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Gear Review
Volkl Chopstick Alpine Ski
Not a noodle
By JG30
Ranked #114 - Big Mountain Freeride Skis
September 17, 2010
I own the 09/10 chopsticks. It is not my first reverse camber powder ski. My opinion is that this ski and the K2 hellbents are polar opposites, as far as feel goes. The chopsticks rip through every condition. The thing that amazes me the most about the chopsticks is how well they perform on groomers, considering the waist width. They are, of course, best in deep powder. I have done a few straight lines over giant bumps, and the chopsticks felt very stable! I am baffled by anyone who can accuse these skis of performing like a noodle and then offer the hellbents as a better alternative! The bottom line is that the chopsticks will perform best for you if you have a very "forceful" style, where you push your skis around rather then relying on them to make turns feel easy. They have made me feel much more stable during straight lines and cliff drops. I feel like they force me to stand up if I land in the back seat. My advice: demo and decide for yourself. I think that Volkl meant for this to be a jib ski.
View Details: Volkl Chopstick Alpine Ski
Helpful Votes: 5 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Length:
- 175 cm, 185 cm
- Dimensions:
- 148 / 128 / 148
- Turn Radius:
- [175cm] 28.4 m; [185cm] 32.4 m
- Profile:
- ELP Rocker
- Construction:
- Power, Tough Box w/ carbon
- Core:
- poplar and beech
- Tail:
- twintip ELP rocker
- Binding Included:
- no
- Required Binding:
- no
- Recommended Use:
- big-mountain freeride
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- 1 year
Change me.
10 Comments Last Reply: February 19, 2012 By: smi4970227
how does the bent chetler compare to the chopsticks and hellbents in regard to float/surfy feel?
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
These are not beginner skis. I think his comment on skis being "forceful" and having to force the skis makes perfect sense....if you know anything about skis. They are meant to be pushed hard, jumping big cliffs, landing hard and going fast. They are not noodles. ie you have to force them to do what you want or they will force you to ski out of control. For good skiers this is a great,because they will be able to handle anything you force them to do. but if you are a weaker skier and dont know how to charge, then these will take you for a ride...
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
At least i am a better skier than you Will Guru
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
maybe he does but i don't think you do
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Great write up JG30 You sound like you know what your talking about.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
the pontoons are not the best powder ski but they are the best in the deepest of the deep which is probably why so many heli services use them as rental skis. the chopstick is not a bad ski just there are some better options
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I said powder is the best condition for the chopsticks, not that the chopsticks are the best powder skis ever. And in that case, Pontoons are not the best either, but it is debatable. I prefer the stability of the chopsticks over the "pop" of the hellbents. If you are gonna go big, a less than perfect landing with the hellbents will be a disaster! Talk about a noodle! Also, you don't need "pop" to catch air and pull a trick, so I don't buy the whole "poppy" jib ski argument. Yeah, I think the chopsticks are a much better choice than hellbents for backcountry jibs. I've not tried the EP pro. Again, anyone considering the chopsticks, go ahead and demo them. They are not for everyone, but you might be pleasantly surprised by them.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
for a back county jib ski, there are many better options. this ski is not the best in deep powder either that title is for the pontoons or arg even if vokl meant it to be a jib ski they're not poppy enough to be the best. Ep pro or hellbent for backcounty jib, pontoons of arg's for powder
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I actually said "forceful", not "foceful". Anyway, my use of the word "forceful" in the context of a skiers turning style does not contradict my use of the word "force" in the context of the way a ski feels during a backseat landing. Yeah, I wasn't super clear with this review, but you seem very critical.....sorry for confusing you. I was just trying to convey a general impression of the chopsticks. Anyway, rockered skis I have skied: K2 Hellbent, K2 Pontoon, Atomic Bent Chetler, Volkl Katana, Rossignol S7
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
I am confused. You say that you have to have "foceful" style where you have to own your skis, but then you say that these skis "force me to stand up if I land back seat". Which is it..do you have to force the ski around or does the ski force you? Also, you say that this is not your first rockered ski...what else have you skied?
Helpful Votes: 4 Yes