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March, 2024

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Volkl Durable? WTF?

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ImperialFlow
Posts: 269 - Karma: 10
Third time out on these skis... perfect conditions. 15" of fresh powder and snowing all day long while I was up at 49 degrees North.

The sidewalls on just one of my Karmas seems super weak. The other ski is fine, and they've been subjected to exactly the same wear.

In the 20+ years I've been skiing I've never had my skis get damaged this easily. It's almost like the sidewall material on that one ski on that side just isn't as hard as it's supposed to be because it cuts up like butter.

Click for larger image

Click for larger image

I'm going to contact Volkl. I've owned their skis in the past and had them hold up really well. Other than this irritating damage to the ski I love how they ride.

-Nathan
Jan 10 2006 2:33AM
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jetski
Posts: 375 - Karma: 10
I know you claim it isn't but that looks like some sort of impact. Is it? How could that happen? If it seriously "just happened" Volkl will replace it no probs. I have seen a pair of Karmas go through 40 days of summer skiing at Blackcomb, 10 days of heavy water ramp and now the skis are into day 12 of winter rail slides and they will not die. If you are honest Volkl will take care of you.
Jan 10 2006 3:13AM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 235
theres no way that "just happened" must have been some impact. Im betting it was the typical banging new skis together with sharp edges. When skis are new those edges are dam sharp and they must have banged together under all that pow, you would have noticed otherwise.
Jan 10 2006 5:38AM
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ImperialFlow
Posts: 269 - Karma: 10
I'm not saying it just happened, I'm saying that it was caused by typical banging, most likely under the pow.

I'm saying that these aren't the first skis I've ever owned, and certainly not the first that have been knocked together. When I raced I had some NASTY spills and NEVER once did the skis damage so easily.

So what I'm saying is that these skis are less durable than skis I've previously owned, or at least they appear to be.

-Nathan
Jan 10 2006 10:03AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
email volkl...telling people here isnt going to get you new skis
Jan 10 2006 10:26AM
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ImperialFlow
Posts: 269 - Karma: 10
I'm telling people here just so they can see what might happen to their own Karmas should they decide to purchase some.

I specifically bought the Karma over the K2 Public Enemy because the p-tex topsheet of the K2 seemed like one of the worst fabrication decisions I'd ever seen, and I figured with Volkl's reputation that the Karmas would be very stout. I could have saved myself $350 and bought the K2's and ended up with the same result. That's what makes this frustrating. A $650 ski is supposed to offer something over a $300 ski in terms of quality and build, or at least it used to.

Just something to consider in your own purchases at all. I LOVE THE SKIS otherwise, but the durability is suspect and not up to what I expected from Volkl based on past experience.

-Nathan
Jan 10 2006 10:35AM
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skifiend
Posts: 2063 - Karma: 13
Email them...but I would be very surprised if the did anything for you. Looks like "normal wear and tear" to me.
Jan 10 2006 10:43AM
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ImperialFlow
Posts: 269 - Karma: 10
Yeah... so far their response has been. "Edges are very sharp when skis are brand new, and sometimes they need to be de-tuned by your dealer before use to prevent this kind of damage."

Which seems incredibly stupid to me as I'd never in a million years de-tune my skis for all-mountain use.

-Nathan
Jan 10 2006 10:50AM
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