Volkl Kenja 88 Design Changes?

[Trailside Trixie]

I’m 5’2” - 135 lbs- the 163 is my usual size in a Volkl. I have never found a Volkl ski that felt unstable. I suspect choosing something too short is the issue and not the construction of the ski.

163 is my usual size and there was a huge difference between the way my 2015 and 16 kenjas skied versus the 21s that had the design change. I've had many people in ski shops tell me that the 2020 to 2022 had the ski softened up big time to cast a wider net to each more people. I tried to like me 2021s I really did and they were just too soft for me. They didn't have the burliness of years past. I've definitely had the experience in the construction can change a ski, even if the sizing is the same.

I'm just glad they retweaked the 2023s with the new cycle to get some of the older magic back.

 

[tika55]

Are they the 2020 163 or the 170? Although I have not been on this iteration I cannot imagine it would be unstable at all in the 170.

170

 

[Magnatude]

I wouldn't describe my 2021 170cm Kendos as unstable, not even remotely. Admittedly I'm not a racer, but I am a similar size to you, tika55, plus a bit heavier, and being a L2 instructor with 8 seasons of teaching, do allegedly know how to ski. I'm not sure I'd even describe them as that playful, but they do seem pretty willing to do what I tell them to do, in most conditions, and without wearing me out. I guess I'd describe them as feeling safe, in sometimes not very safe terrain. I'm keen to hear your thoughts on them, and am also now intrigued to get on some newer demos this season for a comparison. Sadly, I never got to ski the old Kendo/Kenja.

 

[Trailside Trixie]

After some thought I guess I would not describe the 2021s I had in a 163 as unstable. They did whatever I asked of them. They just didn't have the hard snow prowess that my 15s and 16s had. They were basically fine but just didn't give me confidence when it was very firm/icy/hard packed out. They lacked excitement for me. Whereas my 2015s and 16s were rock stars EVERYWHERE. They were one of the best all mountain skis I've ever been on.

I've also had a woman tell me that my stockli stormrider 85 motions aren't great on ice and I think they are unbelievable so opinions can vary.

One of my friends who's a lifelong kendo lover said they 2020 thru 2022 are very different and a lot less dynamic. He called them dogs. He gave me hope when he said relating to the 2023s that " theeeeeeyre baaaack'.

As a lifelong Kenja love i was disappointed in the 21s and an looking forward to getting a pair of 23 or 24s.

To teach their own

 

[tika55]

I wouldn't describe my 2021 170cm Kendos as unstable, not even remotely. Admittedly I'm not a racer, but I am a similar size to you, tika55, plus a bit heavier, and being a L2 instructor with 8 seasons of teaching, do allegedly know how to ski. I'm not sure I'd even describe them as that playful, but they do seem pretty willing to do what I tell them to do, in most conditions, and without wearing me out. I guess I'd describe them as feeling safe, in sometimes not very safe terrain. I'm keen to hear your thoughts on them, and am also now intrigued to get on some newer demos this season for a comparison. Sadly, I never got to ski the old Kendo/Kenja.

This sounds like exactly what I'm hoping for! Thank you for this review!

 

[mustski]

Check them while you can. They get redesigned for 2026. The 2025 Secret 88 is the same as the 2024 Kenja. The 2025 Secret 96 was redesigned. I haven’t had a chance to get on it … yet … but have heard good stuff from those who have. @MissySki

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I love my secret 96s. They are 2 years old now. I think the 25 secret 88 that's akin to the 2024 Kenja would be a wonderful thing.

 

[Pequenita]

Hopefully not a total thread jack, but I need a new Tahoe daily driver after having been on the 2013 Kenja in 156 for the last 10 or 11 seasons. I have several hundred days on them. If they weren't planks then, I have certainly skied them into planks.

I've gotten/want to be lazier as a skier. I don't often demo and it really hasn't been much of an issue for me throughout the years. I'm inclined to pick up a pair of this past season's Kenja in a 149, rather than 156 to facilitate the whole "make skiing easier" thing and was wondering whether anyone -- @scandium? @santacruz skier ? -- has a gut reaction that this is a terrible idea? The ski has changed a lot over the last decade, but so have I.

My other skis range from 146 (backcountry) to 158 (powder). Half of these skis are Volkls.

