Volkl Katana review

**teosickrider** · 03-11-2007, 01:07 PM

Today i got the chance to try the new Katanas in Gressoney,Italy.Unfortunately there's not so much snow but we were able to get some good pow turns and some 4-5 mt cliffs.The skis are awesome!The size was a 183 ,so a little bit short in my opinion,but it was all right considering the conditions.
The katanas are really easy to ski in the pow,they remind me of my madens,just a little larger and more floating.As i said,i hit some cliffs and the landing was...wooww...so stable and forgiving,Kind of reminded me the Pontoons.
When the snow gets hard...well it's a whole different feeling..but not as disastrous as one would think for such a big ski.
Personally i'd get a pair of 190's for everyday freeriding and a pair of 197's for full throttle...Excellent!

**pechelman** · 03-11-2007, 01:14 PM

ugh
madens, short, stable, pontoons, forgiving, burly
thems a lot of contradictions

how do they flex? soft like the madens\sanouk or are they more "burly"?
hows the shape (sidecut, camber, tip)?
did you mess around with that tail peice at all, supposedly I read its removable.

**hemas** · 03-11-2007, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

ugh
madens, short, stable, pontoons, forgiving, burly
thems a lot of contradictions

how do they flex? soft like the madens\sanouk or are they more "burly"?
hows the shape (sidecut, camber, tip)?
did you mess around with that tail peice at all, supposedly I read its removable.

The 183's I fondled, flexed a lot like next seasons Mantra's (which are supposed to be the same as the red Mantra?). So a lot stiffer than Sanouks/Maidens.

Also, the tail-deal is non-removable... There was some talks about such things, but that was with Solly Rocker (which even doens't have that function AFAIK).

Like I have posted a lot lately, it's basicly a tie between the Blizzard Akira and 190cm Katana, both with Dukes for me (next year).... Guess, I'll get the one that I can get a better price.

**teosickrider** · 03-11-2007, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

ugh
madens, short, stable, pontoons, forgiving, burly
thems a lot of contradictions

how do they flex? soft like the madens\sanouk or are they more "burly"?
hows the shape (sidecut, camber, tip)?
did you mess around with that tail peice at all, supposedly I read its removable.

Flex:definitely stiffer than madens/sanouk..but not as stiff as the new gotama i would say.Something in the middle.
The tail piece is all right.I was a little sceptic about that too,but appearently it seems to hold up well.Non removable!!!

**mindthegap** · 03-11-2007, 03:20 PM

thanks for the info bro

glad to see you liked them

**vinnay** · 03-11-2007, 07:09 PM

wouldnt akira v. gotama be a closer match up?

Originally Posted by hemas

The 183's I fondled, flexed a lot like next seasons Mantra's (which are supposed to be the same as the red Mantra?). So a lot stiffer than Sanouks/Maidens.

Also, the tail-deal is non-removable... There was some talks about such things, but that was with Solly Rocker (which even doens't have that function AFAIK).

Like I have posted a lot lately, it's basicly a tie between the Blizzard Akira and 190cm Katana, both with Dukes for me (next year).... Guess, I'll get the one that I can get a better price.

**carl jay** · 03-11-2007, 10:08 PM

well the million dollar question is wether or not the 197s are actually going into mass production
anyone know??

**Long duc dong** · 03-11-2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by hemas

The 183's I fondled, flexed a lot like next seasons Mantra's (which are supposed to be the same as the red Mantra?). So a lot stiffer than Sanouks/Maidens.

Also, the tail-deal is non-removable... There was some talks about such things, but that was with Solly Rocker (which even doens't have that function AFAIK).

Like I have posted a lot lately, it's basicly a tie between the Blizzard Akira and 190cm Katana, both with Dukes for me (next year).... Guess, I'll get the one that I can get a better price.

Just curious if you've skied the Akira? I'm really trying to find some info on it. Feel, flex, how it compares to the gotama, vct, vicious, green pistol, and 190 explosiv, to name the skis I ski and the ones I am debating on with the Akira's.

**jerr** · 03-11-2007, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by teosickrider

Personally i'd get a pair of 190's for everyday freeriding

So are you saying you feel the 190 is a ski that runs ok on hard pack?

**hemas** · 03-12-2007, 01:02 AM

Originally Posted by Long duc dong

Just curious if you've skied the Akira? I'm really trying to find some info on it. Feel, flex, how it compares to the gotama, vct, vicious, green pistol, and 190 explosiv, to name the skis I ski and the ones I am debating on with the Akira's.

Nope, broke my leg days before I had the opportunity...

But flex-vise it's pretty close to the Katana, mebbe a tad softer (ie. around the same flex as old Goats). Still holds an edge though...

And Vinney.... Nope, Katana is less fat than Kreitler (119mm vs. 111mm) and I'm not a big lad... Hence I'll go shorter.

**vinnay** · 03-12-2007, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by hemas

Nope, broke my leg days before I had the opportunity...

But flex-vise it's pretty close to the Katana, mebbe a tad softer (ie. around the same flex as old Goats). Still holds an edge though...

