Help Needed: Volkl Kenja 2019 version - to buy or not to buy?

[scandium]

Help me divas! I have accidentally spotted an awesome deal on the 2019 Volkl Kenjas (while looking for a new ski bag) and am wondering whether I should pull the trigger or whether I'm looking at a ski that isn't really right for me.
https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Volkl_Kenja_B-Grade_Womens_Skis_156cm_BlackGreen_2019-(261189)

I have only demo'd the 2020 Kenja 88 which was essentially a complete redesign with less metal. It felt super secure on groomers but "insecure" on ungroomed soft moguls - I did make the note that I thought it was a lack of driving and feeling like I couldn't get the ski around which then just made me less and less confident. Since then, I think my skiing has improved with the aid of private lessons including a couple for ungroomed snow and moguls as well as better fitting boots - but I would still call myself intermediate trying to break bad habits so I can progress to being advanced! I think I would enjoy the Kenja 88 a lot more now - in my current quiver, sometimes the Yumi is a little bit soft.

I think I like stiff and damp and don't mind driving a ski, but I don't want something that's so heavy I can't flex it, especially when people have described this as an "expert" ski in reviews. In terms of skis of similar width, I demo'd the 2021 Santa Ana 93 and really loved it last year, but was very ambivalent about the Sheeva 9.

Me: 5'1"ish, currently 120lb (this has snuck up about 8lb since last ski season...once I ramp up my pre-season conditioning and get stronger and bouncier again I expect to be around 115lb)
Where I ski: Currently stuck in New Zealand, conditions are similar to East Coast with a lot of narrower groomed runs, but I also head to club fields sometimes (completely ungroomed). I tend to just go everywhere, but don't always ski narrower black runs with good technique. I also ski on a lot of slush and spring snow because that's just what our mountains often do.
My current (shared) quiver: Volkl Flair SC Efficiency 2018 155cm, Volkl Yumi 2019 154cm

So...if you made it this far, please either help enable me or talk me out of a stupid idea!!

 

[contesstant]

My question is could you turn around and sell them fairly easily for about the same money if you don't like them?

 

[scandium]

My question is could you turn around and sell them fairly easily for about the same money if you don't like them?

Yes. The second hand market here is fairly robust.

 

[elemmac]

Keep in mind you'll need bindings, and cost to get them mounted. If with that cost added they're still considered a good deal to you...go for it. They're awesome skis, and if you find that they're a bit much...sell 'em.

 

[scandium]

Keep in mind you'll need bindings, and cost to get them mounted. If with that cost added they're still considered a good deal to you...go for it. They're awesome skis, and if you find that they're a bit much...sell 'em.

Yup, even with international shipping, bindings, and mounting cost they will probably end up costing me less than half of the shop price here - which is why I will probably be able to get the entire cost back if they don't suit me.

 

[marzNC]

Me: 5'1"ish, currently 120lb (this has snuck up about 8lb since last ski season...once I ramp up my pre-season conditioning and get stronger and bouncier again I expect to be around 115lb)

I think I like stiff and damp and don't mind driving a ski, but I don't want something that's so heavy I can't flex it, especially when people have described this as an "expert" ski in reviews. In terms of skis of similar width, I demo'd the 2021 Santa Ana 93 and really loved it last year, but was very ambivalent about the Sheeva 9.

My current (shared) quiver: Volkl Flair SC Efficiency 2018 155cm, Volkl Yumi 2019 154cm

How did you decide on the Volkl Flair and Yumi? Reason I'm wondering is because I'm a bit more petite (5'0", 110 lbs) and Volkl skis were never fun at free demo days, except for the Yumi when it first came out. Never tried the Flair. I liked the Santa Ana 93 and 100 a few years ago on soft snow in the Rockies. Didn't like the Sheeva 9 during the Alta Demo Day in April 2019. I've become a solid advanced skier in recent years, with a fair number of semi-private lessons at my home hill and at destination resorts, as well as advanced group lessons (Taos Ski Weeks). The brands I like best are Stöckli, Rossignol, Nordic, Head, I did like the Blizzard BP88 and BP98 in 2017-2019 but haven't tried the latest versions. My skis for mid-Atlantic and northeast snow is the Head Absolut Joy.

@tinymoose is a petite skier with a different opinion about Volkl. Maybe she'll stop by.

As has been mentioned, if you are willing to deal with selling them, then go for it.

 

[Iwannaski]

So: let’s assume the fee for a demo is 50-75 (USD)... if you paid that to demo them and were able to sell them for what you’ll pay - demo fee - and you think are the odds are you’ll like them, DO IT!

You already know and like the brand, so it really reduces the risk a lot.

 

[ski skuhl]

I'm 5'5" 135 lb, more athletic build than petite. My all-time favorite ski is Volkl Aura which isn't even made anymore but the 2019 Kenja is a close second. In my experience, there is nothing these skis can't handle and deliver a smooth ride. It is a well-regarded ski and if you decided it isn't for you, I imagine you'd not have a hard time selling them.

