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Volants

post #1 of 56
10/23/04 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Well, thanks to a killer find last week, I will be on an all Volant quiver this season. the price was good enough that I purchased "no questions asked".

My question is, who's skiing Volants, and what do you think of them? After searching here and TGR, there seems to be quite a bit if dissent as to the quality of their skis in general. Many complain of the weight, some complain of the steel topsheet delaminating, some even complain that the ski bent easily.

Please let me know what y'all think.

I'll be on Genesis Silver V2's in the East,

Machete Sin's in the West,

And on Fat Bastards in the Deep. All 175 length. Picked up some 185 Sin's too in case I wanted longer.
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post #2 of 56
10/23/04 at 3:52pm
I'll be riding the Fat Bastard in a 175. I like the idea of making a fat, stiff ski one's only ski, and don't like the idea of a quiver. That said, talk to Phil Puglise, the resident Volant guy.
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post #3 of 56
10/23/04 at 6:44pm
Honestly? You could have scored a pair pf G4/AX4's and had the same bases covered. Volants are nice, but after they were purchased, I think a lot of people believed their days were numbered. It is not a coincidence that SIN's and FB's have been popping up at killer deals. Customer support might be an issue in the future, as well as low resale value of the skis (if you care about that).

I question why anyone would spend several hundred dollars on a quiver of skis that are known to be loved by some and hated by others, and yet they have never been on a pair of those ski, namely Volants...

As stated previously, Phil P. might have an attitude to the contrary...
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post #4 of 56
10/23/04 at 7:19pm
I have skied Volants since the introduction on the G-max. Not till the advent of the new V2 design have a ever bent a ski. In the past 2 years I have bent 3 pair. IMO Volant has swung the pendulum too far with the thinness. The skis ski better than any of the previous generations and the base and edge quality are superior to anything they ever offered before.

You will like the skis alot. They will hold, on hard snow, like nothing you ever have skied before. I ilke mine and will continue sending them back every year for a new pair.
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post #5 of 56
10/23/04 at 7:51pm

volants

i love my volants, even after having bent my gravity 66's twice, send em back after my spring trip, then get a new pair. not the most convenient, but never been a hassle. even while bent, this is a fantastic hardpack ski and not too
shabby in the bumps either.

also have pair of machetes (mc g) version, which is a mid fat made before they
went to the metalized fiberglass sidewalls. heavier to carry, great in moderate crud, slush bumps, big mountain but not huge powder days.

try em yourself, then decide but i like em
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post #6 of 56
10/23/04 at 8:05pm
I haven't skied my newest Volants; the Machete FB, and Genesis yet, but one reason I bought them was that I absolutely loved my Volant T3 Power's.

They had fantastic edgehold on the worst eastern hardpack, were a blast in junk, and even pretty good in bumps. I liked them much better, and found them more versatile than the Volkl G3, at the time. Although they were extremely smooth, I never thought they felt dead in any way. On the contrary, I felt they were pretty lively when you put some energy into them. I've skied on a lot more dead feeling skis than Volants.

I did end up selling the T3's though, because the 193 was just a bit long for all-around skiing in the east. I thought the quality of the T3 was excellent, but time will tell with the new skis.
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post #7 of 56
10/23/04 at 8:09pm
The only Volant I ever skied was an early model Epic T3. Felt sluggish and hurt my knees...seemed like the stiff torsional construction didn't allow the ski to flex and maneuver real well. Maybe they were too long. Maybe I wasn't very good back then. I won't blame the ski, maybe it was me. I would like just for fun to ski some again. My wife liked her superkarve 155's because of the no-chatter and edge hold. However they really were too long for her. 155 was the shortest they made. She is only 5ft. They were not cheap. I paid $499 just for the ski! She sold them to a friend and is now on a 144cm Stockli.
I was impressed with the construction of the Volant and thought they were a very well made ski with good fit and finish. Never had a problem with them.
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post #8 of 56
10/23/04 at 8:19pm

Volant Gravity 71

Just pick up a pair of Gravity 71's. Demoed them last year for several days and had to get a pair. Last 2 pairs were Salomons. This ski has a 12mm riser plate- do I need to be careful with binding selection? I like to put Marker 1200 piston titaniums '04. Or should I go with the Free model with less rise.
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post #9 of 56
10/24/04 at 7:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
Honestly? You could have scored a pair pf G4/AX4's and had the same bases covered. Volants are nice, but after they were purchased, I think a lot of people believed their days were numbered. It is not a coincidence that SIN's and FB's have been popping up at killer deals. Customer support might be an issue in the future, as well as low resale value of the skis (if you care about that).

