2008 Volkl Gotama

Hi Guys,
When I originally wrote the description of the '08 Gotama it was just like Sierra Jim said unchanged for the '08 season because I too was told that the ski was going to be the same when I ordered.

We received our first 40 pairs of '08 Gotama's this week and I have the luxury of being owed a pair and mounted them up and did some good ole East Coast hard pack skiing yesterday and last night. I do not have a lot of time to spend in chat rooms as I answer a lot of emails and phone calls on a daily basis and am constantly working on getting more product on the site and thus do not get to spend as much time as I would like on Epic. I have been in the Industry for many years and those of you who know me know that I am a straight shooter and tell it how it is. I do however like to inform people when they can get the new product and how it performed. I have been on every version of the Gotama and although having the super soft flex of the old Gotama was nice, it did lack some ummmf. The same ummmfff that made the Exploiv such a popular ski and the reason Volkl realized they needed to make the new '08 Mantra wider and '07 Mantra stiffer.

Although the new Gotama is stiffer it is just as nimble as the old, just more versatile when you are on firm snow or heavy snow. The core is all new with the Power/Tough Box construction which uses a dual layer wood core, with the bottom half of the core utalizing a lighter wood. This still gives the ski a nice smooth, even, flex. There is also extra fiberglass wraps in the midbody of the ski that provides resistance to the binding pulling out. The ski is at least 15% stiffer in the midbody, but after riding it probably only about 10% stiffer in the tip and tail. This will still give those of you who ski deep snow the great flotation you want and those of us who have to ski groomers sometime better edge hold and more ability to plow through crud.

Cirquerider I appreciate your comments. I have lived in many parts of the country including Mammoth so I know the snow that typically you guys get out there. After skiing the new Gotama I feel that it is a good thing. I am a pretty small at 5'6" and 175lbs. The 183cm was the length I ended up getting since it is actually more like a 179cm. The ski did not deflect like the my '07 Gotama's did. I do like my older ones if I am in the bumps as they just absorb everything that comes it way.

I have got to try out almost every important ski for 2008 and in my opinion there is not much need for skis under 90mm's in the waist even if those that just ski on the East Coast.

'08 Volkl Gotama
http://www.untracked.com/p1932-08_vo...tama_skis.html

Sierra Jim,
I would suggest that you go back and get clarification again. We have 35 pairs left in stock and I can tell you that the ski is not the same and you will see that when you get your's in. As much as I like my rep's, you know they are many times the last to actually find out when something has been changed. From a selling stand point I felt they should have left the ski alone as it sold very quickly for me, but I feel with the increased stiffness under foot and after skiing them last night the ski is still very smooth and the tip and tail were not as stiff as they felt in the shop, but trust me when I say, they are stiffer all the way through the ski. I have been skiing, selling, and buying skis for many years and I actually have a degree in Ski Industry Business so you can be assured the information (IS True).

I hope that helps explain it.

Thanks,
Adam

FesterSkis, thanks for your review. I'm going to post a copy of your post in the review section since we don't have any first-hand information on the 08 Gotama.
The original thread this was copied from is at this link

Adam - you droped a few hints here about the 08 Mantra. Have you had the chance to ski it yet? Any intrest in doing the same sort of comparison as you did on the Gotama?

Humm...?

I skied the 183 '08 Gotama today and it seem to ski the same as the 07 - maybe a little stiffer which I attributed to the Marker Duke binding that was mounted on it.

HB

That post requires a link to a Duke review thread.

Duke

Skied the Marker Duke today on a pair of 08 183 Gotama's.

The binding is as stout as they claim, with no slop at all. The touring mode looks bomber as does the entire binding.

Adjustments seem to be fairly simple, and I didn't notice anything different about the stack height.

The system is really innovative, with the switching lever underneath the boot. Yes you will have to take the the ski off to switch from downhill to touring mode and back.

There are 2 climbing post heights and that may get a little noisy - from the chrome post hitting the composite mounting plate.

The binding will come in two sizes - small (265- 330mm I think) and large (310 - 365mm I think).

Marker really has done their homework.

The binding looks like a winner.

HB

OK, Here ya' go!

My input on the Duke.

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=51025

HB

thanks for the info on the Katana too.

I skied the 07 (Gold) Gotama at Snowbasin last week. Didn't feel any stiffer to me...

Adam:

I appreciate your opinions. FWIW my degree in the ski business has taken 37 years to attain including 4 years as a North American product manager and 15 as a rep and race service clown. I know a bit about the subject too as does my Volkl rep who was also in racing service at the same time that I was and then did a stint in house after that. We both have spent a lot of time in factories and international product meetings.

