Volkl Kiku

[alyeskaluv]

My preliminary research indicates that the Kiku will be 163 and 170, which is a bit of a bummer . . . but I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the reverse camber? Having never skiied anything rockered, I wouldn't know, but it seems like more contact with the snow underfoot and more rise under the tips and tails would make a shorter length perform better in crud and pow.

 

[PowDiva85]

fret not.. well..unless you want the 176..the 170 is actually 168 they just "measured it differently" ie. the marketing department thought a 170 and 163 would sell better. Dont ask me why!

 

[volklgirl]

What is it with Volkl shortening all of their top-end women's skis????

 

[oragejuice]

alskdfklasjhfrkldshgkasLdfbaklshflakshfklashflk really Volkl? ARGH.

On the Gotama note, they're FREAKIN STIFF next year, comparatively. I remember my dad's choice between Goats and Mantras was made on the difference in flex between the two, he "didn't want a noodle". We've got two pairs of the 2010's at my local shop, fwiw.... Very impressive. If the Kiku is changed similarly, I'm going to have a hard time keeping my money in the bank this year.

 

[lisam]

Kikus = LOVE
These skis are awesome. They float in the pow and still carve it up on the groomers. They are even reasonably zippy through the bumps!

Skier: 5'4" 140lbs. I've been skiing for 22 years. I am an agressive, advanced skiier. Big fan of wide open bowls full of powder (who isn't? ;-)), not a huge fan of the bumps --> bad knees!

I bought the '09 Kikus to use as a powder ski and also as a backcountry touring ski. I have them mounted with size small Marker Baron bindings at +2. I toyed with waiting for the '10 because I love the topsheets, but I wanted to use them in the backcountry and I wasn't sure if I wanted rockers for that... Maybe I'll just have to pick up another pair next year for in bounds ;) Well I can dream anyway...

I decided to go with the 176cm length and I am SO glad I did. I'm a sucker for long skis anyway, but these are perfect. They ski short because of the twin tips and also because they aren't super stiff. They definitely do not feel like 176's. They actually feel shorter than my 172 Line Celebrities.

I've only skiied them twice so far but I am already totally in love. First day was all in bounds. We'd had ~6 inches 2 days before. Most of the easily accesible terrain was skiied so conditions were loose chopped pow. We also hiked for several runs to get less skiied-out powder. The Kikus performed excellently. They busted through the soft chope with ease. Skiing the less tracked out pow felt like flying, it was so effortless! No tip diving of any kind, just floating.

Second day: Skinned up early, in bounds, to get a run before the lifts opened. I was worried the skis + bindings might be a bit heavy, but I did ok with the skinning. I'm not a fast hiker due to knee issues though. No new snow but an hour after lifts opened patrol opened an area that had been closed the day before and there was some beautiful totally untracked snow (6ish inches) there. We got 4 first track runs there and again, Kikus were great. Amazing in the soft pow, flew over the slightly wind crusted areas, made big fun powder flying everywhere turns.

The whole west side of our mountain runs out in a steep-ish run that tends to develop moguls. I wasn't looking forward to going through it on the Kikus. I assumed that with the huge planks it would be a nightmare, but they actually surprised me! I'm not saying these are snappy little sticks that tear through moguls, but they are quick enough to turn that the bumps were definitely manageable.

The east side of the mountain runs out on groomers. I was also suprised at how well the Kikus carved, given that they sidecut isn't huge. They were easy to get up on edge and they pulled really fun big GS style turns (my fav!) on the groomers. They are definitely speedy! No chattering even at high speeds.

Anyway, overall I'm VERY happy with them. An excellent addition to the quiver (dynastar exclusive legend powders and line celebrities)! If you are wavering on the length, go long!

 

[SnowHot]

I had the great fortune of skiing an older version of the Gotama in a 168 all week long at BigSky ESA. I'm convinced, based on this, that I would LOVE the Kiku in that length.

I am, however very curious about the '10 rocker version. Anyone test that yet?

 

[Robyn]

I had the great fortune of skiing an older version of the Gotama in a 168 all week long at BigSky ESA. I'm convinced, based on this, that I would LOVE the Kiku in that length.

I am, however very curious about the '10 rocker version. Anyone test that yet?

As mentioned above my friend has and loves them. I'm hoping to test them out at some point.

 

[SnowHot]

Depending on how significant the rocker is, I may be interested in the '10, but I'm leaning toward the older version if I can find one.

 

[tradygirl]

Quick comment on the "rockered", "reverse camber" terminology being thrown around. Feel free to boo me if I'm being too picky, but I'm in the market for this type of ski and getting the right information about a ski is pretty important in terms of what I want to use it for.

"Rockered" and "reverse cambered" are used casually for pretty much every ski with a rising tip. There are so many different designs, it's very helpful to be more specific when mentioning that a ski is "rockered". There's a world of difference between a ski that has tip and tail rise vs tip only, also how the sidecut is designed (tapered, pin tail, straight, reverse, standard, etc). Just look at the Rossi S7 vs the Pontoon vs the Hellbent vs the Megawatt vs the Spatula.

In this case, I assume Volkl is planning on putting only a tip rise on the Kiku while keeping a traditionally-designed sidecut next year, which I think is a fabulous idea. However, if they do that and still only make it up to 170, that's not so fabulous.

These designs are far from optimized, and I think big things and new designs are coming in the big-mountain/powder ski category next year across the board. I'm excited to see how it all plays out.

 

[SnowHot]

Tradygirl, Thank you for posting this clarification.
This is how I understood it as well, but probably didn't project that in my posts.

considering how often I'll really ski REAL powder, I'm not sure if a rockered ski is something I should look for. After all......the 168 Goat was freakin fun!!!