 

[scandium]

How did you decide on the Volkl Flair and Yumi? Reason I'm wondering is because I'm a bit more petite (5'0", 110 lbs) and Volkl skis were never fun at free demo days, except for the Yumi when it first came out. Never tried the Flair. I liked the Santa Ana 93 and 100 a few years ago on soft snow in the Rockies. Didn't like the Sheeva 9 during the Alta Demo Day in April 2019. I've become a solid advanced skier in recent years, with a fair number of semi-private lessons at my home hill and at destination resorts, as well as advanced group lessons (Taos Ski Weeks). The brands I like best are Stöckli, Rossignol, Nordic, Head, I did like the Blizzard BP88 and BP98 in 2017-2019 but haven't tried the latest versions. My skis for mid-Atlantic and northeast snow is the Head Absolut Joy.

@tinymoose is a petite skier with a different opinion about Volkl. Maybe she'll stop by.

As has been mentioned, if you are willing to deal with selling them, then go for it.

t was almost a coincidence that I ended up with a Volkl quiver - I think it was an instructor that initially thought I might like the Kenja 88s so that made me more aware of the brand! By the time I bought the Yumi (mid 2019), I was a couple of years into free demo days and rentals, and had decided that I definitely enjoyed moderately stiff groomer skis (based on the 2018 Elan Delight Supreme and Salomon W-Max 10). However, given how much slush there often is around and the strugglebus that turns into on those same skis, I thought I would look for something a bit more all mountain to make my afternoons easier.
I'd also had fun on the Rossi Experience 84 and Astral 78 on soft snow, and actually enjoyed the Kenja 88 but specifically on the groomers so thought the Yumi might split the difference between everything I liked. I skiied the Yumi at the end of the 2019 southern hemisphere season and they were fun! I did notice on crisp spring refrozen-solid mornings I was thinking maybe the narrower, more groomer-oriented skis I had tried might be easier.

By the start of the 2020 season my mother had started skiing on the Yumis as well and was ready to sell her BP78s so it was clearly a sign to start a quiver. I nearly ended up purchasing some ex-demo Nordica Sentra S6s when I saw the Flairs come up for cheaper with a single season on them - so I figured it would be much of a muchness performance wise and possibly a slight saving. The Flairs also make me smile but for completely different reasons.

The voice in my head is also pointing out that I really liked the 2021 SA93s when I demo'd and should maybe just save up and get those instead/as well as...

 

[tinymoose]

If you feel you can resell them for the cost of the skis, shipping, bindings, etc. then go for it. You won't really be out anything, other than the time to resell if they don't work out.

I'm 5'1" and 100 lbs., low advanced skier. Historically, I've really liked Volkls, and I've owned both the Kenja and the Yumi. In retrospect, while I could ski the Kenjas and enjoyed them just fine, I probably was never bending them all that well due to my size, although it never impacted how I felt on them! After starting yearly race clinics, I decided to "downgrade" to (at the time) no metal Yumis to work on my technique and eventually once I found the speed limit on those, I upgraded to the newer Yumi with the titanal band under the bindings. A much better balance/compromise between both the all wood Yumi and the Kenja for me.

You've got a bit of weight on me, so you might be able to handle more ski than I can. I also keep my skis pretty short. My Kenjas were 149, and my Yumis have all been 147. I also have a pair of junior SL skis at 150. I've tried 156 length skis before, and like you mentioned, I've always found them more difficult to rotary turn with the added length. I don't notice the length much when I can keep them on edge.

 

[MrsPlow]

If you're happy enough with your existing skis that you could ski all winter on those if you find that you still don't feel confident on the Kenjas, then it does look like a really good deal.

Having bought a few pairs of skis because of screaming deals - most of them have worked out well, some I don't ski and should really sell. Personally I'd go for the ones I really liked (especially if you're in that pattern of checking if anyone has them cheaper every single day) if I didn't need to buy something to ski on for the upcoming season. But that's from the point of view of someone who already has arguably too many pairs of skis...

 

[fgor]

That is a fantastic price! Looks like they sell bindings cheaper than you'd get locally too, + they mount them for free if you buy both? It's a better deal than I got for my SA88 (which I also bought figuring that I wouldn't lose tooo much if I somehow didn't like them as much as the SA93 and sold them). I think you'd be able to get your money back for sure on those!

Haven't been on the ski myself though; I've also only demoed the kenja 88, in 2019. I was a week out from a minor knee sprain at the time so I only kept to the groomers. I thought it was a delightfully smooth ski but tiring (I'm sure the knee didn't help, lol). I wasn't a very confident skier at the time though. I wanted to try the volkl skis again last year once I improved but if volkl ever had any canterbury demo days, I didn't see them.

