2021 Volkl Secret 102

Ladies who rip will love the Secret 102. There's no mincing words about this one. It's a no-nonsense ski that has a ton of power and stability to it. Built just the same as the men's Mantra 102, the ski's multi-layer wood core combined with a titanal frame build and a second sheet of metal make for a ski that's on the heavier side, but with that weight, you get an incredible amount of strength. Carbon tips and tails are really the only place where the ski sheds some weight, but that has more to do with the swing weight versus the overall weight on the scale. The lighter weight at the extremities makes for easier turn transitions without taking anything away from the overall performance of the ski.

Advanced and expert skiers will glean the best performance out of these skis, and they really start to operate best when they're above 20 mph or so. Not fantastic slow-speed compliance; so if you're interested in getting the most out of them, you mustn't be afraid of speed. Unchanged for 2021, except for graphics, the Secret 102 retains all its bad-assery and will keep the upper-end of the skier food chain insanely happy. The 3D Radius sidecut carries forward as well, and it works very nicely on a ski like this, as it does make the turning, carving, skidding, and smearing aspects of the 102 a lot easier to come by. Our contributors are all very impressed with the 102 and its stability, while noting that the ski does have smaller target audience than something like the Yumi or Kenja. For that upper-end skier looking for that wider all-mountain ski to absolutely shred the whole hill, the Secret 102 remains a top choice and an incredible performer.

Caroline Kessler skied the 170, the longest length available in the Secret (Men's 102 goes longer). She found it to be a bit short for her aggressive skiing style, but still had a very strong impression of the ski. Even though it felt short for her, she still noted the bulk of the ski, stating that it's "heavy! Strong edge hold but not the most forgiving. A good, stable ski, good for a confident all-mountain skier who is okay with a comparatively heavier and stiffer ski." Skiers who like the feeling of having some material on their feet will certainly like the confidence-inspiring Secret 102. Shannon Walton echoed Caroline's experience. Also on the 170, Shannon picked right up on the ski's solid nature. "A strong ski for an advanced skier. This ski needs to be driven but will respond well with strong input." While best suited for firmer snow conditions, Shannon did add that they're "great through soft snow" as well. Her top score of 5 out of 5 for stability is no surprise to anyone. Another echoer of the ski's performance levels, Danielle Nichols called it "super-fun in the current conditions. I think this is a great ski for hard groomers with a bit of crud. Had a great time on it and skied it pretty hard. I'd definitely recommend it to friends!" Danielle's scores for her 170 cm test length were all at the top end of the scale. 5's for stability, maneuverability, playfulness, forgiveness, and quickness all show the well-rounded and versatile nature of these burly skis. Like these other ladies, Kelsey Boleski also found the 170 to be a bit short. Good thing we have some amazing lady testers out there! She notes the advanced nature of the skis in her comments, stating that "the Secret 102 is not for every skier, but for the lady looking for a solid, big mountain ski to explore big lines and go fast, this is a fantastic option."

The Secret continues to be a very popular and high-performing line for Volkl, and the 102 rests peacefully at the top of that chain. As the strongest and burliest all-mountain lady ski that Volkl makes, the Secret 102 requires strong skills and proper technique. A bit of muscle doesn't seem to hurt either, as everyone from former racers and modern freeride skiers see a ton of merit in these skis.