>Honestly? That 1 pair of skis (even last years model on clearance) would've set me back $100 more than my 3 pair quiver.:-) At that price, resale is not an issue, they are disposable. And you can't tell me that the 1 pair would do everything equally as well as the 3 diff. pairs. Maybe a happy medium, but not equal.

I question why anyone would spend several hundred dollars on a quiver of skis that are known to be loved by some and hated by others, and yet they have never been on a pair of those ski, namely Volants...

>Cuz it was that good a deal, and if they suck, hello ebay.

As stated previously, Phil P. might have an attitude to the contrary...
Dig?
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post #10 of 56
10/24/04 at 7:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Pugliese
I have skied Volants since the introduction on the G-max. Not till the advent of the new V2 design have a ever bent a ski. In the past 2 years I have bent 3 pair. IMO Volant has swung the pendulum too far with the thinness. The skis ski better than any of the previous generations and the base and edge quality are superior to anything they ever offered before.

You will like the skis alot. They will hold, on hard snow, like nothing you ever have skied before. I ilke mine and will continue sending them back every year for a new pair.
I'm not following the reference to sending theem back each year, could somone explain?
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post #11 of 56
10/24/04 at 8:21am
I share a pair of '01 193 T3 Powers with Tyrolia SR demos on a fat 12mm riser plate. They're great skis- bought cheap and in perfect condition at a season end shop sale. The co- owner is 6' 4" and about 220 who comes out to ski one week a year and the rest of the time I keep them around as an extra pair for friends. Big guys really love these skis. The steel topskin allows them to be relatively soft flexing- so they're forgiving and great in powder and soft snow- but also tortionally very stiff so they hold on ice like crazy. I remember my friend sking West Rustler at Alta, a fairly steep open face, when it was rock- frozen crud and loving it. Thought he was nuts- I like them for an all- mountain ski in powder and bumps- they bust crud better than almost anything. They have a smooth, Cadillac ride and are pretty damp- lot's of people look for that in a ski- I prefer a snappier ski so my everyday skis are Volkl for hard snow and Salomon's for soft. But I keep this one around because it's one of the very few skis that does everything well- ice- bumps powder.
The bending thing- happens when skiing skis with metal in bumps. I have a friend who is a big guy and Volant fanatic who does bumps all day. He sent his bent Volants back to the factory for free replacement so many times that finally they sent him back a pair of super stiff gs skis. He was cranky about that.
Most brands will replace a bent or broken ski for free. I wish they did that with cars.
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post #12 of 56
10/24/04 at 10:30am

Vanilla triple-scoop please!

Volants are the vanilla ice cream of skis (Spatula being the exception). Now that they don't even have the Volant cap, they have lost their flavor even more so. So, even at a bargain, you bought a triple scoop vanilla sundae. As you can see, some folks really like the taste of a vanilla ski. IMO, Volant is a has-been company. I would expect the quality of customer service to wane as sales continue to decline. In the end, they very well may end up being disposable skis, with a diminishing market, even on eBay. Again, just my opinion.

Also, when you factor in the price of bindings for each set and the mounting costs, you're savings diminish. You are right that it is hard for one pair of skis to cover such a large spectrum. Also, if you like the way Volants feel, then a beefy Volkl is definitely at the other end of what you would like.

Volant was a fore-runner with midfats like the PowerKarve and fats like the Chubb. But those successes are from many years ago, and the taste of the market has been shifting away from the old Volant recipe. Lots of folks have been wondering how long Shane McConkey and the Spat's would last. McConkey now skis for K2 and the Spats are no longer produced. The final naikls have been pounded into that coffin and the glory days of Volant are long gone. I predict that they soon go the way of Pre, Olin, and other once-great brands.

At least you can enjoy your skis for the season and look forward to searching for replacements this time next year. Oh, and fixing delams on Volants is a messy undertaking.
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post #13 of 56
10/24/04 at 10:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xdog1
I'm not following the reference to sending theem back each year, could somone explain?
I have been bending skis and sending the bent ones back evey year for replacement.
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post #14 of 56
10/24/04 at 3:43pm

McConkey Quote

From a recent Powder Mag Interview with Shane McConkey (formerly sponsered by Volant)...

