Review: How Do Völkl's New $1350 V-Werks Katana Skis Compare?

Powder aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Finding one ski for everyday use has always been tough, if not completely impossible. The terrain and conditions of Jackson Hole and the surrounding sidecountry are incredibly diverse and variable–you might encounter breakable wind crust, powder, groomed corduroy and ice all in a single 4,000-foot run. Features can change from a technical steep tight narrow couloir with mandatory airs, to big open powder fields, narrow ridgelines, inbounds bumps and skier pack throughout the day.

As a longtime Jackson Hole skier, I’m always on the lookout for a versatile ski that can handle any condition or terrain in bounds and out. I’ve never been a fan of most lightweight powder-specific skis, usually finding them too soft and floppy for variable snow and technical lines, but Völkl’s engineering team has been developing a series of extremely high-performance carbon skis under the V-Werks name that aims to buck that trend. 

I was lucky enough to get a few runs in on a prototype version of the Völkl carbon fiber V-Werks BMT 109 back in 2014, and immediately wanted to try the beefier V-Werks version of Völkl’s classic Katana powder ski. These are admittedly extremely expensive skis, but are truly a marvel of carbon fiber engineering, so I was excited to put them to the test.

Völkl V-Werks Katana Specs

• Length Tested: 191cm
• Lengths Available: 177cm, 184cm, 191cm
• Sidecut: 143-112-132
• Radius: 26m (191cm)
• Profile: Reverse Camber
• Weight: 2000g (191cm)

Shape, Flex and Construction

Utilizing the time tested V-Werks carbon fiber construction and 3D Ridge developed by Völkl’s German engineers and produced in their Straubing factory, the Katana is constructed of a narrow wood core giving it a very even traditional flex and snappy feel. That’s all packaged inside a carbon fiber wrap which shaves off ounces, and drastically reduces swing weight while maintaining torsional rigidity. The Katana is designed specifically for powder and soft snow with a wide 112mm waist, and a super-long turn radius of 29.5 meters in the 191cm length I tested. That super-long turn radius pairs with a reverse-camber rocker profile (flat underfoot with long and low tip and tail rocker for easier turning on hardpack and added float.

Having a race background and ski style I’m usually looking for a stiffer ski with a quick racy feel that won’t buckle or bounce around at high speeds or in variable snow. I’ve always been a fan of longer skis, so I checked out the 191cm with a Marker Jester alpine binding mounted 2.5cm forward of the recommended mount point. 

The first thing I noticed was the weight savings over the older traditional metal laminate version of the Katana. Weighing in at roughly 8 lbs, 13 oz (without bindings) these carbon fiber skis are lighter than most other boards on the market, and the difference was noticeable in every turn, and while hiking and sidestepping in and out of our local sidecountry zones.

On-Snow Performance

Given the ski’s billing as a quiver-killer powder ski, I tested the V-Werks Katana on everything from powder, groomers, corduroy, bumps, ice, spring corn, to re-frozen melt/freeze boiler plate.

The low swing weight and stiff responsive flex makes the V-Werks Katana incredibly maneuverable and quick edge to edge, while maintaining the racy feel Völkl is known for. The Katanas were nimble and responsive in tight trees and variable terrain, even moguls, and easily carved snappy slalom turns on groomers, despite the 191cm length and no camber under foot, which was quite surprising given the on-paper numbers.

The rockered tip and tail kept the Katanas afloat in spring powder and wind affected snow. The stiff carbon construction was damp and stable even at high speeds and in longer radius high-speed turns. I found the Katana to be a great ski for variable conditions but it really excels in powder and soft snow. The relatively straight sidecut was adequate enough for easy turn initiation on corduroy, without feeling hooky in wind affected powder or when straight-lining in variable snow. On total hardpack and white ice the Katanas did bounce and chatter a bit more than heavier traditional skis, but this was pretty minor, and wasn’t noticeable in softer snow conditions, even during high speed super-g race turns.

Additional features that stand out are the P-Tex 4504 bases, the same material Völkl uses in their high-end race skis for added glide, and the ice-off top sheet which helps prevent snow buildup. There is also an indentation on the ski tip to accommodate Völkl’s skin clip for climbing skins and touring use. While I didn’t test the ski with touring bindings, it would make a great candidate to mount some mid-weight tech bindings or hybrid bindings on for pure backcountry use.

Finally, despite the very thin (almost non-existent) sidewalls through the tip and tail of the ski, the carbon fiber proved to be incredibly durable, withstanding numerous rock hits that I thought would have blown apart the dime-edge thick sidewalls. Given the massive price tag, it’s nice to know these things can handle some abuse.

Comparisons

Skis with this hefty of a price tag are few and far between, so comparing these to most other skis would be like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford Taurus. That being said, it’s not just the price tag that sets these skis apart.

Compared to a stiff, traditional freeride ski like the blackcrows Corvus, the Katana feels much lighter on your feet thanks to the carbon construction, more nimble thanks to the reverse camber shape, and yet still more capable at high speeds due to the stiff and damp ride.

Looking back at skis that have felt similar in the past, these remind me in part of the original generation of the Blizzard Spur. The Spurs were a bit wider underfoot, but flat/reverse camber shape, massive turn radius, super-stiff flex, and carbon construction offer a similar feel in most conditions. Many skiers were bummed when Blizzard discontinued the OG Spur, and this offers a bit of that experience.

What type of skier is the Völkl V-Werks Katana for?

I would recommend this ski to any advanced/expert level skier looking for a lighter weight ski that can shine on and off piste in variable conditions and terrain with a high level of performance. In other words, a really solid contender in the one-ski-quiver category for aggressive skiers who frequent snowy resorts like Jackson, Targhee, Alta, Snowbird, or anywhere in British Columbia.

Most skiers will likely find the shorter versions more friendly and forgiving than the 191cm. I mounted the Katanas with alpine bindings for in-bounds and sidecountry use at the resort, but given their relatively light weight and versatility, the Katanas would also be an excellent ski mounted with hybrid or touring bindings for full backcountry missions.

Heavier skiers or those mostly skiing hardpack conditions may prefer a heavier ski with a traditional construction, and given the traditional flat tail, this is clearly not a ski for the terrain park or skiing switch.