For fans of carving high-speed turns with tons of power and stability, the 2024 Volkl Deacon 76 should be at the top of the list. It’s a wider-bodied front side ski that loves to be on edge, but still has a few attributes that point its needle to the mid-range of the versatility spectrum. While still falling squarely on the front side side, the Deacon 76 has a nice platform to stand on, a sturdy build for high-end skiing and racing, and even a bit of rocker in the tips and tails to give the ski a bit of approachability as well as smoothness in softer snow. We get a new graphic for 2024, but other than that, the ski returns unchanged, which is great news for those looking for that mid-70's underfoot front side ski that can handle some adversity along the way.

While the Deacon Master series of skis uses a full ash wood core, just like they use in the race room skis, the regular Deacon 76 uses a blend of 33% poplar and 67% beech to be the basis of power. This adds a bit more zip than in the Master, so skiers are able to generate more energy with less work. While not quite as sturdy or stout as the full ash, the Multilayer wood core works just fine, especially when sandwiched between two full laminates of titanal. Add to that the use of 3D Glass and Tailored Carbon Tips, and you’ve got extra ingredients that combine to increase the stiffness and responsiveness of the ski from tip to tail. The fiberglass laminate is angled to curve alongside the sidewall, and any time that materials such as this are used in a 3-dimensional format, it makes them considerably stiffer. With carbon in the tip to adjust the torsional stiffness of the shovel, skiers will get a more precise initiation sequence that makes the Deacon 76 very agile for having a bit of heft to it. One of the coolest parts about this ski is that it has an rMotion 3 12 GW binding system on it, and this is probably one of the best systems out there. Feels like a race plate and is also adjustable.

At 76 mm underfoot, the ski is a wider-bodied front side ski that still retains its race-like heritage. We’re seeing a 17.6-meter turn radius in the 176, and that’s a great number for railing GS style turns on groomers or entering a local citizens race. We see a ton of these skis in our local race series here in Stowe, and the best part is that skiers don’t seem to mind skiing on them before and after the race as well—can't quite say the same thing for some narrower, more race-specific skis out there. A big part of the appeal is the use of tip and tail rocker. This takes the demand of the ski down a notch or two, but it’s a whole lot more fun and usable this way. Since it’s not a race ski in totality, there needs to be some type of give when it comes to the agility of the ski. While this type of rocker is not there to promote excellent flotation in waist-deep snow, it is there to accommodate mortal skiers who don’t need or want a full-on rugged ski.

We’ve loved the Deacon 76 since inception, and those feelings continue moving forward. There’s a lot to like about this ski if you’re an advanced or expert skier who’s needing something to hold up to rigorous carving as well as more broken snow. We’ve had it out in both scenarios, and as good as it does in ice and hard pack, we’ve also noticed how compliant it is when it comes to softer snow as well. It’s nice to have the extra width underfoot to create a more stable platform, so if the conditions degrade, you’ll still have enough surface area to keep you moving forward.