You expect a race slalom ski to be whippet quick, and the Völkl Racetiger Speedwall SL UVO doesn’t disappoint in this signature department. What you don’t expect is the grace to accept longer turns when requested and a ride so polished it feels like the ski is doing all the heavy lifting.

As nimble as teenage gymnasts, these Völkls nonetheless never act nervous.  Their imperturbable calm is attributable to the UVO dampening element affixed to the forebody, allowing the skis to maintain snow contact through any turn shape.  “Turns like a sports car,” notes a Viking Ski Shop tester.  “Loved to bank turns and the grip is unreal,” he adds, concluding with the ultimate compliment: “More than a race ski.”

This SL’s ability to mix easy-to-access slingshot short turns with long, lingering loops without breaking a sweat earned it a podium finish in our bellwether criterion of Finesse/Power balance.  The last score a tester records on his card is also the most significant as it signifies a ski that delivers on all criteria that make slalom race skis the performance epiphany that they are, and also exhibits most of the qualities that they often don’t possess, such as ease of operation and low-speed turn facility.