The 2024 Volkl Deacon 76 Master returns this year with a new graphic, but remains the same race-room ready ski in a wider bodied format that experts and former racers have loved for a few seasons now. Volkl is an amazing company because they’re able to make so many different and niche-like skis. Overall, there’s not a huge need for a ski like this, but there are skiers out there looking for a super strong and sturdy ski that can hold up to the rigors of in-gate racing as well as all-mountain potential. While nobody’s going to look at this ski and think that it’s a great soft snow ski, it does have some surface area to it, and that makes it suitable and willing to be used in a variety of conditions and terrain, while still having a total home in a groomed and firm snow format.

The main difference between Deacon Master and normal Deacon is the use of a full ash wood core. This is the same one that they use in their race room skis, so this thing is legit. As a dense and hard wood core, this ski has a sturdy and stable platform to start. Volkl then adds two layers of titanal to the top and bottom to further solidify this ski’s stature as a beefed-up citizen’s race ski. Other Volkl attributes like Tailored Carbon Tips and 3D Glass make their way into this ski, further stiffening the flex and adding precision and exactitude to the mix. Any time fiberglass is bent or angled, it increases the stiffness, giving this ski a ton of energy to stand on when in the rebound phase of the turn. We suppose it’s part of the construction, but the Deacon 76 Master also comes with a Marker WC Piston Plate with a 10 mm lift, but no binding. You have to find a Marker XComp to suit those needs.

At 76 mm underfoot, this is a wider-bodied ski for sure, and it kind of makes sense if you think of who this one is aimed at. For skiers who want the sturdiest and most solid ski out there, but also want some width for off-piste or choppy snow conditions, there’s not a whole lot else. Sure you could go with a wider ski that still carves well, but nothing else really has that race-room build that former racers truly desire. It’s not like we’re lining up saying that this is a versatile all-mountain ski, but the width and the fact that it has tip and tail rocker do kind of have to bring that application into the question. When the ski encounters adverse terrain or snow conditions, it’ll stand up to the challenge more than a narrower and more cambered ski, that’s for sure. Available in only 176 and 181, the ski has a pretty slim audience, with the 176 generating a 17.6-meter arc and the 181 hitting 18.7-meters.

All told, the Volkl Deacon 76 Master is an excellent example of a modern race ski with some slight width for versatility and balance. Some skiers prefer the ultra-narrow very race-like shapes and others trend towards a wider bodied format, and it’s great that Volkl can accommodate both skiers in this scenario. With nods to the race room but still approachable enough for citizen racers and top-level experts, the 2024 Volkl Deacon 76 Master has a slight, yet very strong, option for high end skiers.