Description
A winter weapon for waist-deep charging.
If you're lucky enough to stand atop the world's deepest powder and steepest terrain, you'd better hope you have the Volkl Katana Ski underfoot to ensure a solid, speedy ride through the maze of trees, rocks, and snow. Fat dimensions and a fully rockered profile ensure floatation once the week-long storm buries everything in sight. While nimble enough for storm-day tree stashes, this titanium-reinforced plank really wants to straight-line big-mountain lines and slash huge powder turns.
- Fully rockered profile and 112mm underfoot provide great flotation in the deepest snow
- Sensorwood core, made with vertically laminated poplar and beech wood, provides a stable but forgiving and responsive flex for the whole gamut of snow conditions
- Titanium alloy laminate solidify the ski and let you bust through crud and crusty powder while also providing amazing stability at high speeds
- Power Construction, a form of torsion box construction, yields powerful stability through race-worthy vertical sidewalls and laminates over the core
- Just enough sidecut turns easily, especially as you lean into turns, and the rockered shape engages your edges with the snow
- Large sidecut means that this ski wants to go fast and make big, powerful turns
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Share your thoughts
What do you think of the
Volkl Katana Ski
? Share a...
My favourite.
Nat Segal
Member since
I ski on these in rain, hail and shine. (I mean rain- I'm from Australia). They are the one-ski quiver and my favourite ski. They can deal with ice, groomers,pow, crud and anything a big mountain competition can throw at you. They're stiff enough to take anything. While they can buck you if you don't keep them under control, the full rocker profile means they are forgiving enough to ski on pretty much everyday. I mount my 177cm Katana at +3
could you ski a day of groomers no prob...
step233398
Member since
could you ski a day of groomers no prob with this ski, or a bad idea?
Jamie Preston
Member since
Yes, and people in Utah do it all the time. If it is hard and icy, you will bounce around, but if things are relatively soft, you will love this ski. On steeps, you will have some skidding, but moderate terrain, you can make this ski arc.
Nat Segal
Member since
For sure, but if you will be skiing groomers more than 50% of the time I'd check out the Kendo or the Mantra
Blair Illingworth
Member since
I ski mainly in Chamonix and i ski on the piste inly when i have to and the piste are renowned to be very hard and icy but they are no problem what so ever i can hold and edge perfectly and make some nice big GS turns
Anyone ever skin on these? I tour a lot...
msp3061803
Member since
Anyone ever skin on these? I tour a lot and wonder if the full rocker is any good for sketchy skinning situations.
Jamie Preston
Member since
I don't but have friends who do. The ELP rocker is much different tahn say an S7 - the ski is pretty much in full contact with the snow. The weight of the ski is likely a bigger issue than traction.
Blair Illingworth
Member since
Yes i have the 177 with a Marker Baron Binding, and they are ok for touring, the metal sheet within it makes it heavy but the rocker and shape of the ski is still suitable. it is perfect for a quick skin and a good ski down but i wouldn't want to take it on a multiday tour.
The one-ski quiver
Ingrid Backstrom
Member since
- Gender: Female
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I basically ski these every day in all conditions--they excel at everything and I always know I can count on them underfoot even when I am flailing. The solid tails help land airs, as an added bonus. I mount mine 1cm forward, also. I will ski the Shiro in full deep pow and other different skis for spring, touring, etc. but the Katanas are my main ski.
Hard Charging!
Jess McMillan
Member since
- Gender: Female
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
This has been my favorite ski in the Volkl line for the last four years and still is. It is a hard charging, aggressive ski perfect for all conditions. I compete on the Freeride World Tour and I wouldn't leave home without it! The two sheets of metal create a damp explosive turn and are stable at any speed!
i ski at Lake Louise, Fernie and Castle...
Tk
Member since
i ski at Lake Louise, Fernie and Castle Mountain. i am currently on a Volkl Bridge at 186cms. i find it too short. It carves wonderfully on steeps and works ok in deep pow but i feel like it wants to dive if i let them run.
Anyways, i am now looking at the Katana or Cochise.
My question is what length?
M. Curtis
Member since
The Katana is one of my all-time favorite Volkl skis. It's the greatest ski for big-mountain charging, especially in variable conditions. The 177 and 184 have a very user friendly flex where the 191 and 198 are quite a bit stiffer and have a more pro model flex. How tall, heavy and how do you ski?
Tk
Member since
Thanks M.Curtis. i am 5'11" and 190. i am an aggressive skier, the steeper, the better. i am a fast skier as well. The only cruising runs i do are to get to the lodge at the end of a day. GS type bumps are part of the terrain as well as tight trees with lots of pow.
Background is team mogul skier back in the skinny days. Loved 210-215cm skies for all mountain decades ago...
i know the Bridge is not the same in many respects but i really am disappointed that the 186cm is just so short.
i do not want to make the mistake again. It just seems that 184 seems to be the common choice for the katana.
i appreciate the help.
Matthew Davis
Member since
Tk: For what it's worth, I'm 5'8", 165 lbs and I have been skiing various models of the Katana for the past 4 years at 190, boot center mount. I (regretfully) live back east now and use them both in the Poconos on the east coast boilerplate and on my 2-3 trips each year back to little cottonwood canyon. Great ski for all conditions. I love the 190. I tried the 184 and found it to be too short. There's a video of me skiing the 2009 model at 190 here: http://youtu.be/igvqUsjDuCI. I have since upgraded to the 2011 model. Hope that is helpful.
Jamie Preston
Member since
At 6'1" 180, i ski the 184, ski it hard and have never felt it to be too short. I used to ski the 190, and find the 184 just more versatile. But, given your parameters and size - probably 190.
Dave-Alps
Member since
I'm a fairly advanced piste skier but want to get into the real powder stuff. I've been offered the 191cm at a bargain price. I'm 5' 7" and 175lbs. Are these going to be too big to handle?? Should I be looking more around 165-175cm?
Thanks
Perfect For Big Mountain / Any Condition
Greg Wojtkun
Member since
- Gender: Male
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
The Katanas are the way to go if you are looking for the ideal go to ski for any conditions when skiing Big Mountains. Great for the Gnarly/Steep terrain,Perfect in Powder, Drives through Crud, They even rip Groomers better than most carving skis Ive used in the past. Amazing construction (Way better than the Made in China Katana from 2011). These are made in Germany and the performance shows. Makes turning in big/steep conditions effortless. The amount of rocker is perfect for powder, but doesnt hurt you on the groomers. Perfect all conditions ski, but excels best on big mountain terrain with some fresh powder. Oh, and pair them up with Jester or Jester Pro bindings. Thats one Nasty set up!
Versatile Ride
Jamie Preston
Member since
- Gender: Male
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
It is interesting that a ski that is 112 underfoot has become a "daily driver" for many western skiers. This is my go to ski when I am not sure what I will be doing on the mountain. From sideslipping with the 5 year old, to hiking for some sidecountry turns, this will pretty much fill the bill for all aspects.There is little doubt the ski shines in pure powder, but it's laminated construction crushes crud, and allows you to actually lay down arcs on the groomers. It even manages soft bumps. I know a number of Stowe and Mad River skiers who think this works great in VT's tight trees (just don't go too long).This ski is a one ski wonder for the stronger skier, and I rarely rue the decision to pull this ski off the rack, regardless of what I know, or don't know, the snow will be like.
Big AK Mountains
foyorama2214091
Member since
Best heli ski I have ever used, fast, comfortable and secure under any conditions, loves deep and steep and is at home in Alaska
