Thread: Year to year Gotama differences? Best and worst years?

I put in 30 days on my 2010's late Winter/Spring.
I have the 186's with Dukes and weigh 185.

My impressions:
They are stiffer than my 190, 07 (gold) Got's.
Very stable at speed in just about any condition.
A bit sluggish in tight radius turn situations.
I was surprised at how well they held an edge on hard pack, way more edge grip then my gold 07's. Tip them over and they hook up and rail like a pair of race stock Race Tigers. The 187 stood tip to tail with my 190 Katanas. Just my impression however I thought they skied long the way I have them mounted. Given lack of beta with the new design, I mounted them alpine boot center as per the markings on the top sheet. I'm now thinking that I may either mount them forward +1 ~ +2 or maybe bump down a size.

Originally Posted by Kied

Been on the 09/10s for about three weeks now and can say that it's my favorite to date. Agreed that it may not be as terrific when you hit ice as previous generations, but still holds and carves a mean turn when you need it. It is however, waaay better in the crud and deeper snow. It fills the gap better between a Mantra and a Katana - perfect for those inbetween days. It's quickly becoming my favorite ski in the quiver, able to handle most every condition well. Just have to get used to lots of questions in the lift line about the low profile tips... they almost resemble DH boards, due to the early rise. I was concerned that Volkl was making a mistake by not making this an entirely new ski and keeping a more traditional Goat, but as already mentioned, the thing rips. Sizing is way better (at least for me). They always measured short in the past, a 183 felt short, 190 often felt long. The 186 seems like the perfect size, manuverable and stable. I don't think that there's another ski in the quiver that I'd feel more confident in grabbing if I was going somewhere and didn't know what conditions were going to be like.

Who else has tried the new Gotama?

Originally Posted by RaccoonFace

BLASPHEMER!!!!!



These are hands down the best skis that I have ever put boots on. I owned two pair back in the day and I wish that I would find just one more set new so I could snatch them up and never let them go.

okbye

Well, if you (or anyone else) wants a pair of 183s (same model year in the pic and in good shape), I'm finally going to sell mine...

Haven't gotten around to posting a thread with them yet... but feel free to PM me if you want them.

Originally Posted by Kied

Here ya go...

That's one sweet Massive Attack poster.


My gold buddhas have a hallowed place in my quiver.

Definitely not as stiff as a mantra.

Originally Posted by Kied

6', 170, and I'll just say I've been skiing every year since I was two, 35 now. Mounted mine with Jesters, so no BC, but would really consider getting another pair with dukes. I'd definitely go at least +1, or 2 from the back line. Most of my friends on earlier Goats went +2 with good reason... the back line is usually pretty far back.

Just looking for clarity. You're talking about +2 from the back line (which is actually at -3, making your mount at -1) or +2 from the Zero line?

Just picked these up. Planning on mounting with dukes for an EC powder day/slackcountry ski (Magic Mountain primarily) and wondering where to mount.

My apologies if I bumped the wrong thread, but it was the one I could find with pertinent info.

Originally Posted by AlpenChronicHabitual

I put in 30 days on my 2010's late Winter/Spring.
I have the 186's with Dukes and weigh 185.

My impressions:
They are stiffer than my 190, 07 (gold) Got's.
Very stable at speed in just about any condition.
A bit sluggish in tight radius turn situations.
I was surprised at how well they held an edge on hard pack, way more edge grip then my gold 07's. Tip them over and they hook up and rail like a pair of race stock Race Tigers. The 187 stood tip to tail with my 190 Katanas. Just my impression however I thought they skied long the way I have them mounted. Given lack of beta with the new design, I mounted them alpine boot center as per the markings on the top sheet. I'm now thinking that I may either mount them forward +1 ~ +2 or maybe bump down a size.

which ski do you prefer, Katana or 10' Gotama?

Bumping this thread as people were saying they would buy another pair of these if available (these aren't mine BTW):

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nv...060250412.html


Volkl gotamas with dynafit tri steps. and G3 skins. Well used but in great shape nothing wrong with anything. Mounted for a 27.5 boot so no problem with a size up or down.
Whole package $550 firm.

I grabbed a pair of 186 09-10's at the end of the season last year, have about 7 days on them now. 6'2'', 170. I mainly skied 05-06 184 Mantras for the last 3 years.

LOVE THEM. Way faster to initiate quick turns, like you're standing on a ball. Charge like crazy, float well, rail really nicely on groomers. I expected to sacrifice some groomer performance (vs the Mantras), especially with the early rise, and was very pleasantly surprised: The Gots do just fine on the cord when they need to. Fun ski, great in every condition I've thrown them at so far.

On issue: The topsheets suuuuck. Not the design, the construction. Mine are seriously delamming all over the place after 7 days of use. It seems like the slightest bump anywhere along the edge and the topsheet starts to peel. I can see exposed wood in 5 or 6 places. Has anyone had the same issue? If so, any luck with Volkl warranty? My shop says no.

Its obvious that Volkl recognized the poor quality of the 09-10 topsheet: this years model (10-11) has a new beveled edge and much harder topsheet surface. If they went so far as to redesign it for this year, isn't that an admission of..something?

Love the ski, little worried about the topsheet freeze/thaw degradation.
Anyone else having similar issues?? Thoughts?

Anyone been on the the new 11/12 goats.
Also how does the 09/10 and 10/11 differ? Thinking about picking up a new pair of 10/11's if there pretty much the same or better...

Think they are the same, just different graphics. I had the 09/10 and loved'em on everything, wish I still had them.

Originally Posted by CentoUno

which ski do you prefer, Katana or 10' Gotama?

Missed this.
Just different.
Generally I prefer the Gotama's as an everyday ski (mostly Alpental/PNW conditions).
Found them to be more playful/more versatile.
The Katanas kill it in crud, will blast through anything however and IMO have better edge hold overall.

X2 on the comment regarding the top sheets.
On the early rockered (09/10) models they chipped like crazy.

11/12 Goats are wider and have more of a turned up tip then the earlier models, other then that the rocker profile hasn't changed that much.
Also the top sheet has more of a bevel to it and appears to chip way less then they did in the earlier versions.

I believe that the new goats are lighter then the 09-11 with different graphics. Also they are now made in Germany instead of China. (words from the Volkl guy at demo day)