"I don't think Atomic is planning on doing anything productive at all with Volant, which is too bad."
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post #15 of 56
10/24/04 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
From a recent Powder Mag Interview with Shane McConkey (formerly sponsered by Volant)...

"I don't think Atomic is planning on doing anything productive at all with Volant, which is too bad."
Also from McConkey;

"Boy Xdog, you sure are one badass ripper, you should buy Volants!"

What's up wit dat, Bandito?
525x525px-LL-vbattach72.jpg
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post #16 of 56
10/25/04 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xdog1
Also from McConkey;

"Boy Xdog, you sure are one badass ripper, you should buy Volants!"

What's up wit dat, Bandito?
Ah, a sore spot has been hit.

It is always so nice when someone posts, "I got a killer deal on some less-desireable (not in demand) equipment and now I want everyone to erase my buyer's remorse that being cheap was a mistake."

XDog,

Most of your skis (SIN's excepted) are 175's! How bad of a ripper can you be? You should have asked before you sank the dough. All of us can get those same Volant deals, so it really doesn't make your bargain-quiver all that impressive.

I see it this way:
  • You have a picture with Shane...I do not (Adv. Xdog)
  • It's 2004 and you have a quiver full of Volants...I do not (Adv. Bandit Man)

...let's just call it a draw...
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post #17 of 56
10/25/04 at 1:42pm

Hmmm...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
Ah, a sore spot has been hit.

It is always so nice when someone posts, "I got a killer deal on some less-desireable (not in demand) equipment and now I want everyone to erase my buyer's remorse that being cheap was a mistake."

XDog,

Most of your skis (SIN's excepted) are 175's! How bad of a ripper can you be? You should have asked before you sank the dough. All of us can get those same Volant deals, so it really doesn't make your bargain-quiver all that impressive.

I see it this way:
  • You have a picture with Shane...I do not (Adv. Xdog)
  • It's 2004 and you have a quiver full of Volants...I do not (Adv. Bandit Man)

...let's just call it a draw...
Eh, I'm kind of inclined to agree. I'm still wondering whether to mount the Machete FB's that I have, I can still take them back. My ski from last season is the 01-02 Bandit XXX in a 178, but it has very thin bases from heavy, heavy use (140+ days) and may be on its last legs. I've said before that I like the idea of a one-ski quiver, rather than having to lug around 3+ pairs of skis. The Bandits did that for me, I don't know if the FB's will.

That said - xdog, from your photo you look to be about 6' and 180-190lbs (Shane is 5'10", 150lbs). At your height and weight, skiing at an expert level, even 185cm would be too short. If you're skiing anything shorter (175! egad) you aren't skiing to a level where the need for a longer ski is apparent to you. Sorry.

Bandit Man, what's in your quiver?
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post #18 of 56
10/25/04 at 3:29pm

Lots of stiffies...

Quote:
Originally Posted by jlb

Bandit Man, what's in your quiver?
Keeping for the Season:

190 '04 V-Ex
180 '03 V-Ex
179 '04 Seth Pistol
180 '04 V-Pro
184 '03 G3

Might have to cycle out of the quiver:

189 '04 Seth Pistol (currently on eBay)
181 '04 Teneighty
184 '03 R:EX
188 '01 Axis X Pro

Rockers:

188 CUT 11.5
180 Concepts

Needed:

100+ waist sticks...

FB's are a steal at $200...I would definitely give then a whirl...the shape and construction are going to be nice. The point of the whole thread/argument is that an entire quiver of Volants, given the state of that ski company, is just a bad decision/investment. I even thought about chasing down a 185 for that price, but as you can see, I'm well stocked for fat boards...

For reference sake, I'm 5'8" and 175lbs. and believe that all of the skis mentioned above are relatively easy to handle for a skilled pilot. I decided to sell the SP's in the 189, because with the 190 V-Ex, they simply don't see snow anymore. Oh, and as I said...not a Volant in the bunch...although I would LOVE a pair of Spatula's if I could justify them!
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post #19 of 56
10/25/04 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not really sure what your deal is BM, but I don't think you're feeling me. I don't see posts from you too often so I don't know your background or experience, all I can tell is that you apparently have a strong hatred for Volant skis and Vanilla ice cream. So let me try to clear a few things up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
Ah, a sore spot has been hit.

