Talking 2024 Volkl Skis and Technology with Product Manager Andi Mann and SkiEssentials.com

[@georgecarrick4636]

Jeff with your lead in I thought the video was going to disjointed and choppy - not even close; another great video providing detailed product specs and knowledge. Skiessentials is always a first stop on the web to learn about ski products. Thanks for what you do.

[@SkiEssentials]

Thanks George! That's really valuable feedback. I at least felt it necessary to explain why the video was a little different. Hope you're having a great season!

[@testboga5991]

Pretty cool interview with much less marketing fluff than expected. Props to Volkl!

[@QuickQuips]

Nice. Ran the Mantras this season and glad they're updating the others too. It's rock solid on tons of terrain at 177cm.

[@SkiEssentials]

Yup! about as sturdy as it gets in the ski world, those Mantras!

[@c6moneypit8]

Yes!!! More chats please!!!!!! :)

[@michaelhernandez7124]

Awesome news🎉🎉😮

[@benshorthouse2979]

Awesome interview!

[@SkiEssentials]

Glad you liked it!

[@mybadvideos]

Not loving how it seems an increasing percentage of their skis are Made in China now. Including athlete level skis like the Revolt. Loved the new top sheets then saw that minor detail in the product pics. As soon as I see 'Engineered in Germany' or 'German Engineering' I immediately expect MIC.

[@danielmattos7975]

Over last 20 year Lot of ski companies became public trading companies,sold from family ownership. And its starting to show. 10-15 years ago Volkl manufacturing was on the same level as stockli, with skis like v werks and carbon research that no other company could match. Now they just produce mantras in china. 😃 still very good skis I think fischer and stockli are the last family owned ski companies and it shows.

[@mybadvideos]

@@danielmattos7975 wait, Mantra is still Germany last I checked (?)

[@danielmattos7975]

Sorry probably yes, just wanted to say that they are not the brand they used to be at least to me

[@SkiEssentials]

We haven't experienced much of a dropoff in quality of product over the past however many years from skis made in China.

[@rickden8362]

Any info on where the bindings were mounted in video.

[@SkiEssentials]

All skis were mounted on the line, so that will make the Revolt skis more centered while the Blazes more directional.

[@danielmattos7975]

I am sad that there are no more V-werks skis coming out. Was expecting new gen v-mantra under 1700g.

[@SkiEssentials]

Sorry to disappoint!

[@SkiEssentials]

There's some other great light options--check out Atomic Backland, Fischer Hannibal, and Blizzard Zero G for some top-shelf carbon-powered skis.

[@righpt2]

These conversations are awesome. I Learn more about skis and get to learn a bit more about people in the industry. More please!

[@SkiEssentials]

We learn a whole lot as well!

[@jamescurtis9586]

u were talking about the blaze at the beggining being good on groomers too, but i have some revolt 121 from a couple years ago and they are amazing on groomers and crud as well as the powder. they are a one ski quiver in my oppinion

[@petergrant9259]

Great vlog...beautiful property....and you are hard workers.

[@rickden8362]

All that talk about core materials and milling is marketing BS. Green core is throwing a bone to euro eco types, saying it's lighter is a rationale for the skier...time will tell how durable it will be, I'm skeptical. A note on weight, the core is a small proportion considering the other elements of the ski: Base material, steel edges, fiberglass and resin in multi layers, cap layer, bindings(toe&heal), and finally THE BOOTS. If light weight cores are the ultimate goal, why are there no solid titanium cores, the tech is there and someone will always pay the price.🤔 Don't get me wrong, I've own Volkl skis and like them, remember Volkl needs to appeal to the European skier where the skiing is more firm(like US east coast).

[@SkiEssentials]

It's also experimentation, which is a good thing--if there's a way to incorporate green tech in skis, why not? It is amazing at how light that core feels in your hands--certainly highlights the fact that there's a lot more going into the ski than just the wood. I'd love to try a full Ti ski!

[@PeterDavis-nj5tc]

@@SkiEssentials Wouldn't an all Ti ski be very expensive!

[@christophermagnuson1270]

Thanks Jeff, this was great. Any major difference ( construction , turn radius? Etc ) between blaze 82 and 86

[@SkiEssentials]

No, they share the same build and overall footprint, so just differences in quickness, agility, and weight. The Blaze 82 rips!