I'm not super concerned either way, but it is interesting that all the opinions that I have heard to date from folks in this territory say that the ski feels the same. I'm just going by what I've been told by other folks who have quite a bit of cred. Your opinion contradicts all the others, but you may be absolutely right. I don't have any of the '06-'07's left to compare when mine do get here so it will be a guessing game at best unless the difference is dramatic.

SJ

Skied the '08 Gotama at Keystone today and then met with several folks from Volkl. The ski is absolutely the same ski as the white '07 with the exception of graphics. This is straight from the mouth of one of the ski's designers. They made changes to the Mantra, the Karma is gone, and a new ski (Bridge) is added.

Fester: Own last year's Goat, haven't skied the new one, but think about the economics of product cycles. Volkl significantly changed the Goat last year - shape, construction, the whole nine yards. Does it make sense they'd do it again, to a wildly popular ski, one year later? Especially since they've gulped and modified the AC's and Mantra inside of their usual cycles? Even if you're owned by K2, do you have that much money to burn? Is your top management that willing to suggest it made design errors across the board?

You make money by selling the same ski with a new topsheet, not by constantly fiddling with the materials and molds. :

I was actually surprised at the suggestion that they changed it again for '08. Two years for each build seems pretty standard across the industry again like it was before the shaped-ski revolution.

I remember the late 90's when the industry was going through crazy evolutions every winter with new shapes. I was desperately looking forward to the evolution to come to a slow-down so I wouldn't have to buy new boards every winter.

After being on my 07-08 Gotama's (the gold ones) I feel no difference between them and the white Gotama's.

HB

Man people like to read tea leaves all Ill say is Ill have my 05 06 Gotama review in here in about 2 weeks and Ill tell you what buddy its not likely to have anything to do with reading tea leaves thats for sure see Volkl knows whats working for them and hey right now its the Mantra and the Gotama working for them like a buncha serious type A yuppies who want to make their first milion on wall street know what I mean?

no ramshackle, we have no idea what you mean.

The judges are nodding toward FesterSkis...

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...27#post1151327

He's also the only guy I've talked to so far who has drilled them and can report on the outcome of that exercise. Although last I was in there (just when their shipment came in), the folks at Sturtevants were all abuzz over their assessment of slightly increased stiffness on the ski as well.

I'm giving a to the boys and girls at untracked.com for both info and service...

(oh yeah, and if you are disinclined to do the bending game, they are definitely the most knowledgeable and well stocked place I know when it comes to fat brakes - especially this late in the season)

You're either with us or against us.......

After 2 weeks on my 08 Gotama's, I don't feel a differnce between them and the 07's. So I guess I don't fall into the category of "most skilled Gotama fans". But of course, there's very little resistance to 6% snow.

Also realize that I run Speedpoints, so the ski is already "stiffened up" underfoot.

Lastly, mine are mounted on the rear "boot center" mark.

HB

AS Quoted from Squaretail on TGR and also from Sam Cook.

The edge material is beefier...we made our own that has double the purchase of commercially available edge material. We also added a another layer of glass in the binding area to increase retention. These 2 things may add just a tiny bit of stiffness to it, but so far through the trade fair test schedule, only the most skilled Gotama fans can feel it. It's very minimal.

2007/2008 Gotama review

I just tried the 2007/08 Volkl Gotama's on a cat ski trip in Western Canada. My old powder skis were a pair of 2005/06 Gotma's and I liked them a lot. Ended up skiing them way more then I thought I would when I bought them.

I found the 2005/06 ski a bit too soft and it skied really short because of the ridiculously upturned tail. The ski also kicked up a heck of a rooster tail so skiing behind these skis was a nasty experience.

The 2006/07 redesigned Gotama had no Buddha:!! Hello?? McFly?? What a total marketing bonehead. The 2007/08 Gotama is a beautiful redesign. There is a splendid big magnificent golden Buddha on the tails. Volkl redeemed.

I weigh 175-180, height 5'9'', ski the Gotama in a 176 cm, type three skier

The ski was an absolute gem. It is notably stiffer. It skies longer especially in the improved tail section. Great flotation as expected and so smooth and powerful. I have yet to try the ski on the front side but from my initial impression I expect it to ski quite a bit better then the old Gotama for the stated reasons.

I loved it and would highly recommend the ski for anybody who wants a great tool for powder skiing. This is no one ski quiver, but is a great complement to a pair of all mountain skis.

One more thing that you will not read in any other ski review. I have learned through experience with the gotama that if you bring it, it will snow. Sounds weird I know but it is true and must be the Buddha influence.

Unfortunately, I pinwheeled Warren Miller big time so required surgery a few days ago to fix a fractured/dislocated ankle:. Our group photographer got some amazing pictures. In my heart I know that were it not for Buddha, it easily could have been my head and neck that paid the price. Buddha protects the skier and that is an intangible but very important reason to own this ski. The Gotama is a classic and it is significantly improved. Congratulations to the folks at Volkl for nailing this one.

why not get the 183s or the 190s? if you did I bet you would pinwheel less

"Hello, McFly?" The white Gotama's have a budha right in the middle of the topskin. It was under the binding.