>No it hasn't, in fact, I have no idea what you mean.

It is always so nice when someone posts, "I got a killer deal on some less-desireable (not in demand) equipment and now I want everyone to erase my buyer's remorse that being cheap was a mistake."

>I don't know what's always so nice about it, but whatever. I definitely got a
GREAT deal on some GOOD skis, and there's zero remorse, because I have 3 months to return them for what I paid, no questions asked. I just started this thread as an honest attempt to gather opinions on Volant. I will ski them this year, and if I hate them, they will adorn the walls of the ski house (they'll match the stainless appliances!) And I'm def. not cheap BTW, but I do love a bargain!

XDog,

Most of your skis (SIN's excepted) are 175's! How bad of a ripper can you be? You should have asked before you sank the dough. All of us can get those same Volant deals, so it really doesn't make your bargain-quiver all that impressive.

>I'm not a bad ass ripper, nor did Shane say I was. That was like, a joke. Har har. And you don't know what kind of deal I got, so you're not qualified to comment.

I see it this way:
  • You have a picture with Shane...I do not (Adv. Xdog)
  • It's 2004 and you have a quiver full of Volants...I do not (Adv. Bandit Man)

...let's just call it a draw...
>I would dude, but i didn't know we were in a contest.

And jib, I don't know you either, but...

"Eh, I'm kind of inclined to agree. I'm still wondering whether to mount the Machete FB's that I have, I can still take them back. My ski from last season is the 01-02 Bandit XXX in a 178, but it has very thin bases from heavy, heavy use (140+ days) and may be on its last legs. I've said before that I like the idea of a one-ski quiver, rather than having to lug around 3+ pairs of skis. The Bandits did that for me, I don't know if the FB's will."

>I'm a 40 day a year skier. More than most, not nearly as much as some. I like the idea of a do it all ski, but I'm a gear whore. an unapologetic one at that. I really wanted to be on Mantis 666 or Apache Recon's this year, but I didn't want to lay out $600+ and be stuck with one ski that is a jack of all trades, master of none. The most I'll travel with is 2 pair anyway, no biggie. Sins for off piste, FB's for pow, and Genesis for the east and rocks.

That said - xdog, from your photo you look to be about 6' and 180-190lbs (Shane is 5'10", 150lbs). At your height and weight, skiing at an expert level, even 185cm would be too short. If you're skiing anything shorter (175! egad) you aren't skiing to a level where the need for a longer ski is apparent to you. Sorry.

>No need to be sorry hoss (though I suspect you're not really sorry, but rather attempting to be condescending). Never claimed to be an expert. I'm a level 8 skier on a good day. 175-185 is a good length for me at this point.
Excellent assessment BTW, I'm 5'11", 185. You should apply for work at a carnival or something.

So fellas, thanks for the input, but please leave the floor open for others at this juncture, and stop harshing my buzz.
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post #20 of 56
10/25/04 at 4:20pm
Nice reply, XDog. I don't know why all the hostility either. I ski Volants T3 Powers in a 190 and absolutely love them. But I am a 20 day a year skier who is 58 years old. I like the fact that they are so easy on my legs, good on hardpack and wonderful in any kind of powder or junk. I talked to an Atomic rep who is about your size and he told me he skis the Machete Soul in a 175. If you read other threads you will find many guys your size skiing 170-175. Too short for me, but I figure they have better fore/aft balance than I do.

I will add that my wife and kids love their Volants also. Guess we all like vanilla. Let us know how you like your skis. LewBob
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post #21 of 56
10/25/04 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LewBob
If you read other threads you will find many guys your size skiing 170-175. Too short for me, but I figure they have better fore/aft balance than I do.

I will add that my wife and kids love their Volants also. Guess we all like vanilla. Let us know how you like your skis. LewBob
Lew,

Have you tried going shorter? I have gone from...

203 G-max
193 SuperKarve
193 Powerkarve
188 T-3 Epic
178 Machete Truth
178 Gravity 66
and for this year...
175 Platinums

As my rock skis, I also have...
173 PowerKarve (actually my wifes old hand me downs)

I never thought I would ever ski anything under a 203..but again I was not walking errect and I was dragging my club in my hand at the time.

