Ski Reviews

2022-2023 Volkl Blaze 106, 179 cm

Reviewer Username: Phil H

Reviewer Height: 6’0″

Reviewer Weight: 175 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 8 days

TEST LOCATIONS: White Pass, WA

TEST CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Untracked powder (deep) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10

FORGIVENESS: 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 9/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 9/10

STABILITY: 6/10

SUSPENSION: 7/10

EDGE HOLD: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

Easy turn initiation, quick in the trees,

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (179 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Trees

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow)

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

Intermediate, advanced and expert skiers will get along well with this ski in most all backcountry conditions as well as soft snow conditions inbounds.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

This is an exceptional ski for most conditions in the backcountry (mine are mounted with ATK Raider 12’s) and for the resort when the conditions are soft…think tree skiing and skiing on-piste before the snow gets chopped up. It is easy to turn but not squirrely at higher speeds, and it is damp for its weight, especially when compared to other backcountry or 50-50 offerings.