2021 Volkl Blaze 106

The all-new Volkl Blaze 106 is poised to turn some heads this year. As a "replacement" for the 100Eight, the Blaze 106 fills Volkl's slot for a light weight powder ski with a ton of versatility and fun built right in. Built with Volkl's Hybrid Multilayer Wood Core, a titanal power plate, and suspension tips and tails, the new construction of the Blaze 106 is all about soft snow performance. While the metal plate doesn't quite extend to the tips and tails like a Blizzard Rustler, it's still enough to give some stability and edge grip to the underfoot regions of the ski. Coming in at 1772 grams per ski in the 186 cm length, these skis are feather-ish and fun. Add to that Volkl's 3D Radius sidecut, and you've got a ski that can make any shape turn in any type of snow. As with any new model, there can be some skepticism and hesitance, especially kniowing the skis that they're replacing, but with the addition of camber underfoot and the other Volkl technology, the Blaze 106 presents a fun and different option than the outgoing 100Eight. In addition to the resort-oriented nature of the ski, it also is one of those skis that can cross over into a backcountry and touring application, so for skiers looking for that hybrid ski that can be used both in and out of bounds, the Blaze 106 should certainly be on the list. Our contributors were all pretty amazed with the performance by itself, but when the light weight was taken into account, it made the whole package even more impressive.

Fun and flotation are the names of the game when it comes to the Blaze 106, and our contributors picked up on that right away. In fact, when Mike Aidala first picked them up, he was a little bit skeptical. "The overall performance of the new Volkl Blaze 106 in the 179 cm length was quite impressive and not expected after first inspecting the skis. At first encounter, they seemed incredibly flimsy, but skiing the Blaze 106 totally changed my opinion-the torsional stiffness was all there! The Blaze 106 are incredibly light, but provide surprising power, excellent float, and easy maneuverability." Jeff Neagle echoes those sentiments, both on his scorecard and in his comments. With scores of 4.5 out of 5 for flotation, maneuverability, playfulness, and versatility, Jeff's 186 cm test length was all he could have hoped for in a freeride ski. "It's super-light and it's surfy and smeary like the 100Eight was but is way more responsive and makes short radius turns much better too." All of this versatility adds up to that fun and floaty feel that skiers are looking for in a ~105 underfoot freeride ski.

For the weight, this new offering from Volkl has a lot of positives. It's all about compromise when it comes to skis, the more material you add, the greater the stability and vice versa. So, when a ski manages to make itself light but remain stable, the ski makers have done a good job. When Bob St.Pierre, skiing the 186, gives top marks for both flotation and versatility, that means Volkl has done a good thing. Bob "tried to find softer snow on the edges of the trail, and when I did, the skis were smooth and playful. They will make fantastic powder skis with a great flex and profile." Even though the majority of the ski is made from lighter wood and partial metal, the "rubber in the tips and tails keep the extremities quiet, which is much needed and appreciated." Bob finishes by stating that the lighter weight of the Blaze 106 makes it "great at smearing and sliding through snow."

So, new skis, great design, fun and light build, and a ton of positives. That just about sums up the new Volkl Blaze 106. Whether you're floating effortlessly through fresh powder or making a variety of turn shapes and styles in different terrain and cruddy snow, the Blaze 106 is built to handle it all. Whether you're strictly lift-served or a backcountry enthusiast looking to pair with a tour binding, the Blaze 106 is a versatile ski with tons of upsides.