Völkl 2020 ski reviews

Völkl usually offers performance-oriented skis and the Racetiger SL is no exception. The ski is worthy of its name. The testers’ comments say it all: “aggressive,” “a beast,” “nervous,” “a weapon…”

Its performance is at the highest level in this recreational slalom category. It is powerful, “precise and snappy,” and full of energy.... Read on

The Volkl Mantra V.Werks already drew a lot of attention during the pre-tests and quickly won over the Proskilab testers. We should point out right way that the V.Werks version is completely different from the Mantra M5 that we tested last year and that has been renewed by the brand this year. The sidecut, construction, weight, and performance are very different. We have to point out that the Mantra V.Werks is a completely... Read on

Völkl has earned a reputation as a performance-oriented brand, both for frontside skis as well as all-mountain skis. We have been testing skis for 14 years, and we have to admit that this reputation has rarely been denied by the Proskilab testers.

And this will not change with the Racetiger GS, which won the “Best Performance” award of this ski review.

The ski loves to go fast, it... Read on

We already tested the Völkl Yumi last year, and it does not seem to have changed much. It demonstrates the same qualities, in particular on groomers.

The first quality the testers mentioned was the incredible accessibility of the ski. The Yumi is an easy intuitive ski that doesn’t require special instructions or excessive effort. It is very forgiving, inspires confidence, and allows skiers to improve... Read on

After the Mantra, comes the Kendo, which is one of the benchmarks in this market segment. It has been upgraded by Völkl and now comes in two versions, the 92 and the 88. We tested the Kendo 88.

The modifications are similar to those made to the Mantra M5. The ski is narrower, with a waist that has decreased from 90 to 88 mm. The construction has changed and uses more or less the same as the Mantra’s.... Read on

Although we asked Völkl to put the Mantra M5 in the test this year, the manufacturer wanted us to test the 90Eight in this category. The 90Eight is an excellent ski, but a bit light for this fairly demanding category. The Mantra M5 has not changed and we suggest that our readers who are interested in a more performance-oriented ski consult last year’s test.

The 90Eight really shines as soon as you... Read on

Winner of "Best Ski" last year, the Völkl Deacon 74 is more powerful but also more demanding this year.

The Deacon 74 is made for going fast, very fast, and for long turns. The stability of the ski, its ability to hold the line throughout the turn, and its “powerful edge grip" are all amazing. The testers said it was like “skiing on a rail.” The ski just wants to accelerate,... Read on

Völkl describes the Flair SC (Slalom Carver) as “a stiff but light frontside ski, made for short turns.”

Overall performance is good, although not the best in this category. The testers appreciated the ski’s balance between performance and comfort. They said the ski is “not too stiff” but provides “good rebound.”

The ski is “easy and playful,”... Read on

In this category, we are looking for skis that are easy for low level skiers to use but that can also help them to improve their technique.

Specifically, we expect the ski to pivot easily (that is, to rotate a flat ski), that skidded turns are progressive and smooth, and that the ski performs correctly when the skier is well-centered or slightly back. If these criteria are met, we then look at a ski’s... Read on