Ski: 2023-2024 RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm
Test Location: Crested Butte Mountain Resort, CO
Days Skied: 20+
Available Lengths: 162, 172 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 170.9 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 1790 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1782 & 1815 grams
Stated Dimensions: 135-107-124 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 134.3-106.7-123.5 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (172 cm): 18.5 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 59 mm / 37 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3 mm
Core Materials: poplar + beech mounting zone + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered “Okulen 7150 C Graphite Race Base”
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -6.5 cm from center / 79 cm from tail
Boots Used: K2 Anthem 115 BOA; Salomon S/Max Race 110; Dalbello DRS 130
Bindings Used: Salomon Warden MN 13
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 22/23 Valhalla 107, which returned unchanged for 23/24, apart from graphics and a slight tweak to the mount point, which we touch on below.]
Intro
Rocky Mountain Underground (RMU) has now been producing skis for over 15 years. Their first model, the RMU Diam, was a small-batch, park-and-pipe ski but, since then, they have expanded their lineup to include lots of all-mountain, powder, and touring-friendly offerings. And while RMU is still based in Colorado, they now have their skis manufactured in the Åre skidfabrik factory in Sweden.
In 2017, RMU introduced their first women-specific ski, the Valhalla 104, and that ski was reportedly a ground-up design made with the input of female testers. The current Valhalla 107, launched in the 22/23 season, follows in that ski’s footsteps, but with an overhauled design.
A few of our female reviewers have logged a lot of days on the Valhalla 107 over the past two winters. and now they’re ready to weigh in on what makes this ski stand out in the women’s all-mountain and powder-oriented categories. First, let’s quickly cover the design of the Valhalla 107:
What RMU says about the Valhalla 107
“The Valhalla 107 is the step up all mountain ski for those adventuring further off-piste ski and powder runs. 107mm waist underfoot with extender rocker profile for quick turn initiations and pivots. Extremely nimble on packed snow, but a skier’s dream once you enter fresh snow. This has become a favorite among the ski guides in the RMU community for its flotation and ease of use in fresh snow.”
As we’ll get into below, we think RMU’s description of the Valhalla 107 is refreshingly honest and in-line with our on-snow experiences.
Construction & Women-Specific Aspects of the Valhalla Series
For reference, RMU reportedly designed the current Valhalla 97 and 107 with the help of Olympian and 5-time X Games silver medalist, Keri Berman. The Valhalla series is designed specifically for women and was started from the ground up; i.e., it’s not simply a softer version of a men’s ski. Both Valhalla models are only available in 162 and 172 cm lengths.
As for construction, the Valhalla 107 features a poplar wood core, beech-wood insert around the mounting area, two layers of 26-oz triaxial fiberglass, full-wrap rubber VDS above its 2.3 mm edges and 8.5 mm ABS sidewalls, and a sintered “Okulen 7150 C graphite race base.” As noted above, RMU’s skis are made in the Åre skidfabrik factory, which reportedly runs on 100% renewable energy via local hydropower — check out RMU’s site for a lot of interesting info about the factory, its history, and its environmental footprint.
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Valhalla 107’s shape and rocker profile are a big part of what makes this ski stand out on snow. It features pretty tapered tips and slightly less tapered tails, but its shape is less tapered overall than the previous Valhalla 104, equating to a longer effective edge on the Valhalla 107.
The Valhalla 107 has fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines, and its tail rises up to a bit of a twin tip. In between its rockered tips and tails, the Valhalla 107 is mostly cambered.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the 172 cm Valhalla 107:
Tips: 6
Shovels: 6-7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7.5-9
Underfoot: 9.5
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8
Tails: 7.5-6.5
Overall, this is a pretty accessible flex pattern. Its tips and tails are easy to bend, and then it steadily gets stiffer as you move from the rockered tips and tails to the cambered middle of the ski. Especially compared to more directional skis in its class, the Valhalla 107’s flex pattern is more symmetrical, with a tail that’s not drastically stiffer than the tip.
Sidecut Radius
The 172 cm Valhalla 107 has a stated sidecut radius of 18.5 meters, which is about average for this class.
