2021 Volkl Kendo 88

Advanced and expert skiers have really gravitated towards the Volkl Kendo over the years for their narrower all-mountain ski, and that shouldn't really change for the upcoming season. When Volkl went to the titanal frame build last year, they really opened up the Kendo to a whole new demographic of skier without alienating their old crowd of supporters. At 88 mm underfoot, the Kendo is basically a narrower Mantra with 3D Radius sidecut. As a result, it's got the same wood core, a similar rocker profile and taper shape, and stability and power for days. The precision of the titanal frame really sets it apart from the competition, as each and every movement gets transmitted to the edges of the skis. With a narrower waist, the Kendo is able to grab firm on the iciest of snow conditions, giving you confidence and traction no matter what. The 3D radius makes it easier to switch up your turn shapes and styles, allowing advanced and expert skiers to really hone and fine-tune their skills on any and all terrain. For an eastern all-mountain ski or a western piste ski, the Kendo 88 makes a lot of sense to a huge number of skiers. Rail carved turns, rip the bump lines, or dance through trees, the Kendo does not care; it loves it all. Quite a bit lighter and less planky than expected, the Kendo 88 crosses over to a bunch of different avenues and applications of skiing.

The positive feedback came in fast and furious. Bob St.Pierre: "Great improvement for the Kendo! It's always had strong groomer and high-speed performance, but the new build is a lot more maneuverable, especially in softer snow and at lower speeds. A lot more versatile than previous versions." Fellow tall person Marcus Shakun: "Best thing they did was take out some metal. New construction is amazing! Gives the ski less of a planky feel." Kelby Furrer gently states: "These guys are frickin' sweet! Nice playfulness, responsive as hell, crushed the groomers and the crud." Jeff Neagle: "Great update to the Kendo. Once you find the sweet spot, it's a dream."

Ok, we get it, there's a lot to like about the Kendo. Bob got to ski the 184 and found it about right, noting that it skied true to size, if not a bit longer due to the build. A high score of 5 out of 5 for stability is just about right, and the rest of his scores as 4's out of 5 show the above-average versatility and well-roundedness of the ski. Bob also notes, as he would not have in previous Kendo versions, that he "loved it in bumps!" Marcus is a few inches taller than Bob, but still liked his 184 cm test length. That's as long as they come, so it's not like he'd get a longer pair even if he wanted one. Perhaps a 191 in the works, Volkl? Marcus' high scores were given for versatility and overall impression, with both of those categories earning 5's out of 5. Like Bob, nothing on the score sheet dipped below a 4 with the exception of a 3 for flotation. At 88 underfoot, that's not shocking. Jeff Neagle, weighing about 150 pounds, skied the 177 and did find it had some limitations especially in "tight and ungroomed terrain." He notes that it "wasn't exceptionally maneuverable and requires strong skiing technique in the moguls and trees." This, too, is unsurprising given the burly build and the advanced and expert skier style that is necessary to bend a ski like this.

Kendo lovers are going to keep being Kendo lovers-there's nothing in this year's version that's going to change anyone's mind. Fans of edge grip, stability, and versatility are just going to eat this thing up, and that's the way we like it.