Ski, 177 Kendo 88, warden 13 demo binding.
2 in of new snow over skier packed, sun affected/refrozen snow, mostly off piste, lots of bumps..
Skier, 51 yr old finesse skier, ski slowly, smoothly and predominantly rounder turns.
I skied this new Kendo the end of last year, and it was my favorite of the mt rose demo day, but hadn't had a chance to get back on it, and hadn't pulled the trigger on one as last Kendo and Mantra M5 were less than ideal at the speeds I ski. I had a chance to get on it today, and everything I liked was still there.
I believe the titanal frame works really well create a solid ski but keeps it from being to stiff or dead. Nice rebound energy and solid edge feel without feeling demanding.
I also think the 3D sidecut is a beautiful thing! I ski lots of bumps, off piste steeps, and funky snow, and while rocker can work to allow a ski to release easily and not be hooky in the tip, when you lose contact, you lose some of the "suspension" and solidity of having that edge working. With the 3d sidecut, the tip and tail contact points are engaged, but they allow the ski to drift more easily when you chose, and have a solid predictable release.
My dps 79, 174, has a similar feel, in that the sidecut lessens in the tip and tail without really being something I'd call taper.
I mentioned suspension, I like a ski that bends up to help absorb the energy of bump and having that longer but straighter contact seems to allow the ski grab enough to provide the suspension/flex without being grabby or disorienting as it bends up.
Overall, this ski is my new favorite of the mid fats. I'll get another hour or two on them tomorrow at Squaw and ski them back to back with SR 88 and SR 95, as well as the enforcer 93, but today volkl was the winner.
Skis true to length,
who it's for: great all around ski, 1 ski solution, for someone who likes a slightly more traditional feeling ski, but with modern attributes.
Not for: someone looking for a super loose playful ski.
Cheers,
w
2 in of new snow over skier packed, sun affected/refrozen snow, mostly off piste, lots of bumps..
Skier, 51 yr old finesse skier, ski slowly, smoothly and predominantly rounder turns.
I skied this new Kendo the end of last year, and it was my favorite of the mt rose demo day, but hadn't had a chance to get back on it, and hadn't pulled the trigger on one as last Kendo and Mantra M5 were less than ideal at the speeds I ski. I had a chance to get on it today, and everything I liked was still there.
I believe the titanal frame works really well create a solid ski but keeps it from being to stiff or dead. Nice rebound energy and solid edge feel without feeling demanding.
I also think the 3D sidecut is a beautiful thing! I ski lots of bumps, off piste steeps, and funky snow, and while rocker can work to allow a ski to release easily and not be hooky in the tip, when you lose contact, you lose some of the "suspension" and solidity of having that edge working. With the 3d sidecut, the tip and tail contact points are engaged, but they allow the ski to drift more easily when you chose, and have a solid predictable release.
My dps 79, 174, has a similar feel, in that the sidecut lessens in the tip and tail without really being something I'd call taper.
I mentioned suspension, I like a ski that bends up to help absorb the energy of bump and having that longer but straighter contact seems to allow the ski grab enough to provide the suspension/flex without being grabby or disorienting as it bends up.
Overall, this ski is my new favorite of the mid fats. I'll get another hour or two on them tomorrow at Squaw and ski them back to back with SR 88 and SR 95, as well as the enforcer 93, but today volkl was the winner.
Skis true to length,
who it's for: great all around ski, 1 ski solution, for someone who likes a slightly more traditional feeling ski, but with modern attributes.
Not for: someone looking for a super loose playful ski.
Cheers,
w