Mount Point
Our 22/23 Valhalla 107 had a recommended mount point of about -5.5 cm from true center. While the rest of the ski was unchanged for 23/24, RMU moved the recommended mount point 1 cm back, to -6.5 cm from true center. Both of these are closer to center / more forward than most directional skis, but not as centered as most freestyle-specific models, such as the RMU Rippah.
Weight
At about 1800 grams per ski for the 172 cm length, the Valhalla 107 falls on the lighter side of skis for its width, but it’s not quite as light as some touring-oriented models.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.
1533 & 1557 Ferreol Explo 96, 172 cm
1676 & 1700 Majesty Vadera Carbon, 176 cm
1693 & 1710 Moment Sierra, 172 cm
1735 & 1741 Elan Ripstick 94 W, 168 cm
1741 & 1747 Nordica Unleashed 98 W, 174 cm
1752 & 1751 Blizzard Sheeva 9, 172 cm
1761 & 1778 Zag Slap 104, 176 cm
1762 & 1830 DPS Kaizen 105, 179 cm
1783 & 1815 RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm
1787 & 1798 Faction Dancer 2X, 172 cm
1792 & 1792 Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, 172 cm
1797 & 1839 Rossignol Rallybird 102, 170 cm
1797 & 1839 Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti, 171 cm
1821 & 1827 Icelantic Maiden 108, 176 cm
1830 & 1835 Icelantic Maiden 102, 176 cm
1835 & 1820 Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, 185 cm
1836 & 1838 Armada ARW 106 UL, 180 cm
1847 & 1854 Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm
1851 & 1856 Blizzard Sheeva 10, 180 cm
1860 & 1862 Majesty Vadera Ti, 176 cm
1878 & 1891 Salomon QST Stella 106, 173 cm
1895 & 1912 Blizzard Sheeva 11, 174 cm
1928 & 1945 K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, 172 cm
1933 & 1975 Volkl Secret 96, 170 cm
1927 & 2009 Mindbender 116C W, 177 cm
1955 & 1990 Coalition Snow SOS, 173 cm
1958 & 1960 Faction Dancer 3X, 172 cm
1961 & 1985 K2 Mindbender 106C W, 176 cm
1969 & 1988 4FRNT MSP CC, 171 cm
1959 & 1986 Blizzard Sheeva 11, 180 cm
2010 & 2063 Volkl Secret 102, 170 cm
2035 & 2083 Nordica Unleashed 108 W, 180 cm
2057 & 2061 Fischer Ranger 102, 176 cm
2074 & 2088 Line Blade Optic 104, 178 cm
2178 & 2166 Coalition Snow Rafiki, 180 cm
With all the tech and specs out of the way, let’s get into how all of that translates on snow:
FULL REVIEW
Kristin Sinnott (5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg): We first started spending time on the 172 cm Valhalla 107 in the spring of 2023, and we’ve since logged many more days on it throughout the 2023-2024 season.
Sascha Anastas and I have each skied the Valhalla 107 in a very wide range of conditions (our other reviewer, Kara Williard, also got a day on it), and we’re all in pretty close agreement in terms of what this ski does well, where it falls short, and what sorts of skiers we think could appreciate it. So, let’s dive in:
Powder
Kristin: The Valhalla 107 is one of the most playful and surfy skis I’ve had the opportunity to test, and this ski really shines in powder and soft snow conditions. As a result, it’s been my go-to powder ski this season.
Prior to hopping on the Valhalla 107, I’d primarily been using the 174 cm Blizzard Sheeva 11 as my deep-snow setup, mostly because it was the widest (112 mm) ski I had access to and I had some fun days aboard it in powder. As we discussed in our review of the Sheeva 11, that ski is a decent option for pow days but, despite being narrower, I actually found the Valhalla 107 to offer better, more predictable flotation when the snow was deep. Unlike the Sheeva 11, the Valhalla 107 didn’t require me to significantly move my body position / weight bias to the backseat to keep its tips from diving. The Valhalla 107 is also notably more nimble from a swing-weight perspective, and it’s very easy to pivot and slash in fresh snow.
In most conditions and terrain, I’ve learned to ski the Valhalla 107 with a more upright, balanced body position, which is encouraged by its fairly centered mount point and less directional overall design. In powder, this stance works really well. But, more so than when conditions are firm, I’ve also been able to ski the Valhalla 107 with a fairly forward, aggressive stance when the snow is on the softer end of the spectrum.