 

[Robyn]

If I get a chance to ski with my friend who has next years in the next couple weeks I'll try to get some pictures of both the shape and the profile.

 

[SnowHot]

If I get a chance to ski with my friend who has next years in the next couple weeks I'll try to get some pictures of both the shape and the profile.

That would be great!!!

 

[oragejuice]

Quick comment on the "rockered", "reverse camber" terminology being thrown around. Feel free to boo me if I'm being too picky, but I'm in the market for this type of ski and getting the right information about a ski is pretty important in terms of what I want to use it for.

"Rockered" and "reverse cambered" are used casually for pretty much every ski with a rising tip. There are so many different designs, it's very helpful to be more specific when mentioning that a ski is "rockered". There's a world of difference between a ski that has tip and tail rise vs tip only, also how the sidecut is designed (tapered, pin tail, straight, reverse, standard, etc). Just look at the Rossi S7 vs the Pontoon vs the Hellbent vs the Megawatt vs the Spatula.

In this case, I assume Volkl is planning on putting only a tip rise on the Kiku while keeping a traditionally-designed sidecut next year, which I think is a fabulous idea. However, if they do that and still only make it up to 170, that's not so fabulous.

These designs are far from optimized, and I think big things and new designs are coming in the big-mountain/powder ski category next year across the board. I'm excited to see how it all plays out.

I've been learning about this. All three are actually different. Rockered, reverse camber, and "early rise" tip/tail. I'll try to regurgitate the way that it has been explained to me.

Early rise tip/tail = For all intensive purposes, an uber twintip. The ski still has conventional camber. I'll try to demonstrate this way.... -__--__- (yeah, its really bad, but bear with me) Example, Rossignol S3 2010, maybe the Obsethed?

Rocker = --_-_-- More than an early rise tip and tail, but when the ski is unweighted and flat on the ground, the center of the ski still rises from the ground. Example, Rossignol S7.

Reverse camber = ---__--- aka, banana skis. Center of the ski is always on the ground (except when you're sending something.... :P) Tough to ski on groomers. Example, I think the Hellbents? Kuro? I haven't really looked at many skis in this category...

Reverse camber SUCKS if you're trying to make turns out of the freshies. Rocker= good enough to make it back to the chair on a catchline, and early rise skis just like your twins, only shorter, until you're in a foot of fresh and need help with tip dive.

Am I making sense?

Edit: I've seen the new Gotama, it's rockered, by these definitions. Kiku should be the same.

 

[Gloria]

Yup, I think you nailed it.

 

[ski now work later]

I love this forum, I learn soooo much! Thanks TG and OJ :D

 

[Acrophobia]

From https://www.evogear.com/info/helpcenter/494.aspx:

rocker - Rocker is an upside down arch or downward curve in your ski or snowboard from the tip to tail. The rocker shape is similar to a rocking chair. Another good way to think about rocker is to picture the shape of your favorite surfboard, wakeboard or waterski. All of these have rocker.

You will hear rocker referred to many ways, including but not limited to: reverse camber, inverse camber, banana, early rise, s-rocker, gull wing, three stage rocker, negative camber, R.C. Technology, Rocker 6, elf shoe and of course, my favorite, the Young-Whippersnapper's-Powder-Slaying-Weapon.

Other terms to help understand the mystery of rocker include:

camber – Camber is the opposite of rocker. Camber is a slight arching upward curve with the bend or curve upward in the middle. A traditional shape for a ski or snowboard

flat – Flat is flat between the tip and the tail of the ski/snowboard. It is horizontally level or even. The base is flat like a pancake.

rocker rise – The measurement taken from the traditional ground contact point of the ski or board to the new height when the ski or board is sitting level on the snow.

Where is the rocker? – Rocker in skis and snowboards may be located in the tip, tail, or middle. Every ski and snowboard features some combination of rocker, flat, and cambered sections to achieve the desired ride. You will find skis and boards with one of these or all three.​

 

[Acrophobia]

Reverse camber SUCKS if you're trying to make turns out of the freshies. Rocker= good enough to make it back to the chair on a catchline, and early rise skis just like your twins, only shorter, until you're in a foot of fresh and need help with tip dive.

Reverse camber skis don't "suck" in groomers. Otherwise everyone would be complaining about how terrible the 2010 Gotamas and Kikus are on the groomed. They are reverse cambered: flat underfoot, with subtle, continuous rise to the tip and tail.

You may be thinking about "reverse sidecut." Skis with reverse sidecut are shaped like a water ski: widest underfoot and narrowing to tip and tail. Such skis are very maneuverable in deep powder, but a real challenge on hard snow.

 

[Chiquita Ardilla]

Hey I'm really interested in the Kiku and I was hoping you ladies could give me some advice.

The past few years I've skied primarily some K2 Burnin Luvs (154's) but I want to get myself a pair of powder ski for deep powder days and for when I hike and do backcountry. I haven't really gotten the chance to demo any good powder skis so I don't really know if I prefer something with/without rocker or something with a reverse camber (I know what they are though).

The Kiku sounds really exciting but I'm also interested in the Pandora and Aura. Can you ladies help me out and give me some advice?

Also, I'm used to a shorter ski cuz I like mobility in the trees, but I'm willing to try a longer ski. What length should I go? I'm 5'5" and weigh about 130lb.

Thanks!!

 

[Chiquita Ardilla]

Does anyone know when the next season's kikus will become available to the public?

 

[volklgirl]

You'll find plenty of love here for all three of those skis, but there are lots of other choices out there, too. The Volkls will have a VERY different feel from your K2s, and they're not for everyone.

You'll want to get your powder skis AT LEAST 1 size bigger than your BLs (my carvers are 155-168 while all my twins and fats are 176-177).

Typically, the new models will start arriving in Michigan somewhere between August and October, although the bigger stores sometimes get test models in the spring.