 

[Trailside Trixie]

If you liked the older Kenja and by your hundreds of days on them that's a yes lol.

I would skip 2020 thru 2022 and grab a 2023 or 24 as they are closer to the older versions.

 

[santacruz skier]

Hopefully not a total thread jack, but I need a new Tahoe daily driver after having been on the 2013 Kenja in 156 for the last 10 or 11 seasons. I have several hundred days on them. If they weren't planks then, I have certainly skied them into planks.

I've gotten/want to be lazier as a skier. I don't often demo and it really hasn't been much of an issue for me throughout the years. I'm inclined to pick up a pair of this past season's Kenja in a 149, rather than 156 to facilitate the whole "make skiing easier" thing and was wondering whether anyone -- @scandium? @santacruz skier ? -- has a gut reaction that this is a terrible idea? The ski has changed a lot over the last decade, but so have I.

My other skis range from 146 (backcountry) to 158 (powder). Half of these skis are Volkls.

My 2012 Kenjas were 149 (shortest ski I've ever had) and were total stiff planks. It took me a few years to realize that.
I'm thinking you might like the older Santa Ana 93's from 2020 - 2022. I tested them in a 161 and really liked them but purchased the Sheeva 9 (157) instead as had cosmetic flaws and got a much better deal. I have both the Sheeva 9 and 10 and they are great Tahoe skis. If you're a stiffer Volkl fan, you might find the Sheevas "too playful." In that case, what about the Volkl Secret? Problem here is the sizes keep changing so not sure about the latest anything.
Was eyeballing @mustski 's Fischer Ranger 84's in Mammoth and thinking I might like them (very cool plain light yellow color) as well as the Volkl 86 Blaze frenzy.
I'm definitely becoming more cautious as I age and enjoying low angle trees and soft bumps more than fast groomers...... I really don't want to get hit by an out of control skier/snowboarder and usually ski the sides of a run, but now folks are popping out of control onto groomed runs (think the mountain run at Palisades) for example.

 

[VickiK]

I still have my 163 Fischers. They're def too long for my height (154cm / 5'1") and require me to be on my A game. I skied them the last day of the season, and they are still fun. I mean, in retrospect and going forward, I'd buy next size down, but as it stands, it'd be a hard decision to sell them.

@mustski 's Ranger 84's sound great. Volkl Blaze sounds good too.

So my gut reaction to your post was that 149 might be too short for you, @Pequenita . The shorter length might be easier but it could also be squirrelly-er, less stable at speed. YMMY. I know two vertically-challenged women that switched to shorter 149-152cm skis; they are satisfied with their choice.

 

[Pequenita]

My 2012 Kenjas were 149 (shortest ski I've ever had) and were total stiff planks. It took me a few years to realize that.

I think the 2013 were the same construction, so I'm pretty sure I spent much of the last decade using a lot of effort to make a planky ski work.

So my gut reaction to your post was that 149 might be too short for you, @Pequenita . The shorter length might be easier but it could also be squirrelly-er, less stable at speed. YMMY. I know two vertically-challenged women that switched to shorter 149-152cm skis; they are satisfied with their choice.

This is my dilemma. The day I tried to demo the two lengths at Palisades, the 156 was out, and there wasn't much open at the resort, either. But I'm also in dire need of a new daily driver because my wider ski is killing me on firmer days and the skinnier ski is really unhappy off-piste (nor should it be too happy).

Does anyone know how much less contact length there is on the 2024 ski (say, in the 156) than there was a decade ago?

 

[santacruz skier]

I think the 2013 were the same construction, so I'm pretty sure I spent much of the last decade using a lot of effort to make a planky ski work.


This is my dilemma. The day I tried to demo the two lengths at Palisades, the 156 was out, and there wasn't much open at the resort, either. But I'm also in dire need of a new daily driver because my wider ski is killing me on firmer days and the skinnier ski is really unhappy off-piste (nor should it be too happy).

Does anyone know how much less contact length there is on the 2024 ski (say, in the 156) than there was a decade ago?

paging @SnowHot

 

[mustski]

@Pequenita before you jump on the Kenja which you disliked in the past, definitely consider the Ranger 84. I did not believe that I would like something better than the Secret or the Volkl 90eights (which I still ski and love) but, honestly, the Ranger84 has become my all time favorite ski! And…. I am an all time lover of Volkl!