And while I get far fewer face shots on the Valhalla 107 because the ski floats so well, I can’t complain because it’s been so intuitive and nimble in powder. The Valhalla 107 does not need a lot of speed to get the skis to plane up in fresh snow; quick, precise turns are easy on this ski, whether in light or heavy snow, from a few inches to multiple feet.
Soft Chop
Kristin: The Valhalla 107 still generally performs well in freshly fallen snow that has gotten skied out a bit. Similar to how it behaves in untracked pow, its tips do an admirable job of staying afloat in chop, even when cutting through deep stashes.
As far as stability goes, the Valhalla 107 is far from a charger, but I didn’t notice it getting bounced around too much in chop, particularly earlier in a resort powder day when the new snow hadn’t settled / compacted a whole lot.
Overall, I found it to be predictable, confidence-inspiring, and fairly playful in soft chop. It’s easy to skid turns and hop from clump to clump, and while it stands out for its maneuverability, for my skiing style and preferences, I still found it intuitive when skiing faster in low-density chop. For reference, I’d say I’m a very directional skier, but my style leans more toward shorter, precise turns (with a hop here and there to transition), rather than charging down the fall line via big, high-speed turns.
The main downside to the Valhalla 107 in these conditions, especially relative to heavier alternatives, is that it isn’t a very damp / planted ski. Especially in denser chop (and even firmer curd; see below), your legs will do most of the impact absorption, which can be pretty tiring.
Firm Chop & Crud
Kristin: The Valhalla 107 is fairly light, has pretty tapered tips, isn’t all that stiff, and features pretty deep tip and tail rocker lines. Skis with those traits don’t typically shine in firm chop and crud. And the Valhalla 107 is no exception to this rule.
In denser, rougher, and more variable conditions, I found that the Valhalla 107’s tips would deflect a fair bit, and if my legs were tired or weak, the ski would seem to do what it wanted, not necessarily what I wanted.
As I noted above, this ski also isn’t particularly damp / planted from a suspension perspective, so all of that adds up to notable deflection / twitchiness in challenging conditions. The Valhalla 107 would not be my first choice for days when firm chop and crud were to be expected, and I appreciate that RMU’s description of this ski doesn’t make any wild claims about it being some charger of a ski in cruddy snow — it’s not.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
Kristin: In soft snow conditions, the Valhalla 107 performs really well in tight terrain. Its low swing weight makes it feel very agile and, while I already prefer to ski moguls and trees via pivoting or sliding turns (rather than relying on forceful edging), I was able to take either approach on the Valhalla 107 when the snow was forgiving.
Once the snow firmed up, I was still easily able to make lots of quick, short turns, but the Valhalla 107 felt more biased toward pivoting, skidding, and slashing. It takes very little effort to release this ski’s tails and get it sliding perpendicular to the fall line, but those tails can also wash out at times, especially on really firm, scraped-off snow. This was particularly noticeable when I had been skiing a more directional, less rockered ski before I hopped on the Valhalla 107.
As a result, the Valhalla 107 doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in firm moguls and steeps; it doesn’t quickly / easily bite and edge into the snow unless I really commit to tipping it high on edge, which I don’t always feel like doing. And while I can easily slide and skid turns in these conditions, the Valhalla 107 does get bumped around a bit and never feels all that stable when the snow is firm.
In chalky, smooth snow that sort of blurs the line between properly firm and truly soft conditions, I could confidently edge, pivot, or slide turns on the Valhalla 107. However, if it was chalky but there were also lots of ruts, tracks, or “rumble strips” as I call them, the ski got knocked around pretty easily, similar to how it behaves in firm crud.
But, again, in soft and/or grippy moguls, I had a great time on the Valhalla 107. Because of its agile ride and surfy feel, I found myself being a bit more playful and letting loose more by popping off the bumps. Unsurprisingly, it’s not as easy to quickly flick the Valhalla 107 from edge to edge as it is on a much narrower alternative (e.g., Blizzard Black Pearl 84). But for a ski that’s 107 mm underfoot — and given that I generally prefer narrower skis in this terrain — I was surprised by how much I enjoyed taking the Valhalla 107 down mogul runs.
