2018-2019 Volkl 100Eight

Ski: 2018-2019 Volkl 100Eight, 189 cm

Available Lengths: 173, 181, 189 cm

Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 189.1 cm

Stated Weight per Ski (181 cm): 1990 g

Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2015 & 2018 grams

Stated Dimensions: 141-108-124 mm

Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 140.5-108-124 mm

Stated Sidecut Radius: 24.5 meters

Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 46 mm / 13 mm

Traditional Camber Underfoot: 0 (full rocker)

Core: Multi Layer Woodcore

Base: P-Tex 2100

Factory Recommended Mount Point: -11 cm from center; 83.5 cm from tail

Blister’s Recommended Mount Point: -11 cm from center

Boots / Bindings: Lange XT 130 LV

Days Skied: 15

Test Locations: Alyeska Resort & Chugach Powder Guides, AK

[Note: Our review was conducted on the 16/17 100Eight, which was not changed for 17/18 or 18/19, apart from graphics.]

Introduction

The Volkl 100Eight was new to the Volkl lineup last season, and essentially replaces the very popular Volkl Gotama which had similar dimensions. The 100Eight features a construction that Volkl calls 3D.Ridge which is a wood + fiberglass + carbon stringer variation of the lighter and more expensive V-Werks carbon skis.

Volkl describes the 100Eight as offering, “Maximum agility and versatility: the 100EIGHT with 3D.Ridge technology is the new all mountain tool for everyday skiing on any terrain. The 100EIGHT combines the best flotation with the greatest stability and versatility.”

At just over 2000 grams per ski in the 189 cm length, the 100Eight is another ski positioned in the category of 50/50 skis to be light enough to tour on, but robust enough for full days of inbounds riding. So to get a sense of their versatility, I’ve spent time on them over the past two seasons, primarily at Alyeska Resort and a bit of time when guiding at Chugach Powder Guides.

Construction / Shape

The 100Eight is a pretty unique-looking ski. The “3D.Ridge” construction looks a lot like the V-Werks skis in profile, though the sidewalls are not as thin and the “100” series (100Eight and 90Eight)  weigh a bit more.

The rocker profile is long and gradual, but is more pronounced than other elongated rocker skis in the Volkl lineup (like the Mantra) but not as exaggerated as the 15/16 Shiro or Volkl’s One, Two, and Three skis.

The sidecut radius / shape of the 100Eight is surprisingly lacking in early taper considering how many skis in this waist width have started to feature increasingly tapered tips — e.g., the Salomon QST 106, DPS Wailer 106 Foundation, or Rossignol Soul 7 HD). I’ll get more into this below, but it’s an interesting departure.

Mount point

I started at the recommended mount point of -11 cm from center, and never felt any reason to move from there. Despite its rocker profile and construction, the 100Eight performs and feels like a pretty traditional ski, and that mount point feels in line with the overall design of the ski.

Powder

It wasn’t too long ago that a ski with a 108 mm waist was considered a superfat pow ski and, despite spending most of my season on ~120mm+ skis, I still get out on the skis like the 100Eight on pow days when riding lifts, touring, and heli skiing. Sometimes I underestimate the amount of snow; other times, I’m just in the mood for something a little bit skinnier and more prone to carve when encountering firm snow.

In deep pow, the 100Eight provides adequate float, and its long, continuous rocker allows the ski to break free for slashes and drifts. At 200 lbs plus pack and gear, I can certainly get the 100Eight’s tips to dive under deep, light snow, but it doesn’t take much effort to keep them up and planing.

In shallower pow where you still sink to the base, the 100Eight rewards a centered or even forward stance with cleanly carved turns and a fun, predictable ride. The skis feel quick and light underfoot, and quick turns are best achieved by flattening them out and pivoting on the fully-rockered bases.

Overall, the 100Eight is fun in pow, but not as playful and surfy as some of the other skis in this category. (We’ll talk about some of these other skis in our Deep Dive Comparisons article.)

Chop

I tend to prefer damp, heavy skis in chop and crud, so did not have high expectations for the 100Eight given its thin, lightweight construction. But to the contrary, I found it to be the best lightweight mixed-conditions inbounds ski I’ve used.

The 100Eight does have a speed limit at which point the skis start to fold up a bit when smashing through heavy maritime chop, but it tends to do very well up to that point. And I think a lot of this is due to the ski’s relatively long effective edge.

While it is a very different ski overall, the 100Eight reminds me of the 4FRNT Devastator in terms of its minimal tip taper, and a sidecut that seems to match the rocker quite well. As a result, when tipped on edge, almost the entire length of the ski engages the snow, and this holds true whether hitting patches of soft snow or crossing firm sections. As long as the ski is on edge, it is remarkably stable — especially considering its low weight.

Just as in powder, quicker turns in tight terrain are best achieved by staying centered and pivoting on the fully rockered bases. And the light weight also allows the skis to be easily thrown around for jump turns.

Of note, the times when the 100Eight feels least capable in chop (especially deep, heavy chop) is when running bases flat and straight lining. Here, the skis feel more prone to fold up or deflect when hitting bumps. And similar to other fully-rockered skis the 100Eight feels a bit nervous on firm, flat sections when skiing bases flat, off edge. It’s easy to mitigate — just get at least a light bit of edge pressure going when hitting groomers or sections of smooth, wind-scoured snow.

Crud

The performance of the 100Eight in crud is very similar to its ride in shallow and deep chop, and everything I wrote above should apply. Keep the ski on edge, and it offers a surprisingly stable ride, even at relatively high speeds. The long effective edge tends to smooth things out quite well.

But when running bases flat, the ski feels a bit more nervous and is more prone to deflection.

NEXT: Bumps, Groomers, Etc.