elemmac
Angel Diva
Volkl 2017 Preview Day
Conditions: Morning was hard-packed, classic ice-coast day after 50 degree temperatures, then down to 30 at night (but still edgable). Temps during the day rose to 50+, snow softened up, and it became a classic spring skiing mashed potato kind of day.
90Eight W (163) –
I enjoyed everything about this ski, it was fun, playful, but it could definitely charge when pushed. The flat tail shape allowed it so carve well on groomers, but it’s width kept up with the variable bumps and soft spots. I thought I was going to want it longer, but the 163 was perfect for me. It never wavered or felt too short. I could see this being fantastic in the trees being as nimble as it was out in the open. This is a ski that could easily make a one-ski-quiver, especially for those on the west-coast.
Race Tiger (155) –
This was the outcast for the day, I’ve never skied a slalom ski, I’ve never raced, and don’t know how to review race skis with a race mentality. But this did exactly what it was meant to do, arc short turns like it was nobody’s business. I wish I demoed this early in the day, but I took it out late enough in the day that it was starting to soften up and bump up (the ski did not like bumps). Either way, the Race Tiger and I got along and had a few fun runs together laying railroad tracks all over the mountain.
Aura (170) –
Bombproof. Actually no, it IS the bomb. The Aura is a charger ski, it likes to go fast, it’s not the most forgiving, and annihilates whatever you throw at it. I’ve skied this one before, and enjoyed it then, and enjoyed it this year as well. It’s a damp ski with lots of energy, but not much pop, which is exactly what happens when you throw two sheets of titanium into a ski. This is the ski that defies the “shrink it and pink it” movement so many companies embrace. The only reason I don’t already own a pair of these is because the 170 feels long and the 163 feels just a bit short.
Kenja (163) –
The Kenja was redesign in 2015/16, and is kept the same for 2016/17. This was my first go about with it as a 90 underfoot ski. I think there have been quite a few reviews on this one on the site, so I won’t beat it to death. I had a fun time with it, but I think if I get another chance I’d try it in the 170.
One W (176) –
This ski. Wow. I just have so much fun on it. If you want to just carve…this is probably one of the worst choices for a ski you could make. The One likes to bounce and skip down the hill, it has the energy of a child, but the stability of an ox. I skied it last year with a couple feet of powder, and it was the ski I’ve dreamt about since. This year, with less than ideal conditions for a powder ski, it was still a blast. It holds surprisingly well on groomed runs, and ate up the spring bumps late in the day. It’s far from a one-ski quiver, but I could see it making a nice edition to anyone’s collection.
Conditions: Morning was hard-packed, classic ice-coast day after 50 degree temperatures, then down to 30 at night (but still edgable). Temps during the day rose to 50+, snow softened up, and it became a classic spring skiing mashed potato kind of day.
90Eight W (163) –
I enjoyed everything about this ski, it was fun, playful, but it could definitely charge when pushed. The flat tail shape allowed it so carve well on groomers, but it’s width kept up with the variable bumps and soft spots. I thought I was going to want it longer, but the 163 was perfect for me. It never wavered or felt too short. I could see this being fantastic in the trees being as nimble as it was out in the open. This is a ski that could easily make a one-ski-quiver, especially for those on the west-coast.
Race Tiger (155) –
This was the outcast for the day, I’ve never skied a slalom ski, I’ve never raced, and don’t know how to review race skis with a race mentality. But this did exactly what it was meant to do, arc short turns like it was nobody’s business. I wish I demoed this early in the day, but I took it out late enough in the day that it was starting to soften up and bump up (the ski did not like bumps). Either way, the Race Tiger and I got along and had a few fun runs together laying railroad tracks all over the mountain.
Aura (170) –
Bombproof. Actually no, it IS the bomb. The Aura is a charger ski, it likes to go fast, it’s not the most forgiving, and annihilates whatever you throw at it. I’ve skied this one before, and enjoyed it then, and enjoyed it this year as well. It’s a damp ski with lots of energy, but not much pop, which is exactly what happens when you throw two sheets of titanium into a ski. This is the ski that defies the “shrink it and pink it” movement so many companies embrace. The only reason I don’t already own a pair of these is because the 170 feels long and the 163 feels just a bit short.
Kenja (163) –
The Kenja was redesign in 2015/16, and is kept the same for 2016/17. This was my first go about with it as a 90 underfoot ski. I think there have been quite a few reviews on this one on the site, so I won’t beat it to death. I had a fun time with it, but I think if I get another chance I’d try it in the 170.
One W (176) –
This ski. Wow. I just have so much fun on it. If you want to just carve…this is probably one of the worst choices for a ski you could make. The One likes to bounce and skip down the hill, it has the energy of a child, but the stability of an ox. I skied it last year with a couple feet of powder, and it was the ski I’ve dreamt about since. This year, with less than ideal conditions for a powder ski, it was still a blast. It holds surprisingly well on groomed runs, and ate up the spring bumps late in the day. It’s far from a one-ski quiver, but I could see it making a nice edition to anyone’s collection.
