Völkl is 100 years old this year, and as milestones go, it's a pretty big one. That's a long time for a company to be around, especially in a sport that's not much more than 150 years old (as a recreational activity) itself. Founded in 1923, Völkl has been a cornerstone of the ski industry for the best part of the past century. It's hard to imagine how different the world was back then but to put it in some kind of context, the planes first flew around the world a year later. It took 175 days. There wasn't a single official downhill ski trail open in the USA, although there was a single ski jump at Howelsen Hills, CO.

The Völkl story starts in Straubing, Germany, and the name is that of the Völkl family. The early skis were called Vöstras, a contraction of ‘Völkl Straubing’. Since then they have been found on top of podiums across the sport from World Cup Slalom to the freeride world tour. And of course, they have dominated slopestyle and halfpipe podiums for years, including some memorable podium sweeps (Olympic Slopestyle 2018 anyone?).

But while their position in the comp scene is undeniable, it's their work on Built Together and supporting skiers from the streets to the backcountry that has earned them the respect of the community in recent years. It helps that the new Revolt skis, from the 90 to the 121 are ridiculously fun. But from SLVSH to Markus Eder's Ultimate Run and Legs Of Steel, Völkl has been supporting the good stuff for years now. Jib League arrives and MDV is one of the first brands on board. They picked up Kye Petersen this season too, can't say fairer than that.

From the Zebra skis back in the 60s to the Race Tiger and Snow Ranger, Völkl has been quietly innovating for decades. With innovations such as the construction of the first sandwich construction ski and the introduction of carbon fiber, the brand has been breaking ground since the get-go. And since we're taking a look back, we wanted to highlight three skis that haven't made the Völkl PR but that are absolute NS classics.

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The Karma

Before the Wall/Revolt 87, there was the Karma. And it was a beast of a ski, loved from Newschoolers to TGR. They ripped on groomers, were super stable on jumps, and held up to a beating. Long gone, but certainly not forgotten, you'll still see pairs of these in the lift line to this day because, like a cockroach, they are pretty much impossible to kill off.

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The Gotama

A strong contender for the greatest Volkl ski of all time, the Gotama went through a few iterations. There was something of an outcry when Volkl added rocker way back in 2010, but the ski continued to be a much-loved classic even as wider skis evolved around it. Ironically, skis are trending back towards this exact shape with aggressive skiers preferring longer sidecuts and less tapered shapes again. Perhaps it's time for the Goat-ama to make a comeback?

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The Chopstick

Back in the days of the Hellbent and the EP Pro, there was a less loved full-rocker ski, a super fat beast called the Chopstick. It wasn't quite as effortlessly floaty as the aforementioned noodles but the damp flex and weight made it a great charger that could still land switch and charge with the best of them. And Dylan Hood, enough said.

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Shoutout to one of skiing's oldest brands for reaching such a significant milestone, for continuing to push the sport, and for supporting athletes at the cutting edge. Here's to more innovative events, banger movie projects, and cutting-edge skis in the next 100.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1064772/100-Years-of-V--lkl

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And while we're on the subject of future skis, the new Revolt 114, which drops this coming fall, is an absolute monster. In terms of width, it fills the gap between the 104 and the 121, but it's a much chargier ski than its siblings. The tail rocker is flatter and doesn't have a twin tip, while the nose rocker is shorter. This is a ski designed more for modern-day big mountain skiing, stomping tricks, and charging big lines. We'll have a Roofbox Review coming down the line, but for now, check out a quick review in our Gear Guide and feast your eyes on these beauties.