Thread: Volkl Karma

Have any of you wise and wordly maggots had a chance to demo the Volkl Karma? I am looking for something twin-tipped, backcountry oriented, but not super fat because I am in the Midwest.
I make it out west as often as I can, usually 2 or 3 weeks a season.

We ski a lot of tight trees here, and I kinda want something that will do that well, but handle groomers, bumps, and park reasonably well. The only other skis I will have when all said and done are my race skis, so I want this ski to do it all.

I'm also considering PRs, Scratch BCs or Armada ARVs. I'm 5'7" 185, and prefer a stiffer ride. Any help would be most appreciated........

Spanks

Sizerch! All have been covered. I'll give you the summary. Karma=good. Scratch BC=you'll out grow it. ARV=better this year now that Elan is making them. PR=insanely popular for all the wrong reasons/ you'll spontaneously combust if you ski on them.

I've heard good things about the Karma, like most Volkls, nice stiffer-end flex, durable, nice shape. Try the search function though, there have been several threads about these skis.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to be the wet blanket on this one, one of the shop guys who's opinon I really trust said he really didn't like the ski since it didn't have enough sidecut and in his opinion is the bastard offspring of the G4 and the V-Pro since it doesn't ride park anywhere near the V-Pro and didn't have the edgehold and power of the G4. He thought it would be a good west coast ski for BC Kickers and such but he really wasn't that impressed by it. He didn't say it was a bad ski, it just didn't live up to his expectations

I talked to someone on them Down Under. They seemed pleased with them - they weren't a great rider, but they enjoyed the ski.

I know smitty is on them and he loves them from what he has said. On the flip side, I've heard from a shop coworker and he echoed the negatives that supercow did. Not nearly as powerful as the g4 was and not as great of a park ski as the vpro was. Jury is still out in my opinion.

yeah like skimonkey said I don't think its neccesarally a BAD ski, I just think Volkl did away with two really exceptional skis and consolodated them into the Karma which just couldn't live up to the reputation of the other skis.

Thanks for the help......as an aside, I'm kinda suprised I haven't been JONGed yet after this many posts. I keep expecting it; I brace for it, but it's sorta like my girlfriend's orgasm.

It just never happens.

Keep the opinions coming if there are anymore.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by bigsugar

Thanks for the help......as an aside, I'm kinda suprised I haven't been JONGed yet after this many posts. I keep expecting it; I brace for it, but it's sorta like my girlfriend's orgasm.

It just never happens.

Well maybe you should change your name to smallsugar...JONG!

Well I'm glad we got that out of the way.

I've skied the Karma. I liked the ski, but, as was mentioned above, it's not an exceptional ski. It is super easy to ski. And it's pleasant. But the Karma is not nearly as powerful as my G4/AX4's are. Like most multipurpose products, the Karma does a lot of things good (well), but not any one thing great. On the bright side, the Karma doesn't do anything bad either.

Considering your stated purpose and where you do most of your skiing, I think you would really like the Karma. Also, when you do ski out west, you won't be disappointed.

Now, if you were buying two pair of skis . . . .

They flex real nice (medium-stiff). The sandwich consruction and durable top sheet gives an impression of "bomber-ness".

The Head Mad Trix Mojo flexes nice too, about the same as the Karma.

Stay away from the PR and Scratch if you want a stiff ride.

Originally Posted by bigsugar

I prefer a stiff ride and spanks

I'll bet you do you sick fuck

Hey Mark from Outpost is missing.......last I heard he was shacking up with some kid that goes to U of U.

So, if the Karma is only so/so, what's the new G4/AX4? I'm looking for an everyday ski to replace my G4s. Any options other than an old pair of AX4s?

I demoed them in a 177 last month and was not really impressed. They loved doing short turns in soft choppy snow, were bearable but not much fun on groomers and they turned into a noodle at high speeds in any snow. They would probably be good for tree skiing because they are so turny and soft and light, but I really don't know what Volkl were thinking when they replaced the AX4 and the Explosive with this ski.

Not the Explosiv, the G4... ploder is basically the same ski it was 10 years ago. It aint changin

I saw a pair of Exploders at a shop that had to have been 5 years old but hardly used. Think they're the same design / flex.. ect?

Well, I decided on the ARVs in a 175.....thanks very much for the opinions and hopefully I can make some turns on them with some of you when I'm in Utah this January.

How bout some PRs? You can find mine over in gear swap.

Originally Posted by bigsugar

Well, I decided on the ARVs in a 175.....thanks very much for the opinions and hopefully I can make some turns on them with some of you when I'm in Utah this January.

how much did you pay for em?

Originally Posted by Mountain Junkie

So, if the Karma is only so/so, what's the new G4/AX4? I'm looking for an everyday ski to replace my G4s. Any options other than an old pair of AX4s?

Head iM85.

Originally Posted by Deuge

how much did you pay for em?

I paid 300 for them, never used.....I figure that's pretty reasonable.