[@thengine7]

Andy, can you PLEASE make skis for taller skiers? I'm tall and massive (not fat). I prefer skis around 190 without resorting to pure race skis. Too many manufacturers have stopped their skis at around 180.

[@src248]

191 Mantras aren't long enough for ya?

[@SkiEssentials]

I'm 6/2 225 and sometimes struggle to find long enough skis, but with skis like Mantra M6 and M102, the 184 is plenty for me, and I've also had a lot of success on the 177. I've found that the burlier the build, the shorter you can go.

[@InsideAlps]

Love this ski nerd talks 🤟

[@choski76]

Great interview. You guys bring the best info and reviews. What about Renoun and the goo in their skis they tout?

[@SkiEssentials]

There's something to that goo. Whenever I get to play with non-newtonian material, it seems like the opportunities are endless. As a damping agent, there's definitely something there.

[@wallstreetoneil]

The women skiing in the powder at the end on what I think was the narrower Blaze - wow - what a skier - had those Bob super-fast mogul feet. I think it's great that Volkl as a company is bringing a little more fun to their skis while still keeping their DNA. Great interview - getting to hear the insights from super-smart insiders is always fantastic. Maybe a new Marker binding with a similar Tyrolia suspension heal piece in the offering - I would really like to see that.

[@SkiEssentials]

Emily has been a great addition. She's hard to follow because she goes so fast. The GoPro cameras do a great job at masking the intensity of following a skier through such terrain. Will pass on to the Marker folks!

[@tommyers477]

how fast will that foam PET core degrade?

[@SkiEssentials]

Let's re-visit this thread in 5-7 years and see how it goes! If it's made of plastic, I suppose 2-3000 years?

[@reddottx]

Glad to see they understand that you get a few early runs in perfect powder but then degrades pretty quickly to where you might want to change skis. I’d love to demo those 114’s sometime to see how they compare to the Fischer 118.

[@SkiEssentials]

That's how it goes around here in VT as well!

[@darinsmith2458]

very interesting... i would like to see how Bob compares the Blaze 114 to the Revolt 114..

[@SkiEssentials]

I like the Blaze, mainly because it's lighter and more responsive. Revolt is fun for sure, but is on the heavy side for the tight zones we have here in VT.

[@darinsmith2458]

@@SkiEssentials it is interesting because i just made a comment about how i traded my Kastle HP for Nordica Enforcer Free.. i would say that i went from responsive (reactive) to a more stable ski.. at least the Enforcer Free has a rounded rocker tail which should help release turns.. my Stormriders and the Kastle HP had square tails with no rocker which makes them hard to release that turn.. I can find tight areas in Colorado but I sure like cruising nice long turns.. Yesterday I stopped halfway down Imperial Bowl in Breck and I looked up at the people coming down and it was beautiful.. Even on skis it was like they were just surfing down the mountain.. So I am like.. I will try that and i did and it was amazing.. still killed the quads but it was awww sum...

[@drewsykes8152]

Hi. Love your best on the web ski review content! I'm hoping to get your advice on whether the latest Volkl Kendo 88 + the latest Blizzard Rustler 10 could make a strong and logical 2 ski quiver for firmer vs softer snow days as an advanced skier spending 70% of my time on piste? Some days I like to charge fast on groomers, others I like to take my time and play further afield. At 172 cm and 175 pounds, would you advise a length slightly above or below my height with these skis? Other thought is could the rustler 9 be a sweet-spot 1 quiver option for this application? Thanks!

[@SkiEssentials]

I think that sounds like a great combo. It meets two of my main needs in that the skis are more than 10 mm apart underfoot, and second, they have dissimilar intentions. You may find that you really like the Kendo for most everything, and the Rustler is saved for deeper and softer days. If you are more of a minimalist, you could ski the Rustler 9 any day all day, but I really like the power and grip of the Kendo to match the floatiness of the Rustler 10. I'd go below head high for the Kendo especially, but maybe the 174 in the Rustler.

[@fix4all]

Can't wait to get my hands on the Blaze 82. How did it handle the crud considering it being on the narrow side?

[@SkiEssentials]

Pretty darn well! Both Emily and Jeff skied the 82 in variable conditions and terrain and really enjoyed it. Lots of snap, pop, and energy in such a lighter weight ski. One of the best mogul skis we've all been on in quite some time!