Völkl Gotama
Level: Advanced
Brand: Völkl
Model year: 2015
Measure (Tip/Waist/Tail): 139/107/123 mm Turning radius: 27.40 m Weight: 2090 gram (186 cm)
Lengths: 170,178,186,194 cm
Manufacturers description
With its dimensions, this is the perfect ski if you want to use the whole mountain. More playful and lively than metal skis like katana/Mantra. Slightly lower rocker than its big brother Shiro but otherwise the same construction. Full rocker medium and reinforced with carbon. MADE IN GERMANY
What do you think about Völkl Gotama?
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1
Strengths:
Light, twin tip, 105 under foot
Weaknesses:
Buddha fell off
Summary:
Really fun ski, was ahead of its time.
Model year: 2008
Riding style: All mountain, powder, park
Length on the ski: 183 cm
Riders weight: 127 kg
Riders length: 172 cm
Light, twin tip, 105 under foot
Weaknesses:
Buddha fell off
Summary:
Really fun ski, was ahead of its time.
Model year: 2008
Riding style: All mountain, powder, park
Length on the ski: 183 cm
Riders weight: 127 kg
Riders length: 172 cm
Strengths:
Almost everything
Weaknesses:
Doesn't really do slalom type turns but why should it?
Summary:
I have a big quiver but this is probably my favorite - besides my unbeatable classic Hellbents which I pull put for good powder days. For everything else there is the Gotama. For years I skied the cambered version which I really also loved except that I needed rocker in the ski - and when Volkl switched to a rockered Gotama I bought these used but never got around to riding them. I tried instead the Mantra's and some other K2's but have recently come back to these. They ski a lot like the fully rockered Mantra but more forgiving which is great for me, even though I'm a strong skier I'm fairly light weight. I have better luck controlling skis without metal, these do the trick as an all purpose ripper, stable, solid, responsive, playfull, and a ton of fun. Today I bombed down a huge groomed bowl going 60mph and felt totally in control on these, then for the bottom part of the run I switched to picking my way down though some broken crud left over from a powder day last week and had just as much control and fun.
Model year: 2010
Riding style: Everything but touring
Length on the ski: 177 cm
Riders weight: 68 kg
Riders length: 177 cm
Almost everything
Weaknesses:
Doesn't really do slalom type turns but why should it?
Summary:
I have a big quiver but this is probably my favorite - besides my unbeatable classic Hellbents which I pull put for good powder days. For everything else there is the Gotama. For years I skied the cambered version which I really also loved except that I needed rocker in the ski - and when Volkl switched to a rockered Gotama I bought these used but never got around to riding them. I tried instead the Mantra's and some other K2's but have recently come back to these. They ski a lot like the fully rockered Mantra but more forgiving which is great for me, even though I'm a strong skier I'm fairly light weight. I have better luck controlling skis without metal, these do the trick as an all purpose ripper, stable, solid, responsive, playfull, and a ton of fun. Today I bombed down a huge groomed bowl going 60mph and felt totally in control on these, then for the bottom part of the run I switched to picking my way down though some broken crud left over from a powder day last week and had just as much control and fun.
Model year: 2010
Riding style: Everything but touring
Length on the ski: 177 cm
Riders weight: 68 kg
Riders length: 177 cm
Strengths:
Any turn shape at any speed in almost any condition. Predictable and light. Superlative in powder, though I went to fatter boards for isostacy, Favorite board of many in my wuiver
Weaknesses:
Does not shave ice like the AC series, but the Gotamas will survive the glaze. Shocked to see the metal edges terminate about 12 cm from the tip .... the metal does not go all the way up, though after 4 years use the edges have not yanked.
Summary:
Though the new rockered Gotamas get good reviews, they are heavy and do not launch through turns. Thus, I am looking for a pair of 2008 Gotamas (normal cambered) which have the metal edge run fully around the tip.
Model year: 2008
Length on the ski: 176 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Any turn shape at any speed in almost any condition. Predictable and light. Superlative in powder, though I went to fatter boards for isostacy, Favorite board of many in my wuiver
Weaknesses:
Does not shave ice like the AC series, but the Gotamas will survive the glaze. Shocked to see the metal edges terminate about 12 cm from the tip .... the metal does not go all the way up, though after 4 years use the edges have not yanked.
Summary:
Though the new rockered Gotamas get good reviews, they are heavy and do not launch through turns. Thus, I am looking for a pair of 2008 Gotamas (normal cambered) which have the metal edge run fully around the tip.
Model year: 2008
Length on the ski: 176 cm
Riders weight: 72 kg
Strengths:
Skied 186 length: Skiing steep terrain at Squaw Valley, USA, the ski proved to be a phenomenal performer on steep bumps where it skied faster (with great control) than standard skis as it effortlessly initiated turns due to the rocker tips/tails. In the week-old powder that rain had turned into heavy water-laden goo, the skis outperformed any ski on the mountain turning the sludge into what seemed like light powder.
