Dawgcatching's 2012 reviews Pt 1: 102-112mm waist skis - Page 2

Hi,

Yes, the Sultan wasn't really my own ski, but it is the shop demo fleet, and I found it to be a great go-to ski in tight situations, bumps, steeps.  Not quite as much fun as some of the others in big high speed turns; it is more of a medium turner, with a softer tip; very active ski, likes to be on edge. The TST is somewhat like that too, but softer; has a softer tail, a little more playful, maybe a touch more forgiving, definitely oriented more toward softer snow than the Sultan.  I would call the Sultan a 60/40 ski (60% frontside conditions; groomers, bumps) whereas the TST is more like a 40/60 or a 30/70.  

Hope this helps. 

Scott-  I am also really surprised about the conclusion on the Pro105, I didn't found it difficult to ski at all in 184, and it felt easier than my last generation 184 ProRider (which is also easier than the previous generation LPR). Perhaps this is a consequence in the difference is weight, I am close to 190lb these days (although you most likely leg-press twice as much as I can).  I just found that with the tip rocker the LPR got a bit quicker and more forgiving, but still was a crud destroyer. 

I have to side with a few other people here and disagree with a few of your reviews pretty strongly.  I had the 183 Katana all last year and I've had a few days on the 185 Cochise (own the 185 now) and a demo of the Legend 105.  

The Cochise has zero camber (someone already mentioned this) and has a 28m turn radius.  This thing is insane at large turns on groomers.  While you can squeeze out short turns amazingly well, the Cochise wants to haul ass in big GS turns.  It (along with the Bodacious) has the best stability of any full rockered ski I've ever been on.  I can't really understand how you didn't feel that.  It is eerie calm at high speeds in both hardpack and heavy crud. It is far better at doing this than the 183 Katana which wants to release and smear all the time.  While you can park and ride the Katana for big turns with little effort, it doesn't grip and inspire confidence in any way close to the Cochise.  

Last year's Katana (haven't been on this years...) is good at so many things, but upper end stability at speed on hardpack honestly isn't one of them.  The full rocker gets a little nervous at speed and you never really feel totally "secure" when you're hauling ass.  What the Katana is amazing at is smeary slarvy turns in tight spots and then being able to straightline the runout.  The Katana is actually a surprisingly good bump ski too.  This ski is super versatile and still Volkl's best ski (IMO) but I never felt confident just maching down hardpack on them like the Cochise or Legends.  

The Legend isn't really that demanding, but it doesn't really feel "modern" like the current group of rockered skis in its class.  It is more of an old school feel that is done pretty well.  That said, I don't see the point of a ski like this, in this width, anymore when you have stuff like the Cochise, Katana, Sickle, 112RP, S7 that have as much performance but are easier to handle all over. 

I wonder if snow conditions played a role in your impressions of the Cochise as being a short turner and the Katana being unflappable, because otherwise I honestly have no idea how you could draw those conclusions...