Anyway I'm a huge gear buying enabler so my highly biased opinion is that if you've already been thinking about the kenja line of skis, I'd be pretty tempted to give them a go... especially knowing that you already enjoy and own other volkl skis

(but make sure you have enough money left over in case you see a screaming deal on some santa anas, i'm even more biased when it comes to those )

edit: from reviews it looks like the main difference between kenja 88 and the 2019 kenja is that people call the newer model more lively and the older model more "planky" in comparison. given how much you loved the 2021 sa93 (also described as a much livelier ski compared to its predecessor - and the energy is a big reason why i personally also loved it) that makes me wonder if you might enjoy the kenja 88 more than the older kenja? though then again, for that price..... i'd still be tempted!!! (must resist buying more skis, must resist buying more skis, i only just bought skis, agh)

 

[Tennessee]

Well, I ski the 2017 Volkl Kenja in a 170. I had an older pair of Kenjas that were 163 and I decided to size up to get more cruising stability. To me, it doesn't seem "hard" to ski at all -- rather the opposite. It is really my only ski (I have an older pair of Nordica Nemesis skis that are shorter and fatter-- 161 -- and fun in the Spring) and it does everything pretty well I think. I like it a lot in powder that's not too deep (never skied DEEP powder, lol!). It does like to cruise and go fast and it's super stable on good snow, groomed snow and cruddy snow. Never fails me. I think the 2019 is not changed from the 2017 much, if at all, so I vote you should "GO FOR IT" if this sounds all good to you.

 

[scandium]

@fgor

I wanted to try the volkl skis again last year once I improved but if volkl ever had any canterbury demo days, I didn't see them.

Well if your BSL is close to mine you are welcome to jump on and have a try if we're ever on the same mountain at the same time! My Flairs have system bindings so easy to adjust, the Yumis are mounted for my old BSL of 286 and have a wee bit of room for adjustment either way (I still ski them with my new boots which have a BSL of 273). I'm planning on mostly being in Queenstown this year unless my friends want to do club fields.

 

[fgor]

@fgor

Well if your BSL is close to mine you are welcome to jump on and have a try if we're ever on the same mountain at the same time! My Flairs have system bindings so easy to adjust, the Yumis are mounted for my old BSL of 286 and have a wee bit of room for adjustment either way (I still ski them with my new boots which have a BSL of 273). I'm planning on mostly being in Queenstown this year unless my friends want to do club fields.

Same goes for you with the 2021 SA88! they're mounted to my BSL of 265, so that's not far off from 273 at all! I got the 3 peak pass this season, so I don't know when I'll be down in Queenstown but my friends and I are definitely going to do a couple of trips. I also have a Craigieburn pass for reasons, so as long as they actually open properly this season, I'll hopefully be there a bit, levelling up my ungroomed skiing.

 

[scandium]

Same goes for you with the 2021 SA88! they're mounted to my BSL of 265, so that's not far off from 273 at all! I got the 3 peak pass this season, so I don't know when I'll be down in Queenstown but my friends and I are definitely going to do a couple of trips. I also have a Craigieburn pass for reasons, so as long as they actually open properly this season, I'll hopefully be there a bit, levelling up my ungroomed skiing.

I've locked in the first week and a bit of term 2 school holidays so I can go with my mother - we will fly in to Christchurch and out of Queenstown. I still can't get up nutcrackers properly (despite multiple club field trips and people assuring me that I'll just magically get the hang of it) so I need an escort who can help put the rope back on the pulleys to go to clubbies, or else I risk the wrath of the entire field...

 

[fgor]

I've locked in the first week and a bit of term 2 school holidays so I can go with my mother - we will fly in to Christchurch and out of Queenstown. I still can't get up nutcrackers properly (despite multiple club field trips and people assuring me that I'll just magically get the hang of it) so I need an escort who can help put the rope back on the pulleys to go to clubbies, or else I risk the wrath of the entire field...

I went to Craigieburn twice last season (it was all rocks, nothing but rocks) and was basically embarrassed by the rope tows the entire time. Luckily the other folk had endless patience for my shenanigans. One time I pulled the rope off two or three pulleys in a row and i just let go after that and skied down from there, because i was worried I'd pull the whole lot off

Then the next time, I had a lot of trouble with the middle tow. I wasn't lining up the nutcracker right i guess and it kept bouncing off and hitting me in the elbow. After I finally managed to clip onto it, i lost grip of the nutcracker halfway up, and was so demoralised that I decided just to bootpack up the rest of the way (to the day lodge) instead of battling the rope again! The ski patrol saw me, asked if I was ok, and just laughed when I said that particular rope had defeated me. Then he took my skis off me and took them up himself, so that I didn't have to carry them, and met me at the next tow, to give me another lesson in rope tows! All very good natured. I did succeed at getting up the top tow after that

What I'm saying is you'd find it hard to be much worse than me at the rope tows! I like the idea of having an escort to put the ropes back on the pulleys, i just anxiously looked behind me to see if some random had managed to fix the pulleys each time i derailed one.

 

[scandium]

Well, I have purchased them - and hopefully I managed to get the single pair they listed as being in stock online! I ended up going for the Tyrolia Attack 11 GW as I think I read something somewhere that says the delta on the GW version isn't as large as the non GW Attack 11s, although I may regret not getting the 13s for $40 more if I turn out to be sensitive to the binding angle on these.

 

[scandium]

They have arrived!

 

[fgor]

They have arrived!

Eee, fantastic!! And only a couple of months to wait until ski season