Volkl RTM??

Just going by reviews and 2nd hand information, there are two things to consider.  Firstly, RTM80, RTM77 and RTM84 are full rockers (the others are early rise), so if you want to use a little more smearing or if you don't miss the tips always connected feeling you might like 'em.  Secondly, the AC50 was very much liked by folks who liked to ski fast, but not so much by people who at times wanted to ski slowly, and was very unforgiving and quite a handfull if it had to be forced to ski tentatively at slower speeds in difficult conditions.  Volkl may have softened up their skis to make them easier to ski sacrificing the 1% market. The pendulum may have swung too far.  These skis are not for high angle high performance skiing.

 

Also note there are two RTM75 skis, the "RTM75 is" has a little more beef than the RTM75 which is the typical limp noodle beginner ski.

Finally, been waiting for 6 months for a thread about these skis to get some really meaty debate going on from guys who know what they are talking about.

I wondered if the Volkl carving orientated skis had gone a bit more K2ish or is this really just the mainstream now? 

Just saw this thread after I posted question about the RTM 80 vs. the Atomic Blackeye Ti.  What are your guys thoughts on the two?  I skied the AC30 in the past and thought it was a little too stiff for me.  I am an advanced intermediate skier.  Also, I am 5'9", 180 pds.  Should I go for the 167s or 174s?  At this point I am leaning towards the Atomics given my previous experience with the AC30s.

Thanks Sierra Jim.  Where do you ski mostly out of?

Just to be clear, I agree with the above.

 

I guess I should have said, this ski is not for the high angle high performance skier.  A ski should be skied with the ski engaged, and tip the rocker over far enough and bend it past it's pre-determined rocker shape, and it is engaged.  However, every series of turns has to go through transition, and the way to nail a turn is to start it right.  It's just my opinion, but in my opinion, complete engagement and complete control throughout the turn is best accomplished when you can keep at least some pressure and connection at the extremities.  Also, for most hard charging you need some beef.  Exceptions of course for powder, where too much beef will be a PITA.
 

 

What's the universally accepted name for this or should we make something up?  "contact", "pressure" or "transition gap",  "vague spot"?

Of course traditional camber skis have an edge transition gap also and the gap period is width dependant also, but I thought it was the way I skied at first with rocker skis but as you guys are attesting too it's definitely more pronounced.

We ski predominately hard pack and personally I don't like the extra vagueness and haven't found that rocker added anything extra to benefit me so far. For lots of new snow, powder, I'd use a different ski with rocker for sure, but for groomed no thanks at the mo......

 

FSB313 (the OP) What was the main criticism of the skis overall by you/everyone that you mentioned in the opening post out of interest?

 

Edited by snala - 11/12/11 at 12:39pm

I haven't skied the RTMs, but for the last six years I have been on the Volkl AC series.  The AC 40 was the last one I had.  I bought it before they started making the 50. 

 

Anyway, so far to this day I would say that those ACs are the best skis I have skied on.  I just don't like the bindings.  This year I'm switching to Salomon for that reason. 

 

I imagine I would like the RTMs as much as the ACs, I just don't want the bindings. 

On my last markers, I would imagine that a 16 DIN is equal is equal to about a 10 DIN on salomon.  I also ski with salomon on my mogul skis... and also my fat skis.  They seem to work well. 

I have not noticed any issues regarding DIN setting and release/retension issues on my Marker Comp 16s.

 

I had an old twincam (46?) give me an unwanted release, but the skis was bent into a tight curve by the ditch/gully I was skiing through and the extra forward pressure due to the fixed boot length no doubt had a part in that release (I had to ski fast across a little gully to get to the a half pipe, and wanted to keep momentum. I couldn't quite make it all the way across in the air, so the ditch, so didn't jump it.

Yes please! 

 

put me down for LOOK x 100

You LOOK 100 X hotter than the average bear!

If Volkl wouldn't foist their markers on volkl customers, people wouldn't have to evaluate a binding in order to buy a ski. I'm way opposed to all ski/binding systems which I think are not in the buyer's best interest. Are they a way to make the customer buy two items from one company, rather than the one item they intended to purchase? Wasn't that whole let the ski flex evenly through the binding area a load of crap for most off piste skis? To me it was a low point in skiing retail history, ha.
 

 

I kinda like to be able to flex the ski a lot when I hit a hole without having the heel to toe shortening help release my binding.  You don't need hostage bindings for that though.  I put Tyrolia FF17+ on my Volants which were ready to accept whatever binding I chose (unlike my P50s).

I've never had a problem with the Wide Ride bindings on my Grizzlies, are the new RTM and Grizzly bindings the same or have they changed them?

 

Spacecase

I skied the RTM 84 yesterday on groomers and some ice/crud and found that it did very well. With the rocker it felt like it was a little more forgiving than my AC 30's

Are the Volkl RTM's changed from last year, particularly the Volkl RTM 80 skis, or is it just a new paint job on the same skis?

 

Also, are people out there any happier with them since this "I was unimpressed when I skied them" thread was started?!

Demo'd the new RTMs. Same crap as last year. No stability at low-medium edge angles and in transitions. A smeary mess of a ski. Good for an intermediate skier who has no desire to find his edges and is used to the 'hassle' of skidding a traditional ski. IMO, this ski will make a fast good skier look and feel out of control at speeds he would normally be comfortable at on a traditionally cambered ski. I had to dial it back 10-15mph. I couldn't wait for the run to be over and get them off my feet. As Ghost says, edge engagement through the entire turn is extremely important for stability. The RTM does not have this. If this abomination is winning awards, I'd love to get some of those drugs. Full rocker on this size of a ski is an awful idea. It kind of feels like wearing a boot thats 2 sizes too big.

Which ones were you on exactly, do you recall? Is it possible the lower end ones are like that and the upper end ones (84 and 80) are not?