2021 Volkl Yumi 80

The Volkl Yumi/Kama relationship has been a bit strange over the past few years. First came the Yumi, which was an all-wood ski that had fantastic success among the intermediate crowd. Easy to ski, fun, and light, the Yumi sold a ton of skis for Volkl. Then they changed the Yumi to have a titanal band and a wider waist, targeting more advanced skiers while still keeping the intermediates interested with the success of the name. To take the place of the outgoing "Yumi," the Kama was introduced. It was actually the same ski as the old Yumi, just with a different name. So, there was a bit of a musical chairs type of deal going on with these Volkl ladies skis, and it kind of continues here in 2021 with the Yumi 80.

An all-new model for this year, the Yumi 80 takes the Kama's spot, and again, changes the ski just a bit to make it a bit more performance-oriented than the outgoing model. The biggest difference is the addition of the glass frame that also graces the Yumi 84 as well as the men's Kanjo and the Deacon 80. Other than the difference in the glass frame, the titanal power plate and the general shape also differentiate the Yumi 84 and 80. Likely a better choice for lower-end intermediates or skiers who spend pretty much all of their time on the groomed terrain, the Yumi 80 is quicker, lighter, and easier to turn, but does lack a bit of the versatility and horsepower of the Yumi 84. Underfoot in the 84, the titanal power plate keeps the skis stiffer and more grippy, but the lack of that in the 80 makes it more flexible and easygoing. Better suited for lighter and less-aggressive skiers, the Yumi 80 is a great segue between the rental market and a higher end ski like the Yumi 84 or even the Kenja 88. It's also a lighter and more maneuverable option than a system ski like the Flair series skis that are more front-side and carving-oriented than the Yumi 80. Due to the shortened season, we were only able to get one contributor on the Yumi 80, Ariel Aidala, but she's a great candidate to test these skis, and offers some great insight as to the performance and intended audience of these new skis from Volkl.

Ariel skied the 154 and found it to be a bit short, but that didn't stop her from having a fun and positive experience on it. 5's out of 5 on her scorecard were given for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness. Her overall impression, as well as versatility, earned 4's showing the overall well-rounded nature of the new Yumi 80. In her words, "the Volkl Yumi 80 is a great ski for a lady skier who primarily skis on-trail and wants a ski that can grow with them as their skills progress. With an all-wood core and the 3D Radius Sidecut, this ski is very forgiving and perfect for a skier that doesn't want to work too hard to make a nice turn. While this ski is only 80 mm underfoot, when I tested it there was a few inches of fresh snow and it performed tremendously. It was forgiving and very easy to maneuver and turn from one patch of fresh snow to the next. I was surprised that even though the Yumi 80 is very light, it still has decent dampness on hard pack. The length options are great, offering something for everyone from a 147 to a 168. Sometimes the lengths are awkwardly spaced and you either have to pick a length that is slightly too short or slightly too long, but Volkl nailed it perfectly with these lengths. Give the Yumi 80 a try if you are a lady skier looking for a great all-around, all-mountain ski that performs well on hard pack, powder, and bumps that will grow with you as your skills progress."

Certainly, a lot of good points from Ariel here, most importantly that they will allow you to grow and progress as a skier. For someone who's buying their first pair of all-mountain skis, this is a serious consideration, as you don't want to get something that's too stiff and will hinder your development, but at the same time, you need something with a bit of beef to it that won't just fold on you when your skills improve. The all-new Volkl Yumi 80 is a great choice for these skiers.