Overall, it’s a very maneuverable, nimble, and approachable ski in moguls and trees, particularly when the snow is soft; as I’ve already reiterated, the Valhalla 107 generally feels less at home on hardpack.
Groomers / On Piste
Kristin: I’m going to go a bit longer on this section since our on-piste experiences aboard the Valhalla 107 were a bit more complicated than most skis we get on, and I think certain folks will be in the same boat.
I didn’t find the Valhalla 107 immediately intuitive on piste, especially since I spend most of my time skiing more rearward-mounted skis — and do so via a more traditional, forward, driving-the-shovels stance. Taking that approach to the Valhalla 107 always seemed to result in one ski wandering away from the other. Eventually, I adjusted my stance to a more upright position, eased into the turn with less pressure on the shovels, and focused on heavily weighting the downhill ski. On softer groomers, this would result in the edges gripping the snow nicely and pulling me into a carve. Or, what I thought was a carve. More on that later.
If the snow was firm and not grippy (e.g., scraped-off rollovers), I didn’t have much success in terms of getting the Valhalla 107 to properly carve turns on edge. Its tips would often turn across the fall line before I was ready, and/or its tails would wash out before the end of the turn. Overall, I found this ski unpredictable on firm groomers — that is, until I started sliding my turns. Once I accepted that this isn’t a ski designed to lay down high-edge-angle carves on firm slopes and instead opted to casually skid my turns, I had a better experience. However, I also found myself constantly behind the rest of my ski buddies in these conditions.
To put this into perspective, this season I’ve been using the Carv “Digitial Ski Coach” system, which pairs sensors in your boots with an app on your phone to measure several metrics and provide insight into your skiing and turns. (Check out our GEAR:30 podcast episode with Carv founder, Ted Ligety, for more on this.)
After each run on the Valhalla 107, Carv informed me that my edge angles were much lower than when I was skiing most other skis, such as the Blizzard Sheeva 11, or narrower ones (e.g., Elan Ripstick 94 W). This didn’t come as a surprise, since I was apprehensive to really commit to a high edge angle on the Valhalla 107 (especially on firm snow), but on softer groomers, I thought I was angling them more than I actually did.
Once I figured out the optimal way to ski the Valhalla 107 on piste, I initially dismissed it as something that I was willing to ski for testing purposes, but not a ski I would choose to add to my personal ski quiver. But then it started to snow, kept snowing, and I kept grabbing the Valhalla 107. Eventually, I realized that I really enjoyed changing my ski style when I was on the Valhalla 107. And after a few days of grumpily skiing it on piste to close out the afternoon, I started to actually enjoy it on groomers, too — at least, the soft ones.
Overall, the Valhalla 107 doesn’t feel like it was designed to excel at carving up groomed slopes. If the snow is grippy, you can ski it with a fairly forward body position and get it up on edge. But on firmer days, it definitely prefers a more cautious, conservative, and skid-oriented approach as you (hopefully) make your way to some more forgiving snow and/or off-piste terrain.
Playfulness
Kristin: The Valhalla 107 is a very playful ski, with deep rocker lines that equate to a surfy ride, a low swing weight for its size, and a fairly centered mount point (-6.5 cm from center) that keeps it feeling balanced. I, on the other hand, am a directional skier.
As I touched on above, my first turns on the Valhalla 107 were made in my typical body position — forward over the shovels, actively driving the front of my boots with a good bit of pressure. This stance made the ski feel awkward and not at all predictable. Turn initiation when carving didn’t happen when I expected it to, and my weight transfer through a turn didn’t create the edge control I was used to on more directional skis.
I should have expected this, and once I realized that I needed to change my body position to a more upright, centered stance, the ski was much more intuitive. After a few days on the Valhalla 107, I continued to learn how it wanted to be skied, transitioned my approach from being more carving-oriented to integrating more feathering, sliding, and pivoting, and I really started to enjoy the surfy, playful feel of the ski.
I can’t speak to how well it spins or does when skiing switch, but I can say I really enjoyed the Valhalla 107 and I didn’t feel the need to mess around with the mount point once I adjusted the way I skied to better fit the ski. And for folks who are coming from more playful skis with more centered mount points, I’d expect the learning curve to be shorter.
