2022 Volkl Blaze 106

It was partly to appeal to the greater swath of the market who shun the pinnacle of the price pyramid that last year Völkl launched the Blaze series. At a $599 street price, the Blaze 106 hoped to attract the economy-minded in the market for a lightweight, off-trail ski. To hit the lower price point, it reduced its use of Titanal down to a mounting plate and lightened up the core considerably: a 186cm Blaze 106 weighs in at a mere 1772g, compared to 2330g for a 184cm Katana 108. While the lower price no doubt made the Blaze 106 more attractive, it was its super-light chassis that made it an overnight star. The demand for skis that would work both in-resort and in the backcountry went off the charts last season. The Blaze 106 waltzed into what was, until recently, a niche market hoping for a warm reception, and instead encountered a firestorm of demand for its new hybrid. Meghan Ochs is power personified; you’d expect her to fold the Blaze 106 (which also comes in an identical women’s version) like it was made of meringue. Instead, she was stunned by its capabilities, calling it “one of my favorite skis I’ve ever skied at this width. Shocking!” If you want your next powder skis to be equally adept in-resort of out of bounds, the Blaze 106 has you covered.