Question: Volkl Blaze 86?

[AJM]

I'm 5'5" 145 lbs and ususally ski this in a 166.
Lauren ( @elemmac )wrote a great review on it.

2023 Völkl Blaze 86 W

Lauren: In all honesty, I didn’t expect much from the Blaze 86 W. A lightweight freeride ski with an 86mm waist? Sounds about as stable as a donkey in a canoe. I could not have been more wrong. Its versatility blew me away. I took it into some fresh fluffy snow, on snowmaking mounds, and on some...

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I usually go longer, my Sheevas are 164 but I have to say I did enjoy the 156 K2's they were a great ski in a great length coming back from injury .
My previous BP 88's were 159 and that seems to be a "happy" length for me depending on the running length etc.
Not quite sure what I'm going for next season for my daily driver but I'm definitely going to demo first mainly to see if a new ski is going to bring something to the table and also "can I still manage a slightly more demanding ski" what with knees and now my back

 

[skinnyfootskis]

What did you do to your back? Is it from protecting your knees? @AJM

 

[Tennessee]

Ok thanks to all you Enablers (looking at you @elemmac and @skibum4ever especially!) I purchased the Volkl Blaze 166 last night about midnight for $217.23. That includes tax and shipping! I used my 15% first purchase discount and it worked. There are two more pairs available of the 166 and one pair available in the 159 size. Joining the Blaze Ski Diva team. Report to follow…

 

[elemmac]

Ok thanks to all you Enablers (looking at you @elemmac and @skibum4ever especially!)

No problem, that's what I'm here for

 

[skinnyfootskis]

Ok thanks to all you Enablers (looking at you @elemmac and @skibum4ever especially!) I purchased the Volkl Blaze 166 last night about midnight for $217.23. That includes tax and shipping! I used my 15% first purchase discount and it worked. There are two more pairs available of the 166 and one pair available in the 159 size. Joining the Blaze Ski Diva team. Report to follow…

I just don’t know what size…. I want to demo the Head Kore, elan ripstick, k2 mindbender and atomic…. If I can find them. Enjoy. I can’t wait to hear!

 

[Tennessee]

I just don’t know what size…. I want to demo the Head Kore, elan ripstick, k2 mindbender and atomic…. If I can find them. Enjoy. I can’t wait to hear!

I’m still going to demo in early December (IF Sugar is open and has their demo days) and at that point I can decide… still time to return them at that point if I decide to go another direction. I doubt they will have a Blaze to demo though.

 

[SnowHot]

I usually go longer, my Sheevas are 164 but I have to say I did enjoy the 156 K2's they were a great ski in a great length coming back from injury .
My previous BP 88's were 159 and that seems to be a "happy" length for me depending on the running length etc.
Not quite sure what I'm going for next season for my daily driver but I'm definitely going to demo first mainly to see if a new ski is going to bring something to the table and also "can I still manage a slightly more demanding ski" what with knees and now my back

The K2 skis its full length. The Blaze line up feels a bit shorter. Not sure why because both have some rocker.

I just don’t know what size…. I want to demo the Head Kore, elan ripstick, k2 mindbender and atomic…. If I can find them. Enjoy. I can’t wait to hear!

Head KORE skis slightly short for its length and is quite damp. The Elan Ripstick (not black) is a bit snappier, and the Mindbender is more of a charger. The Atomic Maven line up skis a bit short as well, with a bit of playfulness.

 

[skinnyfootskis]

I’m still going to demo in early December (IF Sugar is open and has their demo days) and at that point I can decide… still time to return them at that point if I decide to go another direction. I doubt they will have a Blaze to demo though.

Yea, I already found a new blaze to demo and I like the top sheet look better. If we ever get snow in VT….today is 65 in CT. If the blaze is still there later….ya never know. Lol

 

[santacruz skier]

This is beginning to look like another Blavk Pearl frenzy !

 

[skinnyfootskis]

I just got back from the local ski shop.....dazed, confused and excited! I will be demoing. Thank you everyone

 

[SparkleBunny]

It's so funny I was looking at the Blaze as well. I'm quickly outgrowing the Head absolute joy's 148 I had last season. Trying to decide between the 152 or 159 in the Blaze 86s. For someone 5'4 and 105lbs trying to progress, is 159 too much?

 

[marzNC]

It's so funny I was looking at the Blaze as well. I'm quickly outgrowing the Head absolute joy's 148 I had last season. Trying to decide between the 152 or 159 in the Blaze 86s. For someone 5'4 and 105lbs trying to progress, is 159 too much?

Hmm, hard to say. What region do you ski in the most?

I'm about the same weight but a few inches shorter. When I was an older (50+) but adventurous intermediate a decade ago, my all-mountain skis were mid-150s. Eventually decided that 159cm made more sense as I became a low advanced skier skiing 20+ days at destination resorts out west.

I had the AJs @148cm for mid-Atlantic skiing on groomers. Changed to Volkl Yumis a couple years ago, which are a bit wider, and stuck with the shorter length, 147cm.

 

[SparkleBunny]

Hmm, hard to say. What region do you ski in the most?

I'm about the same weight but a few inches shorter. When I was an older (50+) but adventurous intermediate a decade ago, my all-mountain skis were mid-150s. Eventually decided that 159cm made more sense as I became a low advanced skier skiing 20+ days at destination resorts out west.

I had the AJs @148cm for mid-Atlantic skiing on groomers. Changed to Volkl Yumis a couple years ago, which are a bit wider, and stuck with the shorter length, 147cm.

I'm a west coast skier, mostly Mammoth, Tahoe, and Utah.

 

[SparkleBunny]

FWIW last season I skied just under 30 days, hoping to hit at least 20 days this season.

 

[marzNC]

I'm a west coast skier, mostly Mammoth, Tahoe, and Utah.

FWIW last season I skied just under 30 days, hoping to hit at least 20 days this season.

Honestly, at 5'4" and lightweight, you could go either way between 152 and 159. Shorter skis are easier to turn, while longer skis are more stable in chopped up snow and at higher speeds. That's why when I get a chance to demo the same skis in the different lengths, I take advantage of the opportunity even when I'm not in the market for new skis. There are so many variables that make a given model/length fun for a given skier.

Good luck making a decision. Can't beat the price!

 

[SparkleBunny]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts @marzNC! Might stick with the shorter one bc I like to stay on groomed and dislike the bumps. But I'm starting to like trees and turning is important.

 

[AJM]

What did you do to your back? Is it from protecting your knees? @AJM

Its an old injury that reared its ugly head again

 

[skibum4ever]

This is beginning to look like another Blavk Pearl frenzy !

That's true.

When I bought mine last April I did not expect to be part of a ski frenzy!

 

[skinnyfootskis]

By the way, my shop has the new Blaze with bindings for $650. So the ski itself is quite affordable. I’m guessing if any are left next fall they will sell for around $400, or a bit less.

 

[santacruz skier]

By the way, my shop has the new Blaze with bindings for $650. So the ski itself is quite affordable. I’m guessing if any are left next fall they will sell for around $400, or a bit less.

And I like the top sheets on the 2024!