Völkl Katana history

[Hoel]

I am looking to buy a pair of old metal Katanas. However, I need help identifying the different year topsheets, as Google results are pretty confusing.

The ski I’m looking for is the 11/12, 12/13, 13/14 Katana. (I guess?)

How does the ski differ from the 10/11 version?

**This thread was edited on Mar 7th 2019 at 9:04:37am

 

[B.Quincy]

The 14 was the last year I am pretty sure, that one has a mainly black topsheet with some white whispy writing on it any reason you are strictly against the vwerks? I know obviously its not the same power house of a ski but having skied on both and owning the vwerks it definitely holds its own as a ski oriented for weight and enjoyment on the way up

 

[skidemon22]

The 14 was the last year I am pretty sure, that one has a mainly black topsheet with some white whispy writing on it any reason you are strictly against the vwerks? I know obviously its not the same power house of a ski but having skied on both and owning the vwerks it definitely holds its own as a ski oriented for weight and enjoyment on the way up

the last (non v-werks) Katana was the green one, that matched the graphics of the red mantra and silver Kendo. I think this was 13/14

 

[SofaKingSick]

I just checked and I’m pretty sure Evo has it right for each one as you google “Volkswagen katana 20xx.” Let me know if you’re still having trouble and I’ll post each one I can find

Nasty ski, it’s a shame they stopped making the regular one

I forget when changes were made to it etc but I want to say the last few were the same (last year being 2014 I think)

 

[Hoel]

I just checked and I’m pretty sure Evo has it right for each one as you google “Volkswagen katana 20xx.” Let me know if you’re still having trouble and I’ll post each one I can find

Nasty ski, it’s a shame they stopped making the regular one

I forget when changes were made to it etc but I want to say the last few were the same (last year being 2014 I think)

Evo was super helpful, huge thanks! Also found a Blister article that mentioned that the ski was indeed tweaked from the 10/11.

 

[SofaKingSick]

as you google “Volkswagen katana

Oops volkl* katana obviously

Evo was super helpful, huge thanks! Also found a Blister article that mentioned that the ski was indeed tweaked from the 10/11.

Great! Very welcome

 

[LC.]

2007/2008: Cambered with filled-in swallowtail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2008.html

2008/2009: Flat underfoot & rocker
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2009.html

2009/2010: Full low rocker & half twintip
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2010.html

2010/2011: Full low rocker & half twintip
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2011.html

2011/2012: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2012.html

2012/2013: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana.html

2013/2014: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/2011-2012-volkl-katana-191cm

I ski the 191 11/12s at +2 and 198 12/13s at +2.5. Great skis. Seek and ye shall find, and never let them go. I tracked down two pairs of 190s cheap recently for friends.

**This post was edited on Mar 9th 2019 at 8:18:10am

 

[SofaKingSick]

2007/2008: Cambered with filled-in swallowtail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2008.html

2008/2009: Flat underfoot & rocker
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2009.html

2009/2010: Full low rocker & half twintip
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2010.html

2010/2011: Full low rocker & half twintip
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2011.html

2011/2012: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana-2012.html

2012/2013: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/volkl-katana.html

2013/2014: Full low rocker & flat tail
https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/2011-2012-volkl-katana-191cm

I ski the 191 11/12s at +2 and 198 12/13s at +2.5. Great skis. Seek and ye shall find, and never let them go. I tracked down two pairs of 190s cheap recently for friends.

**This post was edited on Mar 9th 2019 at 8:18:10am

Boys we got a katana scholar in our midst. Love it

Also yeah the only thing I don’t love about them is the super far back mount point

 

[LC.]

Boys we got a katana scholar in our midst. Love it

Also yeah the only thing I don’t love about them is the super far back mount point

Some of my favourite skis ever. I got the 198s new half price first then picked up the 191s cheap as rock skis but ended up loving those too. +1.5-2.5 is the sweet spot.

Just got hold of some 17/18 Monster 98s to replace my old Explosivs which I killed last week. If the Monster 108 is similar flex then it would make a decent Katana alternative (stiffer tips and camber underfoot). Also have the old heavy Devastators which are like a more-rockered, non-metal, twintipped, Katana at the same weight with a more centred mount - they ski pretty similarly but the mount point makes them a bit more playful.

