2021 Volkl Deacon V.Werks

The 2021 Volkl Deacon V.Werks is a new offering from Volkl this year, and it takes frontside carving performance to the next level. Thanks to the shape, build, and profile of this amazing new ski, advanced and expert skiers will be able to lay down some sick tracks all over the groomers. Built with the same shape as the Deacon 84, the Deacon V.Werks replaces the titanal frame with a carbon laminate. This addition of carbon makes the ski quite a bit stiffer than the Deacon 84, giving it much better edge grip. So much of the time we just want pure carving performance; this new Deacon V.Werks from Volkl is a lightweight answer to that desire and will take your skiing to the next level. With Volkl's signature multilayer wood core, the Deacon V.Werks starts off powerful and snappy just like the Deacon 84. Tip and tail rocker help you get into and out of turns and also helps when the snow gets chopped up or you encounter soft snow conditions. A lot of ski companies these days are lightning up their skis with carbon and Volkl is no different. Our contributors really liked how light the V.Werks were and what a high performance level they maintained. The ski's quickness, maneuverability, and edge grip were all off the charts in our contributors' rankings. For skiers who aren't really looking for a World Cup race ski but rather a high-end frontside ski for all-mountain purposes, the Deacon V.Werks has to be at the top of your list.

Jeffrey Siegel is one of our more technical contributors, and we suspect that the Deacon V.Werks will be right up his alley. Both he and Marcus Shakun skied the 177, but they'd both have preferred the 182. Regardless, a good time was had by all! Jeff's scores of 5 out of 5 were given for quickness, maneuverability, torsional stiffness, edge hold, versatility, and overall impression. This is a pretty impressive lineup of scores on the high side of things, but for every up there's a down. While nobody will mistake the Deacon V.Werks for a powder ski, Jeff still scored it 2 out of 5 for flotation-this thing is meant to be kept on firmer snow for sure. Marcus even gave it a lowly 1. Starting from the top of the comments is usually a good place to get a contributor's first and most natural assessment of the ski. Marcus notes: "Hot Damn! I never knew carving could be so fun! A fresh groomer and sun helps, but this magical creation is amazing." Jeffrey was not too far off. "I was pretty blown away by this ski. It's a great everyday ski for me because it's really super-versatile. I found it very easygoing, yet at the same time, the ski is very stable and smoothly delivers power the more you put into it. At the same time, it's still incredibly forgiving for an upper-level skier." Carbon, while a bit stiffer than titanal, is far lighter, so you can move it around more, hence the ease of use and forgiving nature.

In the firm snow, Jeff notes that it has "great hold and stability. Obviously, it doesn't have the greatest flotation, but I found the ski was relatively easy to ski in deeper snow. And it's super-fun in the bumps. The ski has the pop to air every bump, the stability to land, and the nimbleness to change your line at a moment's notice." Usually every positive can have a negative, but Jeff states that "it's a ski that you can ski some runs with the kids and then go charge with the big boys and not feel like you've made a compromise." Marcus, again, seems to agree with Jeff's evaluation, adding that the ski "has a nice stiff but damp flex to it that lets you gas pedal it a little bit. Either dive right in and mash it to the floor, or give it more as you see fit." It's this type of both slow and fast speed compliance that sets the V.Werks apart from the competition, both in and out of Volkl's lineup.

Former racers, front-side carvers, and skiers looking for high-performance and low weight will love the all-around nature of the Volkl Deacon V.Werks. Based off an already successful shape but with upper-end components, the Deacon V.Werks takes the Deacon line to the next level.