OK,
maybe a comparison, but I've reviewed and discussed the SR 95 and FX95 more than once, and just got on the new Volkl Kendo yesterday, and then skied it back to back w/ my other favorites today...
Me, 5ft 11, 160, finesse skier, ski at slow to moderate pace, mostly off piste, natural snow, bumps, but skied in a rounder low impact style, psia level 3 (20 yrs ago)
Snow, thin, but cold, some ice, chunks and funk, odd shaped bumps.
First off, skies are so darn good these days! I love all these skis, they are all total winners, just a matter of what you want to feel and where you want to feel it!
Kendo, 177,
I have been a volkl tennis "vip" teaching pro for the last 25 yrs, and my buddy who runs company and really wants me to ski on their skis, but I've never really bonded. I always figured they were designed for 2 things, heavier people then me, or faster skiers, probably both!
but,
This kendo is great!
when it arrived, it looked too straight, felt too stiff and was a bit longer then expected (measures about 180, but more contact then my 181 fx95),
but,
it didn't ski too long, too straight or too stiff, it was just sweet. Bends up nicely, but springs back with a smile not a snarl, holds very well, gave good feedback, enjoyed "shaped" turns, carved turns and pivot edgeset turns.
I think anyone who likes to bend a ski, feel a slightly more traditional feel, but with a bit of new tech to add to the ease of use.
Compared to others, it almost falls between these two others, not as easy as kastle, easier then SR, but not as exciting.
the FX is the honey do ski, it is just so fun, predictable and easy in funky terrain, and great!
It carves well, just not super exciting as the delay in the tip and 20m radius mean you have to bend it and add something to shorten up the radius if you want more g's. That said, I love this tip when carving fast turns through broken pow and rough groomers on new snow days. it never hooks and deflects on funky piles.
The SR is more rewarding/exciting, but also more demanding, in the 175, it's the shortest of the bunch, also the shapliest at 17.2m radius, with a lot of that shape in the tail, so you get that kick, but that kick can also be punishment... with that length and shape, and the torsional rigidity, this skis is the most fun in the groomer access back to the lift, but also the most demanding in the 3d conditions.
Anyway, all amazing skis! I wanted a clear cut path, and I thought maybe I'd keep the kendo as my lower tide ski, and probably the fx 95 as my new snow ski and get rid of the SR, but now I'm not sure. darn it. For a big mt, like my 8-10 runs a day on KT, the Fx95 would win for sure, the mountain, steeps and big bumps are exciting, I want the ski to do it's job well, and never surprise me. For Northstar, where I ski a lot now with it being 7min from my house and no traffic, the SR 95 is probably best, as smaller bumps, and more groomer turns on the run outs. For a super do everything well ski narrow enough to not fatigue knees but wide enough so it doesn't trench out in broken snow, the Kendo fills so many niche's... what to do, what to do... whew.
Cheers!
W
maybe a comparison, but I've reviewed and discussed the SR 95 and FX95 more than once, and just got on the new Volkl Kendo yesterday, and then skied it back to back w/ my other favorites today...
Me, 5ft 11, 160, finesse skier, ski at slow to moderate pace, mostly off piste, natural snow, bumps, but skied in a rounder low impact style, psia level 3 (20 yrs ago)
Snow, thin, but cold, some ice, chunks and funk, odd shaped bumps.
First off, skies are so darn good these days! I love all these skis, they are all total winners, just a matter of what you want to feel and where you want to feel it!
Kendo, 177,
I have been a volkl tennis "vip" teaching pro for the last 25 yrs, and my buddy who runs company and really wants me to ski on their skis, but I've never really bonded. I always figured they were designed for 2 things, heavier people then me, or faster skiers, probably both!
but,
This kendo is great!
when it arrived, it looked too straight, felt too stiff and was a bit longer then expected (measures about 180, but more contact then my 181 fx95),
but,
it didn't ski too long, too straight or too stiff, it was just sweet. Bends up nicely, but springs back with a smile not a snarl, holds very well, gave good feedback, enjoyed "shaped" turns, carved turns and pivot edgeset turns.
I think anyone who likes to bend a ski, feel a slightly more traditional feel, but with a bit of new tech to add to the ease of use.
Compared to others, it almost falls between these two others, not as easy as kastle, easier then SR, but not as exciting.
the FX is the honey do ski, it is just so fun, predictable and easy in funky terrain, and great!
It carves well, just not super exciting as the delay in the tip and 20m radius mean you have to bend it and add something to shorten up the radius if you want more g's. That said, I love this tip when carving fast turns through broken pow and rough groomers on new snow days. it never hooks and deflects on funky piles.
The SR is more rewarding/exciting, but also more demanding, in the 175, it's the shortest of the bunch, also the shapliest at 17.2m radius, with a lot of that shape in the tail, so you get that kick, but that kick can also be punishment... with that length and shape, and the torsional rigidity, this skis is the most fun in the groomer access back to the lift, but also the most demanding in the 3d conditions.
Anyway, all amazing skis! I wanted a clear cut path, and I thought maybe I'd keep the kendo as my lower tide ski, and probably the fx 95 as my new snow ski and get rid of the SR, but now I'm not sure. darn it. For a big mt, like my 8-10 runs a day on KT, the Fx95 would win for sure, the mountain, steeps and big bumps are exciting, I want the ski to do it's job well, and never surprise me. For Northstar, where I ski a lot now with it being 7min from my house and no traffic, the SR 95 is probably best, as smaller bumps, and more groomer turns on the run outs. For a super do everything well ski narrow enough to not fatigue knees but wide enough so it doesn't trench out in broken snow, the Kendo fills so many niche's... what to do, what to do... whew.
Cheers!
W
