enough snow to help me get down the mountain at all. At one point I even flew off a small ledge by accident and landed squarely on my feet. As the afternoon wore on, the Secrets kept plowing right down run upon run of heavy crud.
So now I just wait for a good sale and/or research other posts on this forum re: whether to purchase a demo pair.
Salomon Stance W 88
Length: 161cm
Conditions: corduroy + moguls @ Alpine
I way overpowered these. While they felt more nimble on bumps than the Secrets, this did not make for the chatter all the way down the hill (before the snow had even gotten cruddy that day and before I was anywhere near top speed). Maybe I should have sized up?
Blizzard Black Pearl 97
Length: 165cm
Conditions: crud + start of new snow @ Alpine
These felt like two lifeless planks beneath my feet. Not sure if it was the width, the length, or user error, but things did not get better even as snow started falling on Wednesday afternoon (when I would have expected 97s to come into their own).
Unfortunately did not get to compare the 88s since somebody else had taken them out in my length. Shop was also out of the Nordica Santa Anas that day.
Atomic Vantage 86 C
Length: 165cm
Conditions: crud + trees + laughable attempts in the park @ Alpine
The most accessible ski: lighter and less demanding than the Secrets; more stable than the Stances; more lively and much more fun than the BP97s. The demo shop guy owns the men's version of these, and he recommended them as a nice chill way to end the day. I could carve without a thought (and even without having to stay over them), and I hopped through the trees down into a gully semi-competently with them. Tradeoff: I definitely reached a speed limit and fell behind my brother again, and I am not sure how well these could cut through Sierra cement at its most cement.
Ultimately, I did like the Vantages but I am not sure they offer much more than my current setup. (By the way, they skied short -- could not tell they were almost 10cm longer than my old skis, and one of the reasons I am even shopping for new skis is to get something longer...) Also I just love the Secrets.
TL;DR: once a Volkl girl, always a Volkl girl