Also, why are you on a 176 Gotama? HB Jr. (12 years old, 5'4", 124 lbs., Level 8 skier) and Mrs. HB (135 lbs, 5'7", Level 8) are both on 06-07 176 Gotama's.

HB

I just bought the 176cm. I'm 5'9" and 168lbs or so. I demoed both the 176 and 183 on our last powder leftover day at squaw and liked the 176 a lot better. Much more maneuvrable, easy turning, but still stable and floaty. Sure, on wide open faces the 183 is rock solid but, for me, the trade-off in versatility wasn't worth it.
Also, imo, these skis are getting ridiculously easy to ski. You could strap a pig onto these things and it would be a good powder skier. I was very impressed with their nice solid feel on hardpack and ease of initiation. And through the chopped up leftovers...money.
Can't wait to ski the powder on them next season.

As always, length choices are personal and based upon individual preferences and priorities. Sam made the perfect choice for himself based upon what he wanted (as I suspect did Budda Skier). The relevance of a lightweight 12 year old skiing on the same size as Sam and Buddah does not call into question the choice of the adults as much as it calls into question the choice of the kid. (or more practically, those that made the choice for him) Naturally, this statement does not suggest that the ski is not an optimal choice for that 12 year old, simply that no inferrence should be drawn between the adults and the kid.

SJ

alot of good girl skiers(around the height and weight of that 12 year old) choose the 176. The pro chicks here ski the 183s strangly as do the pro guys at least in bounds. I have skied on all 3 bigger size and can say I could just as easily have a 190 out here or a 176 back east.

Thanks BushwackerinPA. You stated what I was trying to say much better than I did. I see the same thing here at Targhee, along with hard charging girls on 184 Mantras.

SierraJim, I was trying to point out my (and my family's) experience with height/weight/ski length on the Gotama and provide some perspective. I do agree ski size is (sometimes, unless your some chooses for you )a personnal choice.

It's all good.

HB

more on gotama length

I recently read an interesting thing on techsupportfor skiers: he says, in his sort of buying recommendations "the length is more important than type of construction" and it got me thinking.
I probably liked the 176s because they felt a lot like the skis i've been skiing, 175cm pocket rockets. they responded to the same input with the same sort of reaction. the 183s were a very different beast-much slower to react, longer feeling (duh) and slower. Now I have someone who I trust who advises me which skis to get and he recommended the 176 so that made it an easy choice. If I didn't have someone like that it would have been a tougher decision, with lots of people skiing these longer. I'm sure I could get used to them.
I had a good run coming down the bottom of alternate chutes on kt, in tracked up powder. Another fellow and myself were hauling ass, just flying over everything. When we got down to the road and gave each other a look of acknowledgement, both on gotamas. I think I was stable and fast enough on the 176's and really liked the quickness to dart in and out of the small saplings at the bottom of the run. Also, even at Squaw or Alta, the runs just aren't that long and wide open-it's not like I'm skiing with Seth Morrison in Alaska. So for a little guy like me I think they're gonna be perfect.

[quote=squawbomber;696506] Also, even at Squaw or Alta, the runs just aren't that long and wide open-it's not like I'm skiing with Seth Morrison in Alaska.QUOTE]

Uh, that came out sounding stupid. What I meant to say was I think the ease of use and quickness factor with the shorter length will be a good tradeoff, for most of the skiing I do.

Didn't sound stupid to me; brings up a valid point about terrain that we tend to ignore here. Ski length isn't just about style or skill, it's also about where and when we can ski. Squaw's a good example: Last year when I was there, all the big ski guys were packed together over at Granite Chief, doing the same lines in boot-top chop over and over and over. Why? I'd guess cuz the rest of the place was like Times Square, no possibility for open spaces or speed unless you spent a lot more time hiking than skiing. So we happily skied the whole place on our 170-ish mid-fats and dreamed of real powder. Which came the day we had to leave. I brought a pair of 177 Mantras and used them once in 6 days (at Sugar Bowl on the way out). Anything bigger or longer would have just been gear porn...

Personally, I have never met somebody who owns fat skis who wants a shorter pair. I honestly don't recall anyone ever saying; "I wish they were shorter." Even in the trees, people like float and those skis that float are much easier to maneuver than shorter skis that sink just a millimeter more.

I do agree that you don't NEED that extra length. But that doesn't say that extra length gets in the way. I have 183 gotamas that I ride in very tight trees in Japan and I do want a 190. My next pow ski will defintely be bigger. If I had to side-slip down a tight/concave chute, I could imagine wishing for something shorter. But as far as turning/schmearing, and floating are concerned, bring on the size.