2019 Völkl

[Philpug]

... Can anyone share their opinions on how the Deacon compares to the outgoing Code? With some old stock kicking around at a reasonable discount, I am wondering if the Deacon’s is just a rebranded code with nominally different curves and a new ski smell.

The Deacon is an all new animal. I will say that the Codes are a great ski and if they are what you want...grab them.

 

[RikkiBobbi]

Still paralyzed by indecision here. Feel like if I get the RaceTiger i'll also want the Deacon, but if I start with the Deacon I'll want the race tiger, too

 

[François Pugh]

Still paralyzed by indecision here. Feel like if I get the RaceTiger i'll also want the Deacon, but if I start with the Deacon I'll want the race tiger, too

Racetiger - you have to decide SL or GS (or both).
Deacon is kinda between SL and GS, still a tiny bit wide though for hardpack, and not nearly wide enough for deep snow.
Also consider Fischer The Curve, and Stokli Laser SX..

 

[Tony S]

Which country did you represent in the Olympics again?

 

[ski otter 2]

Racetiger - you have to decide SL or GS (or both).
Deacon is kinda between SL and GS, still a tiny bit wide though for hardpack, and not nearly wide enough for deep snow.
Also consider Fischer The Curve, and Stokli Laser SX..

I can sympathize with this part, full race or cheater race, or both.
I myself eventually (over 4-5 years) got both, and don't regret it. They are very different in feel. Enough to enjoy alternating them. And they both make groomers almost as fun, if not as fun, as powder, to me.

(Any of the top brand's 180/r18s will do this wonderfully also, by the way, in my experience: WRC Firebirds, Curv, Head 180/18 Rebel WC iSpeeds and ISpeed Pros, Stockli Laser GS c. 180/18s; also the various 185/23-25s. You can't really go wrong here. Just different.)

 

[RikkiBobbi]

I can sympathize with this part, full race or cheater race, or both.
I myself eventually (over 4-5 years) got both, and don't regret it. They are very different in feel. Enough to enjoy alternating them. And they both make groomers almost as fun, if not as fun, as powder, to me.

(Any of the top brand's 180/r18s will do this wonderfully also, by the way, in my experience: WRC Firebirds, Curv, Head 180/18 Rebel WC iSpeeds and ISpeed Pros, Stockli Laser GS c. 180/18s; also the various 185/23-25s. You can't really go wrong here. Just different.)

Do you find the cheater-race being "fun" enough? Particularly on east-coast style skiing?

 

[François Pugh]

At 150 lbs I find my Fischer WC SCs fun enough, but they are an older stiffer model. I would find a full on FIS Fischer less fun when I'm not skiing at 10 10ths. At 180 lbs or more FIS is the way to go if you like to feel the g forces or feel the need for speed. You need at least a gs if you feel the need for speed, and your hill has more than 300 feet of vertical. A gs won't work for sl turns and a sl doesn't cut it for gs turns at speed.

 

[Muleski]

This seriously a question for a friend, who wants a pair of Volkl's latest GS cheaters. Has a business relationship and can get a comp'd {free} pair. What is the 2018-2019 model called?
I'm good, a few pairs of Head i.Speed's. And yes, I can have a lot of fun on them, and do.

Thanks!

 

[RikkiBobbi]

Question for @Philpug : with the Xcell bindings given they'd be going on a plate, is that something I can install myself or does a shop need to do it?

 

[ski otter 2]

This seriously a question for a friend, who wants a pair of Volkl's latest GS cheaters. Has a business relationship and can get a comp'd {free} pair. What is the 2018-2019 model called?
I'm good, a few pairs of Head i.Speed's. And yes, I can have a lot of fun on them, and do.

Thanks!

If someone can answer your question definitively, please do. But in answer to your question, currently - short answer: various Racetiger and then a jump to Deacon. (I re-checked this at their website, etc.)

Long answer: From their website, Volkl seems to lack some of the different levels of race and near race skis that, say, Head, has. Instead, first there are the Racetiger FIS skis (including all skis sanctioned at different levels of competition).

Second, Head has another, non-sanction, "team" level of race skis that are softer, that have radii that are close to the sanctioned models, and maybe Volkl has these too, though I couldn't find them online.

Third, there follows with Head and others the also non-sanctioned lower radius versions (e.g. 184/c. r 20). I think these are partly what the following Volkl skis are too - a level of softer, non-sanctioned, lower radius (beer league?) race skis, the Racetigers Pro SL and GS and then Racetiger non-Pro SL and GS (with and without a race plate and race bindings respectively); for example, the GS in lengths 184 (r 20.6), 180 (19.4) 175 (18.3) (and 170/17.1 - in the non- Pro only).
( "Speedwall" in the name of the Volkl race skis, at least below FIS specs, has been dropped.)

Then fourth, Volkl jumps to Deacons, according to their website again (74 & 76, 74 Pro and 76 Pro, "Pro" again meaning race plate). In terms of ski width and radius, these Deacons seem to be between the Head Supershape iSpeeds and the Supershape Rally, more frontside/race-like than the Rally. But wider than the iSpeeds. (With Volkl there also may seem to be nothing comparable to the Head World Cup Rebel iSpeeds and iSpeed Pros, but the above mentioned Racetiger Pros and non-Pros may very well be similar.)

Fifth, Volkl also has "entry" levels of SL and GS skis, the Racetiger SC and Racetiger RC. These are in addition to Jr. models.

 

[ski otter 2]

Do you find the cheater-race being "fun" enough? Particularly on east-coast style skiing?

Yes.

 

[Philpug]

Question for @Philpug : with the Xcell bindings given they'd be going on a plate, is that something I can install myself or does a shop need to do it?

You can install them yourself but you should have an ASTM test done on them.

 

[RikkiBobbi]

You can install them yourself but you should have an ASTM test done on them.

Thanks, Phil. For your help with that question as well as your advice with all the others.

 

[LKLA]

Hi @Tricia -

My wife is looking to swap her three year old Kenjas for a new pair of Secrets - anything she should keep in mind (pros / cons of making the switch)? Thnx!

 

[S.H.]

This seriously a question for a friend, who wants a pair of Volkl's latest GS cheaters. Has a business relationship and can get a comp'd {free} pair. What is the 2018-2019 model called?


Thanks!

The clearest "cheater" is the RaceTiger GS Pro.

https://www.voelkl.com/en-us/products/skis/racing/racetiger-gs-pro-2980/

They're fun.

 

[Muleski]

@S.H., PERFECT. Exactly what I was looking for for info. Thanks.

 

[S.H.]

@S.H., PERFECT. Exactly what I was looking for for info. Thanks.

of course, if you're looking for a system binding and more forgiving version, there's also this: https://www.voelkl.com/en-us/products/skis/racing/racetiger-gs-2974/

but the Pro version is closest to the FIS ski with a slightly more forgiving flex profile and deeper sidecut.

 

[Josh Matta]

On the Kanjo if the ski is straight and stiff, it just sounds like narrow Kendo, not a less strong kendo.

 

[Philpug]

On the Kanjo if the ski is straight and stiff, it just sounds like narrow Kendo, not a less strong kendo.

The Kanjo is a narrower Kendo in shape. It is scaled in flex though, being slightly softer.

 

[Josh Matta]

bummer....

Sounded like a winner till I heard softer.