Volkl Blaze 86 for a teen?

[Basil]

Came across a good deal on these at my local shop. The 2023 version with a system binding for <$400.

I'm shopping for my son who is soon to be 13. I'd classify him as an intermediate...he's fearless enough to try a lot of harder and steeper trails, but IMO he lacks proper technique. Of course, those who have ever raised a 12-13 year old boy know exactly how much stock he puts in my opinions So for now he's very much a Z-turn skier. But he can make it down pretty much any trail on the mountain.

He's about 5 feet tall now, and he has a pair of 138s for this year that are about nose height on him. But he's growing like a weed.

I'm thinking of getting him the Blaze 86W in a 152 for when he outgrows his current pair. The 2023 women's version has a thankfully unisex looking graphic (the 2024 is all mint and purple and he'd never go for it). I have 3 younger girls who these skis would eventually be passed down to (which is why I'm always looking for system bindings).

Thoughts on these?

 

[Jilly]

Yup. 138 is too short for him. Go get them.

 

[SarahXC]

Sounds like a great fit!

 

[snoWYmonkey]

While height matters, another important factor is weight. With kids it can be such a mix. A stiff ski will be hard to flex if he is super light weight. But length wise it sounds like a good one to grow into.

 

[Basil]

While height matters, another important factor is weight. With kids it can be such a mix. A stiff ski will be hard to flex if he is super light weight. But length wise it sounds like a good one to grow into.

He’s about 90 pounds…I think he will grow taller before he gets substantially heavier. He’s not a string bean but also hasn’t hit the age where he’s gaining muscle. He seems to be growing in height and feet length primarily these days

I was hoping the Blaze wouldn’t be too stiff since it doesn’t have much metal. But still a bit more supportive than a true beginner ski.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I just used his stats in the volkl size calculator and while they are 10cm longer than they suggest they are very light skis and he is growing, so may be hard to carve at first but he'll get his skidded turns perfected, which is key for speed control.

 

[MissySki]

I just used his stats in the volkl size calculator and while they are 10cm longer than they suggest they are very light skis and he is growing, so may be hard to carve at first but he'll get his skidded turns perfected, which is key for speed control.

The Blaze 86 is soooooo easy to carve too though.. just tip them sideways and away you go! it’s something I love about them, they carve extremely well and easily for a ski that also has such a free ride feel to it when you want it to.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

I don't think you could go wrong w/the Blaze. The metal is under the boot where he'll want it when he needs it. Otherwise, the ski has a light swing weight and a tight turn radius that he'll learn to appreciate. I love mine.

 

[tinymoose]

I've never tried the Blaze, but I'm similar in size to your son. I'm 5'1" and 95 lbs. 152 might be a hair long to start, but it sounds like a good length to grow into and nothing crazy long for now. 138 is definitely way too short for his current size, though.

 

[marzNC]

When my daughter was a growing tween I got a couple used pairs of skis that were up to her forehead. That way it was more likely the skis could last two seasons. We were only skiing 14-20 days those days. She started ski school at age 4, so was a solid intermediate. She had no trouble adapting after a run or two the first day she use the "new to her" skis.

 

[scandium]

If he’s growing that fast they sound fine, even if he is light so is the ski! Better than him on being skis that are waaaaay too short.

 

[Basil]

Ok, I’m going back for the Blazes…but… is it really that his 138s are way too short for this year? He was on 130s last year.

I am kicking myself a little because I just bought them (Nordica unleashed junior in 138) this spring. They come up about to his nose. I personally ski skis that come to about my forehead or hairline usually (mid 160s and I’m 5’5” tall) but i learned to ski in the era of long and straight skis.

I was kind of figuring I’d get the Blazes for later this season and next. My husband will roll his eyes so hard at me if he has already grown out of the skis I got him in the spring!!

 

[tinymoose]

I don't know if things are different for kids (no children myself), but as someone similar in size to your son, I just know that ski would feel short and unstable to me, even when I was an intermediate skier. I started on high 130s/low 140s skis and didn't last on them more than a season or two before I landed somewhere in the mid-high 140 range.

 

[Knitjenious]

For reference, I just put my 5'3", 120 pound soon-to-be-13 cautious intermediate on a pair of 152s for this season... she literally grew an inch in the last month. (We did a rental package this year because growth spurts + only child so no built in hand-me-down chain.) I think you will be glad to have the 152 Blazes sooner than later, if they are a good deal! And if you get them and still own the 138s, you can always have him try them both and see what feels good.

 

[scandium]

Ok, I’m going back for the Blazes…but… is it really that his 138s are way too short for this year? He was on 130s last year.

I am kicking myself a little because I just bought them (Nordica unleashed junior in 138) this spring. They come up about to his nose. I personally ski skis that come to about my forehead or hairline usually (mid 160s and I’m 5’5” tall) but i learned to ski in the era of long and straight skis.

I was kind of figuring I’d get the Blazes for later this season and next. My husband will roll his eyes so hard at me if he has already grown out of the skis I got him in the spring!!

Well…if he is still growing, who knows?? Just while browsing in snow stores I have seen things like a teen race kid come in having properly outgrown their new boots that their parents had bought that autumn due to them getting bigger (maybe 2 months prior??)… and the season had just started! They generally seem to grow ridiculously fast once they start.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

A different take on things. If the skis you bought him are junior race skis and we know kids tend to compete in tech not speed disciplines then nose height should be fine. Most slalom skis are below the nose....see attached photo of the best in the world. However it sounds like it is a twin tip soft ski which means it could be good for start of season but might be too short later. Again his low weight to height ratio is to me more important than just his height as it all come down to being able to flex the ski which we want. At first new skis are at their stiffest, so I suspect it will be good for him as you mentioned he is not yet super skilled and precise with his turns.

 

[Basil]

I ended up buying them from Level 9 sports, they had an even better price than the local store.

Here he is with both pairs. I know grown up Unleashed skis are on the more "free ride" side of things, but the Junior ones actually have a wood core and partial sidewall, so I think they are on the stiffer side of junior skis. They don't feel noodley as compared to the Volkls by hand flexing.

The Volkls do feel substantially heavier and are wider, though. Part of that is the adult vs junior binding. One thing I forgot to consider is that his DIN is still a 3. So he's at the very bottom of those 3-10 DIN bindings.

I think I'll start him out on the Nordicas and see how he does. He definitely throws his shoulders around to turn his skis, and has a funky thing where he throws a pole backwards as he does this. I've tried getting him to do drills etc and he sees no need to improve his form right now

 

[scandium]

I think for this age - lessons with an instructor and/or skiing with more advanced friends will be the only thing he might listen to, parental opinions don’t count for much! Unless he can’t keep up with you (i.e. needs the speed from railing/carving) or wants to spray you in snow (I get much better spray from hockey stops with counter rotation, by far!) I think you might need external input.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

They are omniscient and omnipotent at that age.

 

[skibum4ever]

Those skis look so familiar as I have that exact model.

I hope he enjoys them as much as I did this past season. I found that they were very easy to ski.