Quiver-behind-the-sofa shot from last summer in case you're interested. Now have 190 Bacons too, Monster 98s have replaced the Explosivs and red 997s on the Mojo 90s.

 

[SofaKingSick]

Some of my favourite skis ever. I got the 198s new half price first then picked up the 191s cheap as rock skis but ended up loving those too. +1.5-2.5 is the sweet spot.

Just got hold of some 17/18 Monster 98s to replace my old Explosivs which I killed last week. If the Monster 108 is similar flex then it would make a decent Katana alternative (stiffer tips and camber underfoot). Also have the old heavy Devastators which are like a more-rockered, non-metal, twintipped, Katana at the same weight with a more centred mount - they ski pretty similarly but the mount point makes them a bit more playful.

Quiver-behind-the-sofa shot from last summer in case you're interested. Now have 190 Bacons too, Monster 98s have replaced the Explosivs and red 997s on the Mojo 90s.

Good looks!!

Thanks for the recommendations. I considered the Devs for a while but thought I’d miss the metal. I’ll check out the Monsters this summer...they make some great skis but I’ve never looked into the monsters

By the way, in a pinch I had to put some lousy bindings on my older katanas. I want to put some legit bindings on but that was the third mount. Do you think I’d be okay putting one more mount on em if I move them up (which, as discussed, I wanna do anyway) because of the metal?

 

[LC.]

Thanks for the recommendations. I considered the Devs for a while but thought I’d miss the metal.

Yeah I was surprised how similarly the Katana and old Devastator ski - the weight counts for a lot. Not quite as stable cutting through crud but better in deeper snow because of the bigger rocker, and the forward mount makes them a bit more pivoty. I like them both.

I’ll check out the Monsters this summer...they make some great skis but I’ve never looked into the monsters

2017/2018 was the last year for Monster 98s and 108s but you should still find them. See Blister for rocker photos. My 98s are seriously stiff in the tips, considerably stiffer than Katanas, but a lot of reports say they're surprisingly easy to ski. Katanas probably better in soft snow.

By the way, in a pinch I had to put some lousy bindings on my older katanas. I want to put some legit bindings on but that was the third mount. Do you think I’d be okay putting one more mount on em if I move them up (which, as discussed, I wanna do anyway) because of the metal?

Yeah you should be fine. There's a hell of a lot of metal in the Katanas - some of the toughest skis to drill! So it would be pretty safe to have some holes almost touching old holes. I put a third mount in a friend's new (used) Katanas recently because a shop messed up the second mount and there was lots of space that time - I think it was Jesters (not sure of the mount) then Pivots at -1 (shop mount) then I did Pivots at +1.5 with room to spare.

Got to see some real "chargers" (LOL) being discussed on NS!

 

[SofaKingSick]

Yeah I was surprised how similarly the Katana and old Devastator ski - the weight counts for a lot. Not quite as stable cutting through crud but better in deeper snow because of the bigger rocker, and the forward mount makes them a bit more pivoty. I like them both.

2017/2018 was the last year for Monster 98s and 108s but you should still find them. See Blister for rocker photos. My 98s are seriously stiff in the tips, considerably stiffer than Katanas, but a lot of reports say they're surprisingly easy to ski. Katanas probably better in soft snow.

Yeah you should be fine. There's a hell of a lot of metal in the Katanas - some of the toughest skis to drill! So it would be pretty safe to have some holes almost touching old holes. I put a third mount in a friend's new (used) Katanas recently because a shop messed up the second mount and there was lots of space that time - I think it was Jesters (not sure of the mount) then Pivots at -1 (shop mount) then I did Pivots at +1.5 with room to spare.

Got to see some real "chargers" (LOL) being discussed on NS!

Yeah man! I’m a huge katana fan. Honestly beyond the mount being a tad far back for my taste, my only complaint is that they can make a mtn feel small cause they have a super high speed limit and make small-medium drops feel like you’re stepping off a curb haha

Thanks a lot for the mount and possible replacement skis advice. I’m gonna see if I can put some pivots on mine and if not I’ll be lookin into getting something in the same league