2021 Volkl Blaze 94
1

Ski Stats

Sidecut 134/94/116
Radius 31m/17m/38m @ 179cm
Lengths 165,172,179,186
Weight 1546g @ 179cm
MSRP $650
FIND
Power Score:

Finesse Score:

3
1
1
Just because the archetype of the All-Mountain East ski is a model that’s equally adept in all conditions doesn’t mean that every AME ski fits this description. The new Völkl Blaze 94 is undeniably biased in favor of soft snow; the only question is whether said snow is in-resort or in the backcountry. Every detail about the Blaze 94 reinforces its predisposition for off-trail pursuits. Its transparent topskin lets the world see where its predominantly wood core is bisected by a channel of foam, a weight savings best appreciated by those who intend to haul their skis uphill. The tapered tips, the rounded but still skin-friendly tails, the lightest-in-class weight and a rockered forebody that allows the skier to pivot into a short-radius turn with impunity all speak to an off-trail attitude. The fact that every Völkl-recommended Marker binding happens to be of the backcountry persuasion is an indication as transparent as the Blaze 94’s cosmetics that Völkl envisions it in an off-the-beaten-path environment. But of course that’s not where our test panel put it through its paces. Our troops treated it like an in-resort, everyday ski with an off-trail family tree, which describes most of the AME category’s membership. In this context, the Blaze 94 impressed with its facility at short turns, aided by a generous front rocker and a tight turning midsection. A Titanal mounting plate underfoot helps quiet the ride while the long-radius tail re-sets the course for the fall line.

Just because the archetype of the All-Mountain East ski is a model that’s equally adept in all conditions doesn’t mean that every AME ski fits this description. The new Völkl Blaze 94 is undeniably biased in favor of soft snow; the only question is whether said snow is in-resort or in the backcountry.

Every detail about the Blaze 94 reinforces its predisposition for off-trail pursuits. Its transparent topskin lets the world see where its predominantly wood core is bisected by a channel of foam, a weight savings best appreciated by those who intend to haul their skis uphill. The tapered tips, the rounded but still skin-friendly tails, the lightest-in-class weight and a rockered forebody that allows the skier to pivot into a short-radius turn with impunity all speak to an off-trail attitude.

The fact that every Völkl-recommended Marker binding happens to be of the backcountry persuasion is an indication as transparent as the Blaze 94’s cosmetics that Völkl envisions it in an off-the-beaten-path environment.

But of course that’s not where our test panel put it through its paces. Our troops treated it like an in-resort, everyday ski with an off-trail family tree, which describes most of the AME category’s membership. In this context, the Blaze 94 impressed with its facility at short turns, aided by a generous front rocker and a tight turning midsection. A Titanal mounting plate underfoot helps quiet the ride while the long-radius tail re-sets the course for the fall line.

Race coach Theron Lee outlines the on-trail inclinations of the Blaze 94: “The tip is vague and soft but underfoot it’s powerful and precise. Quite a good carve from the middle of the ski, although the tip and tail just seemed to get out of the way and let the ski turn from the middle. Ski was a little nervous in the tip at speed but comfortable at medium speeds.” Considering that Lee was evaluating the Blaze 94 for its performance in conditions it wasn’t intended for, his tepid praise amounts to a rave.

Backcountry aficionados aside, the Blaze 94 has one other target customer in mind: the bargain hunter. The Blaze 94’s $650 MSRP is the lowest in the AME category and a steal for a ski of its talents. Give it a little loose snow to grip and lighter weight skiers like Bobo’s Pat Parraguirre are likely to find it, as he did, “very forgiving, great at slow speeds yet very stable. Light on the legs but doesn’t ski light on the snow,” concludes the unofficial Mayor of Reno.