[Note: we spent most of our time on the Valhalla 107 with it mounted at -5.5 cm from center, whereas the current version’s recommended mount point is -6.5 cm. While we think that this will make the ski a touch more intuitive from the get-go for directional skiers, it doesn’t dramatically alter its overall performance.]
For what it’s worth, our male reviewers found the RMU Apostle 106 to be an excellent all-mountain-freestyle option. While the Valhalla 107 is by no means identical to the Apostle 106, they do share a fair bit in common on paper, so our Apostle 106 review could be worth reading if you’re interested in more specific notes on playfulness and freestyle performance.
Length
Kristin (5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg): I typically gravitate toward skis in the 168 to 174 cm range, so the 172 cm Valhalla 107 felt like an easy choice — not too short and not too long. The Valhalla 107 is only offered in 162 and 172 cm lengths, and the shorter of the two definitely would have felt too short for me.
Most of the Valhalla 107’s design traits (e.g., rocker profile, mount point, shape, weight, flex pattern) contribute to it skiing a bit shorter than more directional, traditional alternatives. Our other reviewer, Kara Williard (5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg), generally prefers skis in the 170-185 cm range and the 172 cm Valhalla 107 was definitely too short for her.
If you want to learn more about how different design traits affect how long a given ski feels, and what other factors to consider when determining the ideal ski length(s) for you, check out our video & GEAR 101 article on How to Think About Ski Length.
Who’s It For?
Kristin: Overall, the Valhalla 107 performs best in soft conditions, especially fresh snow. If you’re looking for a powder ski that, despite not being super wide, provides impressive flotation and easy maneuverability when the snow has started to stack up, you’d be wise to check it out.
As a very directional skier, I came to appreciate how playful and nimble the Valhalla 107 was in deep snow and other soft conditions. Especially relative to its size, the Valhalla 107 allows for easy, quick turns and I rarely found myself needing to adjust my stance to keep its tips from diving on deeper days.
If you’re a more playful and/or freestyle-oriented skier, this ski could work well as an all-mountain option, preferably used when conditions are soft. If you’re a directional skier like me, that caveat about using it in more forgiving snow would be even more notable, and you will need to adjust your skiing style to work with the Valhalla 107. After you do so, though, you could come to really enjoy the different approach that this ski encourages — I know I did.
Lastly, as we just touched on above, the Valhalla 107 is only offered in two lengths (162 & 172 cm), so if you prefer something longer, you’ll need to look elsewhere. If you do fall into that camp but like the sound of the Valhalla 107, it might be worth considering RMU’s Apostle 106, which is available in a 176, 184, and 192 cm and stands out in its class for some of the same reasons as the Valhalla 107; you can read our Full Review of that ski here.
Bottom Line
The RMU Valhalla 107 is a playful and nimble ski that can be a blast in soft snow, especially freshly fallen powder. It will likely require a learning curve for most directional skiers, it doesn’t feel all that practical when the snow is firm, and it’s offered in a pretty limited size range (162 & 172 cm). I.e., it definitely isn’t for everyone.
However, for those who get along well with skis in those lengths, the Valhalla 107 deserves a close look if you’re in the market for a ski that floats well in deep conditions, offers a surfy, playful ride, and does all that while still being quite agile and potentially enjoyable in a wide range of terrain.
Deep Dive Comparisons
BLISTER+ members and those who purchase our Digital Access Pass can check out our Deep Dive comparisons linked below. Not a member? Become a BLISTER+ member today or get our Digital Access Pass to get access to this and a LOT more, including the best worldwide Outdoor Injury Insurance, exclusive deals and discounts on skis, personalized gear recommendations from us, and much more.
Check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the RMU Valhalla 107 to see how it compares to the Blizzard Sheeva 10, Wagner Summit 106, K2 Mindbender 106C W, Armada ARW 106 UL, Line Pandora 104, Folsom Cash 106, Line Pandora 110, Faction Dancer 3X, Salomon QST Stella 106, Nordica Unleashed 108, Folsom Completo 100, K2 Mindbender 116C W, Blizzard Sheeva 11, Armada ARV 116 JJ UL, Coalition Snow Rafiki, & Majesty Vadera Ti.