 

[SnowHot]

I think the 2013 were the same construction, so I'm pretty sure I spent much of the last decade using a lot of effort to make a planky ski work.


This is my dilemma. The day I tried to demo the two lengths at Palisades, the 156 was out, and there wasn't much open at the resort, either. But I'm also in dire need of a new daily driver because my wider ski is killing me on firmer days and the skinnier ski is really unhappy off-piste (nor should it be too happy).

Does anyone know how much less contact length there is on the 2024 ski (say, in the 156) than there was a decade ago?

Prior to 2021 the Kenja was a bit stiffer.
In the 2021/22 season, they implemented the Tailored Titinal and Tailored Carbon construction so as the ski gets shorter it doesn't get stiffer or plankier.

paging @SnowHot

You are right.... the earlier Volkls in that category *could* get stiffer as they went down in size.

@Pequenita before you jump on the Kenja which you disliked in the past, definitely consider the Ranger 84. I did not believe that I would like something better than the Secret or the Volkl 90eights (which I still ski and love) but, honestly, the Ranger84 has become my all time favorite ski! And…. I am an all time lover of Volkl!

This!^^^^^

@Pequenita depending on what you're wanting to get out of this category of a ski, especially as a daily driver, the Ranger 84 2024 and 2025 (both years) is insanely stable, quick and FUN!

 

[Pequenita]

@Pequenita before you jump on the Kenja which you disliked in the past, definitely consider the Ranger 84. I did not believe that I would like something better than the Secret or the Volkl 90eights (which I still ski and love) but, honestly, the Ranger84 has become my all time favorite ski! And…. I am an all time lover of Volkl!

Oh, but I like the 2013 Kenja and still own it! I've been skiing it continuously for over a decade. I'm looking to replace the ski with a more effortless ski, and it's possible that the Kenjas have become more effortless? Or, shorter will be more effortless? Or, is it more effortless and a 149 will be a disaster for me? Pretty much anytime anyone has seen me skiing in the last decade, I have been on the 2013 Kenja. My question is more about length than whether to try something new (see: lazy). I'm open to good deals, though!

 

[VickiK]

Important p.s. to my comment re: length - I'm a lot heavier than you, @santacruz skier , and the two ladies I mentioned. That might be why longer skis felt better to me.

@marzNC might be a good person to ask for input, bc of her height/weight, i.e. as being closer to your own. Also @ski diva and @tinymoose

 

[SnowHot]

Oh, but I like the 2013 Kenja and still own it! I've been skiing it continuously for over a decade. I'm looking to replace the ski with a more effortless ski, and it's possible that the Kenjas have become more effortless? Or, shorter will be more effortless? Or, is it more effortless and a 149 will be a disaster for me? Pretty much anytime anyone has seen me skiing in the last decade, I have been on the 2013 Kenja. My question is more about length than whether to try something new (see: lazy). I'm open to good deals, though!

Yes on the effortless aspects.
However.....
for 2025, the Secret 96 is implementing the 4D Drive which is a slightly wider tip and tail that makes it even more effortless. I expect them to introduce it in the Secret 88, which will be the new version of Kenja 88 going forward starting in 2025.
The only ski in the secret line up for 2025 with the 4D Drive will be the Secret 96
Make sense?

 

[Pequenita]

@SnowHot lol, yes. I just need "effortless enough," not the most effortless ski on the planet.

I'm old enough now that I don't have anything to prove with the size/length of my skis.

 

[scandium]

Oh, but I like the 2013 Kenja and still own it! I've been skiing it continuously for over a decade. I'm looking to replace the ski with a more effortless ski, and it's possible that the Kenjas have become more effortless? Or, shorter will be more effortless? Or, is it more effortless and a 149 will be a disaster for me? Pretty much anytime anyone has seen me skiing in the last decade, I have been on the 2013 Kenja. My question is more about length than whether to try something new (see: lazy). I'm open to good deals, though!

I'm not sure about 2013 vs 2024 but can say 2019 (green/90mm) is a heck of a lot plankier at 156cm than any subsequent version of the Kenja I have tried, and I haven't felt the need to go shorter - if anything I have missed some of the plankiness at times. The turning is definitely more effortless in the newer versions, but I felt less "secure" overall compared to the older version.