TESTED 2023
An all-rounder for expert skiers, it's great for carving up the groomers in the morning, followed by brief climbs in the sun-softened snow of the afternoon
- Buyer’s Guide reviews
- In words
- Technical specifications
Buyer’s Guide reviews
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
In words
Intro
Völkl's catalog of skis has something for everyone. Their skimo skis fall into the All Mountain and Freeride ranges, designed for having fun skiing groomers, moguls and backcountry. At first glance, the Kendo skis look super traditional, with straight sidewalls from tip to tail, not much rocker at either tip or tail, and strong materials. They're packed with technology for a high-performance ski on hard terrain, with shaped titanal at the stress points and strategically-placed carbon fiber to absorb vibration and make for an easier ride.
On the snow
When they hit the ground, you hear the unmistakable sound of titanal. Forget that hollow sound you get with certain skimo skis. There’s tons of material in the Kendo, hence the weight. You need to have a clear idea what you want to do on these skis, plus the technique to do it of course. Otherwise, you risk throwing yourself completely to the mercy of the skis. The 88 mm waist width, together with the stiff construction, isn't designed for powder, but the Kendo is a razor blade on groomers and packed snow. The faster you go, the more stable the ski becomes. For an expert skier, it's the perfect all-rounder that you can use to carve up the groomers in the morning before skinning uphill on the sun-softened snow in the afternoon. A shorter version makes an excellent ski for steep slopes if you have the physical fitness to carry them up the hill.
Lab
Concave at tip and tail, on one ski more than the other, not yet flat after 9 runs through the machine. Only roughened, waxed. Good edges 2.1 x 1.8 mm at 88°, base edge 1°, raw finish with a bit of rust: needs tuning before hitting the snow.
Technical specifications
Construction
sidewall
Materials
poplar, beech, titanal
Base
sintered UHMWPE
Available sizes
163, 170, 177, 184
Released in
2021
Made in
Germany
Price
750 €
Status
restyling
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 177 to get all the details
177 cm
Length
XXXXX
129 cm
Tip width
XXXXX
113 cm
Tail width
XXXXX
88 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
1.910 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
16 m
Sidecut radius
XXXXX
N/A
Load-bearing surface
XXXXX
N/A
Tip torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Center torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Tail torsion
XXXXX
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