More of a tool than a toy, the Volkl Racetiger SL skis can rip some of the shortest turns on the planet, bar none. While a bit wider and more gently built than the race-stock and race-room skis, the Racetiger SL loves to be on edge and in a carved turn. Thanks to the shape and construction, these skis will hold tight to the firmest snow on the planet, allowing you the ability and privilege to really lean into and step on your skis to make them arc. Slalom skiing is one of the most technically-demanding disciplines on the hill, and doing a clean job at it requires the proper tool, and for the majority of advanced and expert skiers, that is going to be the Racetiger SL.
ROCKER PROFILE
Rocker / Camber
CORE MATERIALS
3D Glass
PREFERRED TERRAIN
Groomers
At 68 mm underfoot, the Racetiger SL is about 3-4 mm wider than the World Cup models, and when paired with slightly wider tips and tails, we're getting a bit more of a platform to stand on, leading to a slightly more accessible product for mere mortal skiers. In addition, the slightly more compliant wood core isn't quite as thick or dense as the real-deal full-ash wood core, but the blend of poplar and beech is still on the burly side for sure. Having that slightly wider and slightly softer platform underfoot allows the skier to get the ski cleanly up on edge and actually able to bend the ski into the turn, accessing the whole sidecut. And what a sidecut! These skis in the 160 cm length produce a paltry 11.8-meter turn radius, and with the stiffness of the ski, you really need to hold on and have the balance to cut a clean turn through the snow. When you do, be prepared to be instantly rebounded into the next turn, creating a linked series of carves that wish to be continued the whole way down.
The 3D Glass laminate is no joke either. When fiberglass is angled or curved, as it is over the edges in the Racetiger SL, it gets a whole lot stiffer than a two-dimensional sheet. As a result, the 3D Glass really stiffens and energizes the ski in order to make it appeal to the highest-end skiers on the planet. That's great news in terms of energy, but what about vibrations? Good thing you asked, the UVO 3D handles that, as it does in a whole lot of other Volkl skis. This UVO 3D object sucks up a lot of the vibrations and chatter that you do not need or want finding the underfoot zone of the ski, and it works really well. Speaking of underfoot, one of the very nice aspects of this setup is the rMotion binding system plate. With a suspension system built in and a worm-screw adjustment, this is one of the better binding systems out there, and it works really well on these Racetiger SL's.
If you're looking to take your short-turning skills to the next level and beyond, look no further than the Volkl Racetiger SL. These are a whole lot of fun, but they are relatively one-dimensional in that realm. They make some of the cleanest, shortest, and roundest turns on the hill, and they do it better than most. They do not, however, enjoy going straight and being ridden flat. Here at Stowe in Vermont, we're blessed with long, top to bottom runs, but with a slalom ski, that makes the mile and a half run seem like a really long way. It becomes evident why slalom races are shorter than the faster ones, as many, many turns are required. But hey, if you like making turns, you're going to love these skis.