The 175's are a great size, I have no issues with fore or aft balance compared to any of the 180+cm skis. IMO, your knees will feel better too. Shorten up, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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post #22 of 56
10/25/04 at 4:41pm
Thread Starter 
I love vanilla, but it's gotta have the little bean flecks. A little chocolate syrup don't hurt neither.

I will definitely be posting my reviews as the season progresses.
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post #23 of 56
10/25/04 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Pugliese
Lew,

Have you tried going shorter? I have gone from...

203 G-max
193 SuperKarve
193 Powerkarve
188 T-3 Epic
178 Machete Truth
178 Gravity 66
and for this year...
175 Platinums

As my rock skis, I also have...
173 PowerKarve (actually my wifes old hand me downs)

I never thought I would ever ski anything under a 203..but again I was not walking errect and I was dragging my club in my hand at the time.

The 175's are a great size, I have no issues with fore or aft balance compared to any of the 180+cm skis. IMO, your knees will feel better too. Shorten up, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Sure I have gone shorter. My PowerKarves were 193, and my Dynastar Crosscomps before them were 207!

Seriously, though, I do a lot of high speed cruising and I like long. I also like long when I am in difficult snow off piste. When the Chubb first came out I took out some 180's on a powder say at Loveland Basin. It was windblown at the top of Zipp Basin but as I dropped down the snow would lighten up and my skis would sink. After 2 face plants I went in for a pair of 190's. No more face plants, so I bought them at that length. As I don't do bumps much anymore, what am I giving up in longer ski? I know I gain stability at high speed or in changing conditions. LewBob
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post #24 of 56
10/25/04 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xdog1
I'm not really sure what your deal is BM, but I don't think you're feeling me. I don't see posts from you too often so I don't know your background or experience, all I can tell is that you apparently have a strong hatred for Volant skis and Vanilla ice cream. So let me try to clear a few things up.
XDog,

After 15-years in the business (as a tech and running a shop), I realized a couple of things about Volant:

(1) They make a great product for people who ski less than agressively. I remember selling out of PowerKarves prior to Thanksgiving for years. They were very popular, again amongst the more casual or aging crowd (no offense implied) of skiers.
(2) Their strength was also their greatest weakness - the stainless steel cap. I have seen more Volants come delammed than any other ski brand. I tried to steer aggressive skiers into other brands (Atomic, Volkl, etc.), because I didn't want a trip or the season ruined because of skis blowing apart...again a known issue with Volants.

I did suggest my middle-aged uncle buy a pair of PowerKarves, as he was a cruiser. You know what? After 1 1/2 seasons, they cracked/delammed behind the bindings. He wasn't happy.

So there you have it...the basis of my disdain for Volant. I didn't mean to be hostile, but as you even stated, the comments were meant in a joking fashion. That being said, there was a bit of "buyer-beware" implied, as well.

Since you have so many posts here, you might agree that there is a high incidence of skiers chasing the bargain and then later taking the time to solicit input from the group to validate a given purchase. I wish that folks would not chase cheap and spend a few bucks on the demoing experience once and awhile. Who knows, one might find through that experience that a single-quiver, magic ski actually exists for their respective universe of skiiing.

I'm sure that you'll enjoy the Volants. I too look forward to your reviews. Hopefully, you love your Volants and will have beaten the system by finding the perfect ski at a much reduced price. After all, I think we're all chasing that one...
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post #25 of 56
10/25/04 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
There, much more civilized. I knew there was a gentleman lurking somewhere within.

Now Gonzo, he'd have let that one go on for 2-3 more days at least, and used the word "cretin" at least twice. ;-)

I'll let you know how it works out.
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post #26 of 56
10/25/04 at 7:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xdog1 on TGR
You and my fellow GapicSki Bears get first crack.
XDog, No love for the Bears or What? Bears = Gapers? Is that the point?
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post #27 of 56
10/26/04 at 7:17pm
Thread Starter 
Their terminology, not mine!
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post #28 of 56
10/26/04 at 7:33pm
True...I saw it over at TGR and just couldn't resist stirring the pot, one more go round.
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post #29 of 56
10/27/04 at 7:39am
all this talk about Volants being like vanilla. To me, my volants are like CHOCOLATE. Creamy smooth milk chocolate.
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post #30 of 56
10/27/04 at 7:51am
My Chubbs are just like me: slightly bent.
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