From a product standpoint, Völkl has very few problems. The avatars of its latest technologies – the Mantra M6, Kendo 88, Mantra 102 and Deacon 84 – sit atop their respective genres, a stunning display of dominance. I’ll wager Völkl has maintained the highest average sale price among all brands for the last 20 years, a measure of its marketing might and commercial success.
When one is so accustomed to winning, one wants to win at everything, and there was one arena where Völkl hadn’t made much headway: skis sold at lower price points. Völkl had earned a reputation as the brand for experts; lesser lights need not apply.
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.
You don’t expect a ski with an aptitude for climbing around the backcountry to appeal to strong skiers who hit it hard in-resort, but it was exactly this sort of skier whose scores elevated the Blaze 106 in this year’s results. Sawyer from Bobo’s is young, strong and attacks the fall line like it stole his girlfriend. His take on the Blaze 106 provides compelling testimony: “The Völkl 3D Sidecut technology never ceases to amaze. Keeps the ski incredibly light and makes its responsiveness incredible. Easy to get on edge at 106mm, and mixed with how light the ski is, makes it a perfect ski for an older skier looking for a powder ski or a young skier looking for a touring ski that can charge.”
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!”
The tip-off that Völkl always intended the Blaze 106 to live a double life is that every binding match recommended in its catalog is a backcountry set-up. If you want your next powder skis to be equally adept in-resort of out of bounds, the Blaze 106 has you covered.
