Love the Aura, what about the Katana

[AussieSkiGirl]

Hi! My first post!!

I noticed a few Aura women out there. I'm an Aura girl too!!
Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em!
Stats: 5'3", 115lbs, 06/07 and 07/08 Aura, 163cm.
I haven't mounted the 07/08 as I'm waiting to get my hands on a pair of the Marker Baron (alpine-AT binding). I'm running the Marker Titanium PC 1200 on my 06/07. Love the Marker bindings!!

So, here is my problem. My husband bought himself a pair of 176cm Katana (07/08), but Volkl has this thing where their skis are actually 3-6 cm shorter than they are rated (for the Aura and Katana at least - trust me, take out your tape measure and see!), and so the 176 is too short for him as they measure closer to 170/171. He thinks they are the perfect length for me. Now, I consider myself a very aggressive skier, but I think it might be too long given the stiffness of the Katana. I really want to mount them and give them a demo, but maybe we should just sell them. I can't find anywhere in my state (NM) that has them for demo.

Is there anyone out there who has skied the Katana and can tell me anything that would help my decision making.

Thanks!!

 

[Lori_K]

Welcome, AussieSkiGirl! Wait, you're in NM? Where do you usually ski??

I haven't skied the Katana. However, my husband's friend (boss, actually) has a pair. He really likes them, as long as the snow is not hardpack. My husband tried them out a couple times, and thought they were a pretty forgiving ski (for a Volkl). Good in the powder and cut up stuff. Not so good on hardpack groomers. (But what do you expect with a fat ski like that!)

Maybe you can get a demo binding put on the Katanas. That way you can ski them, and if you don't like them they will still fit the next person when you sell them?

(And then you could let me try them. )

 

[AussieSkiGirl]

Thanks for the tip! Although, I suspect you are trying to score a pair of Katanas!! For which I cannot blame you.

What length ski did your husband demo? What's his weight, height? What about his boss? Expert skiers I presume.

I mostly ski at Santa Fe and Pajarito. Too lazy (and cheap) to travel to Taos or anywhere else for that matter. Utah is still on the map for a powder vacation though.

 

[Lori_K]

Nope, not trying to score the Katanas, although I would like to try some out. I'm looking for a super-fat ski, but haven't found much around here yet.

My husband and his boss are the same size-- 6' 3" and 200 pounds or so and have the same boot sole length, so they swap skis on occasion. The Katana is probably a 183? But I'm not sure.

We are at Taos just about every weekend. From our house it is about the same distance drive to SF, Pajarito, or Taos, so we picked Taos to get our season passes.
As an aggressive skier, you may enjoy the extra challenge that Taos provides. If you ever get up that way, let me know.