And Vinney.... Nope, Katana is less fat than Kreitler (119mm vs. 111mm) and I'm not a big lad... Hence I'll go shorter.

makes sense, i guess what i meant is that the akira(130-105-120) seems closer in dimensions to a gotama(133-105-124) than a katana (140-111-130), ie the decision would seem to come down to either going for the bigger katana, or deciding between akira/gotama.

i guess your stance makes sense if you are saying you like the akira more than the gotama, so its a decision about how wide to go. either way not really important.

**Raps** · 03-12-2007, 07:32 AM

Have you skied Gotamas before? And if so how did they compare?

I think some 183 Katanas would be a nice addition to my gots.......oh and whats your height/ weight?

**freak** · 03-12-2007, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by carl jay

well the million dollar question is wether or not the 197s are actually going into mass production
anyone know??

they told me at the ispo that they will definitely produce the 197cm version.

freak~[

&

]

**Bandit Man** · 03-12-2007, 10:19 AM

I'm really curious how the Katana compares to the Nordica Supercharger Blowers, since the construction and shape are so similar. Since getting the Blowers a few weeks ago, I've decided to sell my Gotama (don't ask...my buddy is grabbing them). It just didn't make a lot of since having a 105-mm and 110-mm waisted skis with such similar performance in the quiver. That makes me think that a Gotama/Katana pairing would be similar.

Now a Mantra/Katana set-up could be money!!

**Raps** · 03-12-2007, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Bandit Man

I'm really curious how the Katana compares to the Nordica Supercharger Blowers, since the construction and shape are so similar. Since getting the Blowers a few weeks ago, I've decided to sell my Gotama (don't ask...my buddy is grabbing them). It just didn't make a lot of since having a 105-mm and 110-mm waisted skis with such similar performance in the quiver. That makes me think that a Gotama/Katana pairing would be similar.

Now a Mantra/Katana set-up could be money!!

Good call but for me, i have 176 gots so i may throw some AT binders on them and get 183 Katanas for chargin..........

**teosickrider** · 03-12-2007, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by jerr

So are you saying you feel the 190 is a ski that runs ok on hard pack?

I am.Actually they were pretty stable and it was freakin ice on the slopes sunday....well they were 183's but..

**comish** · 03-12-2007, 02:03 PM

Do they end up having any reverse camber in the tip and/or tail? Flat or normal camber underfoot?

**hemas** · 03-12-2007, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by comish

Do they end up having any reverse camber in the tip and/or tail? Flat or normal camber underfoot?

The pair I fondled had a normal camber (if it was little, but it was defo there). The tip was long, though, but no funky camber or reverse stuff...

Basicly, I'd say the Katana felt like a fat Mantra... But as stated, I couldn't ski it (broken knee) and only hand flexed it.

**Bandit Man** · 03-12-2007, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by hemas

Basicly, I'd say the Katana felt like a fat Mantra...

I think Squaretail said in a different thread that the "code-name" for the Katana was "fat-Mantra", so that makes sense.

**Jumper Bones** · 03-12-2007, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by hemas

The pair I fondled had a normal camber (if it was little, but it was defo there). The tip was long, though, but no funky camber or reverse stuff...

Basicly, I'd say the Katana felt like a fat Mantra... But as stated, I couldn't ski it (broken knee) and only hand flexed it.

wait wait wait...I thought the whole deal with the Katana was a rockered tip?

**pechelman** · 03-12-2007, 05:14 PM

seems like the katana = sanouk with +1mm at the waist, +10mm tip and tails, swallow tail "powder channel", and in various sizes with a beefier flex

**PeachesN'Cream** · 03-12-2007, 06:34 PM

okay call me a nerd-O but if you look at the shadows on the tails and tips you can get an idea of how tall they are. again this is total speculation judging purely from the photo the katana tips are a good bit taller or ramp up 'vs' the gots. on the tail the gots look taller than the katana.

also i think the ski is flat (zero camber).

i really wish i could fondle a pair and get a real feel for it. i'm pretty sure this will be my ski next year and want to order early.

Squatch · 03-12-2007, 07:45 PM

i'd call you a nerd-O but I don't even think you're correct about the shadows telling you anything, at least on the tips.

**PeachesN'Cream** · 03-12-2007, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Squatch

I don't even think you're correct about the shadows telling you anything, at least on the tips.

yeah i agree. i looked at the photo closer after posting and it's pretty hard to tell much about the tip height. the katana tip looks like it could be taller, but that is probably because of camera angle, color and just the plain largiosity of the tip.

there have got to be some more photos of em floating around somewhere to end this madness. i want all my questions answered so i can just order a pair and not ponder the possibilities.

and... you can still call me nerd-O if you like.

**bossass** · 03-12-2007, 08:02 PM

Handled the Katana a few weeks ago. Does have slight rocker to it, very subtle. I don't remember the tips being overly turned up, but I wasn't paying too close attention. I guess they almost called this ski the Mantra 112 (or whatever the waist measurment is), because it's got the same construction as the Mantra. Looks fun, me wants in a 189.