I've been at this sport since I was 2, 27 years later the biggest improvement in fun-factor came along. These skis will change your life! For some its Buddha for others Swiss chocolate, if you ski - its these boards. These will be your juju, your Oprah, your new "second best feeling in the world!"

As to the skiing: in powder words escape me, the rocker is more than enough to keep them springy and fun, imagine the pop you get from a race board while you doing 40 through the pow - like I said FUN! They are so much more than "survivable" outside of the powder, thanks to the "normal" sidecut you can literally carve a soft groomer to get to the lift. They turn a 6" day into serious fun instead of dust on crust.

I skied the 185cm last season and put more days on them than any other ski, they really do work well in a lot of snow conditions. I've upgraded to a 195cm this year because I'm 6'4" 210 - really looking forward to a little more float for my weight and smother landings.

Make sure you ski 'em like other volkl's - fast, fast, faster and maybe even a little more than that, not a finesse piece unless you've got some weight to throw around and then - is finesse really part of your vocabulary anyhow???Grab some Toblerone, rub a Buddha belly, throw some jesters on these skis and enjoy your new world order. It's gonna be fun!

(photo is a little La Grave drop on these big 'uns)

This is a good one. Used it many times this winter. Functional, not too big, not too small. Hip-belt pockets are great for cameras, inhalers, etc. Has room for extra layers, big lunch, skins, goggle box, firstaid, leatherman... and all your usual avy gear. Only down side is the pouch for the water bladder is a little small.

I've had lots of trouble getting the shaft into an out of the blade smoothly. It can really waste time that buried buddy may not have.

great stuff, little long but super warm and dry!