Volkl Blaze 86w

[MissySki]

I should have my blaze's in a 166 in my hot little hands by this Friday. I'll be in VT so won't be able to touch them until Monday night but still.. I'm hoping they'll arrive before friday so I can bring them VT with me. They are tuned so just need a release check/din set so my shop should be able to do that pretty quick. I just can't be without my boot for more than an hour over the next week. Anxious to ski these puppies and see if I feel the love everyone else has for them.

I’ll be curious to hear what you think. Given your usual skis are quite a bit damper, it is definitely a different direction.

 

[santacruz skier]

Wish you were up to 166s. . Let me know if you demo them @santacruz skier

Blaze 86 not available to demo in steamboat shop. Maybe another shop but doubtful I’ll bother looking for them.

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I’ll be curious to hear what you think. Given your usual skis are quite a bit damper, it is definitely a different direction.

I think that's why I'm especially curious. I love me a damp ski but I'm getting more tolerant of a slightly less damp ski so we'll see. You and I have the SR motions 85s in common. I also love the Volkl Secret 96 which doesn't feel as damp of a ski.

 

[ski diva]

Those of you who know me: 152 or 159? I'm 5'1", 112 lbs, ski the Blizzard Sheeva 9's in a 157, and the Santa Ana 84's in a 158. But people saying they're sizing down have me questioning what size I should go with. Any thoughts?

 

[marzNC]

Those of you who know me: 152 or 159? I'm 5'1", 112 lbs, ski the Blizzard Sheeva 9's in a 157, and the Santa Ana 84's in a 158. But people saying they're sizing down have me questioning what size I should go with. Any thoughts?

Haven't tried the Blaze 86, but I'm having a good time with Yumi @147cm, 123-84-104, for skiing in the southeast. They were good in Michigan too where a few groomers were slick by the afternoon. Not as bad as New England can be, but slicker than in Virginia.

My Stormrider 85s and DPS Zeldas are 159cm. I'd probably go shorter with any Volkl. YMMV

 

[contesstant]

Those of you who know me: 152 or 159? I'm 5'1", 112 lbs, ski the Blizzard Sheeva 9's in a 157, and the Santa Ana 84's in a 158. But people saying they're sizing down have me questioning what size I should go with. Any thoughts?

I'd go 152. I'm on the 159 and this ski definitely skis longer than the Sheeva 9.

 

[skibum4ever]

I'd go 152. I'm on the 159 and this ski definitely skis longer than the Sheeva 9.

That tells me that buying the 152 was definitely the right move for me.

 

[skinnyfootskis]

I didn’t feel it skied long, but I’m not sure. My dd is 159, blaze 166.

 

[MissySki]

I usually buy skis in the mid 160s, the 159 Blaze 86 has been great for me in bumps and trees. Imo they ski longer than a 159.. in that they are stable for me in a size down from what I would normally want. I do find a speed limit, but in saying that.. they don’t inhibit me and they are stable at speed for me. If I didn’t ski bumps and trees and just wanted to carve up groomers at high speeds all day, then I’d have picked the 166. But that’s not me and I spend most of my time off piste when possible.

So @ski diva I think it depends what you want it for. Either would be fine imo, just depends if you want more turny or faster.

 

[Trailside Trixie]

Blaze's just came today. They are in a 166. They are tuned already so just need a binding release check so should be able to get these on snow sooner than later. My skis range from 158-169

 

[ski diva]

Well, I ended up getting them in a 159 in a screamin' deal from Powder7 ($279!), and skied them today for the first time. (I got the 2023 model; the ski has not changed in a few years, and it's not changing for next year, either -- well, except for the top sheet.) As I posted earlier, I was really torn between the 159's and the 152's, but the 159's seem to suit me just fine. Anyway, consider me happy! This is a really nice ski, and I'm very pleased with it.

 

[skinnyfootskis]

Well, I ended up getting them in a 159 in a screamin' deal from Powder7 ($279!), and skied them today for the first time. (I got the 2023 model; the ski has not changed in a few years, and it's not changing for next year, either -- well, except for the top sheet.) As I posted earlier, I was really torn between the 159's and the 152's, but the 159's seem to suit me just fine. Anyway, consider me happy! This is a really nice ski, and I'm very happy with it.

Glad you like them. Hoping someone wants my brand new 166s with bindings $320.

 

[ski diva]

Glad you like them. Hoping someone wants my brand new 166s with bindings $320.

That's a steal!

 

[skibum4ever]

That's a steal!

It sure is!

Last season I paid $400 for mine in early April, and those were slightly used.

 

[ilovepugs]

@ski diva - congrats on the new ski purchase! What made you decide to get the Blazes? Do they serve a different function than the Santa Anas? I’m loving the Santa Anas… but maybe I would love the Blazes more in bumps and trees?

 

[ski diva]

@ski diva - congrats on the new ski purchase! What made you decide to get the Blazes? Do they serve a different function than the Santa Anas? I’m loving the Santa Anas… but maybe I would love the Blazes more in bumps and trees?

I actually tried them last year (and this year, too) at the ski industry demo days, and just thought they were really nice skis. No, they don't really serve a function different than the Santa Ana's and I didn't really "need" them. In fact, their dimensions are very close to the dimensions of the Santa Ana 84's (120/84/105 vs 129/86/111). But when I saw them SO CHEAP on Powder 7, I figured why not.

 

[ilovepugs]

I actually tried them last year (and this year, too) at the ski industry demo days, and just thought they were really nice skis. No, they don't really serve a function different than the Santa Ana's and I didn't really "need" them. In fact, their dimensions are very close to the dimensions of the Santa Ana 84's (120/84/105 vs 129/86/111). But when I saw them SO CHEAP on Powder 7, I figured why not.

I’m a sucker for a cool top sheet and I love the 2024 top sheets. Love the Blaze 94s too. Maybe when the spring sales start….

 

[santacruz skier]

I’m a sucker for a cool top sheet and I love the 2024 top sheets. Love the Blaze 94s too. Maybe when the spring sales start….

That's what I'm thinking...

 

[MrsPlow]

Any smaller Canadian divas - SportChek has the 146 Blaze 86W on sale for $279

 

[Trailside Trixie]

Finally took my Blaze 86ws out today. It was a sunny but chilly day at Bromley. Temps were in the mid 30s but it was pretty damp out.

We didn't get out until around noon. Took a few runs with my stockli stormrider 85 motions. I heart these skis but that's a whole other thread.

Then I said now is Blaze time. I know many have had to choose between one size or the other. 165ish is my normal ski size but I do have a couple pairs that are 158 to 161 so I figured I'd be fine with a 159 or a 166. The stars aligned with a 166 demo pair.

Conditions were mostly soft snow with small piles of soft mixed around. There were some firm places and in the shade it was pretty firm and crusty.

Blazes felt very different than my Stocklis and it took me a run and a half to get used to them. Once I got used to them I was smiling ear to ear. They are light but not freakishly light and easy to maneuver. I felt the perfect amount of dampness. They handled the lumpy soft snow with aplomb. They held their own whenever I needed to coast over anything firm and they didn't waiver even once in the firm crusty areas in the shade.

Sometimes I need a couple days on a pair of skis but the Blazes and I are good.

I wouldn't take them out on a more hard pack day but on a slightly mixed day like today they were perfect.

I also have a pair of Blaze 106s that I'm pretty impressed with so I think it's safe to say Volkl hit the the ball out of the park with this series.