2020 Volkl Kenja 88
1

Ski Stats

Sidecut 129/88/111
Radius 16.8m @ 163cm
Lengths 149,156,163,170
Weight TBA
MSRP $825
FIND
3
1
0
The Kenja is the grand dame of the women’s market, and over the years she’s had more facelifts than Joan Rivers to keep her current. But none of her previous makeovers were quite as extensive – or as successful – at reinvigorating the old gal with the energy of youth as the new Kenja 88. In a word, wow. The application of Titanal Frame technology is the game changer. By breaking the top sheet of Titanal into 3 pieces, the metal is distributed where it can do the most good, and the fiberglass beneath it can breathe. The engagement of the glass layer during the turn is what creates the rebound energy that differentiates this Kenja from all who came before. But the Kenja 88 didn’t bring just one gift to this party; its sidecut has been modified into triple-radius affair – Völkl calls it 3D Radius Sidecut – that mimics a geometry more commonly found in Technical skis. If you lay it over until the center radius is engaged, you’ll get a tidy short turn but ride it close to the fall line and the long-radius tip and tail sections take control over trajectory. An extra patch of shock-damping carbon in the shovel helps reduce shimmy in sketchy snow.

The Kenja is the grand dame of the women’s market, and over the years she’s had more facelifts than Joan Rivers to keep her current. But none of her previous makeovers were quite as extensive – or as successful – at reinvigorating the old gal with the energy of youth as the new Kenja 88. In a word, wow.

The application of Titanal Frame technology is the game changer. By breaking the top sheet of Titanal into 3 pieces, the metal is distributed where it can do the most good, and the fiberglass beneath it can breathe. The engagement of the glass layer during the turn is what creates the rebound energy that differentiates this Kenja from all who came before.

But the Kenja 88 didn’t bring just one gift to this party; its sidecut has been modified into triple-radius affair – Völkl calls it 3D Radius Sidecut – that mimics a geometry more commonly found in Technical skis. If you lay it over until the center radius is engaged, you’ll get a tidy short turn but ride it close to the fall line and the long-radius tip and tail sections take control over trajectory. An extra patch of shock-damping carbon in the shovel helps reduce shimmy in sketchy snow.

Perry Schaffner, an atypically strong skier who until recently was an NCAA racer and currently coaches, calls the Kenja 88 “a super fun and playful ski. At 88 underfoot it’s wide enough to be solid in second-day powder and probably even light powder. It also skied well and was stable on the groomers. I think this is a great all-around ski for skiers of any ability. A super fun ski and also great graphics!”

At some remove from Perry on the age and aggression scale is a Diva from Willi’s who likewise felt she found a friend in the Kenja 88. “Wow! This ski could by my BFF. Number 1 in stability. It will not let you down. Turning is great. Not just for skiing corduroy. Plus it is forgiving. Only drawback is orange tip. Color gives illusion tip is very, very wide, but it isn’t. It. Is. Nice.”

Actually the Kenja 88’s bright orange shovel is a teensy bit wider than the last Kenja’s, and its waist is skinnier, creating a noticeably tighter turn radius than either the old Kenja or the new Secret 92. If you want an all-terrain ski that can handle speed like a GS and cut corners like a slalom, hook up with a Kenja 88.

Test Score Data

Total Score: 83.28
Early to Edge:
Continuous Carve:

Rebound/Turn Finish:

Stability/Accuracy @ Speed:
Short-radius Turning:
8.13
8.50
8.50
8.75
7.88
Off-piste Performance:
Low-speed Turning:
Forgiveness/Ease:
Drift/Scrub:
Finesse/Power Balance:
8.88
7.63
8.38
8.03
8.63

Women’s Test Data Advisory

Please be advised that our 2022 women’s ski reviews do not show any test data, on either our public or members’ sites. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we haven’t been able to collect sufficient test results to justify showing a statistical summary.

While Realskiers members won’t be able to see stats on women’s reviews, they will see a longer, more in-depth narrative than what’s posted on our public site.

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