This is the follow up to the post we wrote in April, Völkl 2008-2009 freeride line-up – brief overview, part I.

V-ski

For the coming season the Völkl’s whole freeskiing line, called V-ski, is divided into three groups, rather than two as before (freestyle and freeride). For 2008/2009 there is three subcategories: freeride, backcountry freestyle (tricks off natural terrain and on the soft snow) and “pure” freestyle (park skiing, urban rails, half pipe, “jibbing”). The lines include the following skis:

• Freestyle: four adult models, Bridge, Wall, Ledge, Pearl and 2 juniors: Bridge Jr. Mini Pearl
• Backcountry Freestyle: 3 Models, Chop Stick, Gotama, Cosmo (women)
• Freeride: Five adults models,  Kuro, Katana, Mantra, Kiku (women), Aura (women) and 1 for juniors – Mantra Jr

On this post we will concentrate on the Freestyle line: park/pipe skis (freestyle line) and backcountry freestyle line.

Backcountry Freestyle Line

The crown of this line is obvioysly the modern cult classic / benchmark ski Völkl Gotama. Lots can be said about this ski. And even if there have been some minor complaints about the construct/durability of some earlier models, most of the comments and reviews regarding skiing characteristics of the Gotama have been very positive.

The Gotamas has served me very well and I think the new model will be as good or even better. Völkl has made some minor tweaks to the design: the angled sidewalls changed to the square ones, resulting stronger construction and better power transmission to the edges (this all according to Völkl). You can believe it, but I guess those changes won’t change the ski much. The ski is said to be again just a tad stiffer underfoot. This is also good for some, bad for some. At least I think it is a bit misleading to name Gotama a purely “backcountry freestyle ski” – because in the real world its use happens to be mostly solid all-mountain, all conditions ski. I guess jibbers will pick up more the likes of K2 Hellbent and Line EP Pro. You can do freestyle moves on Gotama for sure but it is not a “buttery”, very playful ski but more of an solid allrounder.

The Chop Stik then is a ski that should be very interesting to the skiers that like to go bi-directional in any condition. I guess this ski is going to get some mixed reviews – ski this wide, with symmetrical sidecut and (recommended) centered mount point, is not for everyone. But if you ski like Pollard… but maybe even faster (heh, remember Völkl skis tend to be on the stiff side), this might the ski for you.

Cosmo is basically the same ski as the freestyle line’s Bridge with lenghts and flex customed to the women. Measurements are 130-92-112 mm. And lenghts offered 153cm (14.3m turn radius), 169cm (16,1m turn radius) and 169cm (17,9m turn radius).

Freestyle Line

Bridge is the only model in this line with non-symmetrical shape. This tells about the idea of the ski – it is supposed to be, well, a bridge between freestyle and backcounty freestyle lines. Versatile geometry of 130-92-112 mm should offer enough flotation in the deep without being a total tank in the park or on the groomed slopes. I really dig the shape and idea of this ski…

However, when testing 07/08 Völkl skis, I was told by the local Völkl representative that “meh, that ski is too new school for you…“.  Well, I don’t know, I’d like to think I can still ski some park too but maybe the guy was just suggesting that the flex of the Bridge is quite soft and the recommended mount point way forward. So, if you are a big hard charging person, this ski is not probably for you. But lighter weight, versatile skiers that like to mix it up a bit should love this ski. Lenghts are offered in 161, 169, 177 and 185 cm. I also like to think that with Marker Duke this ski would make a nice (spring) touring set-up.

Wall has a symmetrical shape of 115-87-115mm. In the first look you would think the ski is similar to the older, very versatile,  Karma model. However, I guess the true twin shape of the ski moves the Wall closer to the hard core park/pipe/jib stick while Karma was even at home on the mogul runs. Probably very fun ski on soft kickers, spring slush and all kind of softer snow jibs. Lenghts are 161, 169, 177 and 185 cm.

Ledge. Well, I had some bad experiences with this skis predecessor, the Dogen. Anyway, Dogen was a very fun ski to jump and make tricks etc. – I hope Völkl has fixed the Dogen’s common quality issues with the Ledge – because I guess otherwise this is probably a very good park ski that can also make some decent turns in the slopes. Shape is 111-84-111mm and lenghts are offered in a wide range of 148cm to 176cm.

Pearl is  basically a softer flexing, women’s version of the Ledge. With lenghts of 148, 155, 162 and 169cm.