Volkl Rise Above 88 Ski

After Volkl's Rise High 88 made an unexpected splash in the world of high-performance touring skis, Volkl could have sat back and just ridden the success of their Rise line. Instead, they went back to the lab to make an even better ski, and indeed they did with the Rise Above 88 ski. Volkl claims this ski is the "most versatile ski" in its line of touring skis for the 21/22 season, and we find it quite hard to disagree. While some skis are good at everything but great at nothing, the Rise Above 88 excels across the board. Tip rocker and a floaty 131mm tip make skiing through anything even resembling powder a playful and jubilant time. Full-length sidewalls and just the right amount of underfoot camber provide stability and edge power that will get you down the nastiest of spring couloirs without a slip - a critical consideration for mountaineering but is also appreciated by skiers of all breeds. Three different turn radii along the length of the ski comprise the laudable 3D Radius Sidecut. The tip and tail prefer long arcing turns and high speeds while underfoot the ski is agile and fast-reacting allowing you to change your turn shape on a dime (just in time to dodge that tree). The collection of lightweight woods used in the Hybrid Tourlite Woodcore is tailored for touring, while still improving the quality of every turn in any condition. The bar for high-performance backcountry skis is constantly going up, and with the Rise Above 88, Volkl rises above the bar yet again.

• A versatile ski that won't disappoint the ambitious mountaineer or fun-seeking everyday tourer.
• 3D Radius sidecut performs well at high speeds when making big turns and in tights spots - basically anything.
• Hybrid Tourlite Woodcore delivers downhill performance while keeping things light.
• Full sidewall for power and confidence when it matters most.
• Compatible with Volkl's Smart Skinclip pre-cut skins.

Update 2022/23: Same great ski just with new paint.