Weaknesses:
Okay, these skis are not phenomenal on hard packed or groomed runs, but they aren't bad either. The sweet spot under foot still locks you to the firm pack so you don't lose grip. Just don't look down (!) as you might get concerned seeing the rockered tips bouncing up and down. There's no reason why these skis can't be used as an all-mountain ski for many ski areas and for much of the ski season when conditions are powder soft or spring soft. If the mountain is mostly firm conditions, bring a different ski.
Summary:
Just when you thought that ski technology had reached the pinnacle of evolution, along comes the double rocker ski and redefines the way you think of skis. At one point in my life, I threw out skis that bent themselves into rockered skis and now I'm buying them! I predict that many skis, even beginner skis, will soon show up in shops with rocker tips/tails. The Volkl Gotama is a revolution in ski technology. It rocks!
Model year: 2010
Riding style: All-mountain adventurer
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 95 kg
Riders length: 188 cm
Skied 186 length: Skiing steep terrain at Squaw Valley, USA, the ski proved to be a phenomenal performer on steep bumps where it skied faster (with great control) than standard skis as it effortlessly initiated turns due to the rocker tips/tails. In the week-old powder that rain had turned into heavy water-laden goo, the skis outperformed any ski on the mountain turning the sludge into what seemed like light powder.
Weaknesses:
Okay, these skis are not phenomenal on hard packed or groomed runs, but they aren't bad either. The sweet spot under foot still locks you to the firm pack so you don't lose grip. Just don't look down (!) as you might get concerned seeing the rockered tips bouncing up and down. There's no reason why these skis can't be used as an all-mountain ski for many ski areas and for much of the ski season when conditions are powder soft or spring soft. If the mountain is mostly firm conditions, bring a different ski.
Summary:
Just when you thought that ski technology had reached the pinnacle of evolution, along comes the double rocker ski and redefines the way you think of skis. At one point in my life, I threw out skis that bent themselves into rockered skis and now I'm buying them! I predict that many skis, even beginner skis, will soon show up in shops with rocker tips/tails. The Volkl Gotama is a revolution in ski technology. It rocks!
Model year: 2010
Riding style: All-mountain adventurer
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 95 kg
Riders length: 188 cm
Strengths:
Super Stiff for Powder Boards. Slay the pow and carve up the groomers
Weaknesses:
Not so hot on ice, really wide tails screw you in moguls
Summary:
8" and more of new pow and this is your ski, hands down
Model year: 2006
Riding style: Big Mountain Powder Boards
Length on the ski: 183 cm
Riders weight: 127 kg
Super Stiff for Powder Boards. Slay the pow and carve up the groomers
Weaknesses:
Not so hot on ice, really wide tails screw you in moguls
Summary:
8" and more of new pow and this is your ski, hands down
Model year: 2006
Riding style: Big Mountain Powder Boards
Length on the ski: 183 cm
Riders weight: 127 kg
Best ski i've ever tried!
Model year: 2006
Riders weight: 80 kg
Model year: 2006
Riders weight: 80 kg
I just tested a pair of 183cm Gotamas on the Stubai glacier in Tirol this weekend, in conditions these skis aren't designed for: groomers, ice, moguls. They were still pretty good - surprisingly agile for their width and stable for their short length. (I'd normally ski 190cm but only 183 was available to test, which is about eye-height for me in ski boots.)
They've got plenty of flex, but are not so soft that they flap at speed like Pocket Rockets. The relatively straight shape means that altho the radius for a carved turn is long, it's easy to smear short turns or bash through bumps.
With a lot of rocks showing through off piste, I only got a few turns in powder, in a short couloir. But it was enough to tell that the Gotamas ride beautifully in their true habitat: fast, smooth, effortless. I can't tell what they would be like when the off-piste snow is old & hard - probably less stable than the '03 Bandit XXX, which I really liked.
In short: not the perfect ski for all snow, but what is? Gotamas are outstanding in powder and not bad at the rest.
Model year: 2005
Riders weight: 83 kg
They've got plenty of flex, but are not so soft that they flap at speed like Pocket Rockets. The relatively straight shape means that altho the radius for a carved turn is long, it's easy to smear short turns or bash through bumps.
With a lot of rocks showing through off piste, I only got a few turns in powder, in a short couloir. But it was enough to tell that the Gotamas ride beautifully in their true habitat: fast, smooth, effortless. I can't tell what they would be like when the off-piste snow is old & hard - probably less stable than the '03 Bandit XXX, which I really liked.
In short: not the perfect ski for all snow, but what is? Gotamas are outstanding in powder and not bad at the rest.
Model year: 2005
Riders weight: 83 kg
Strengths:
Stability, turning radius, control
Weaknesses:
piste
Summary:
the best
Model year: 2015
Riding style: Off track, Powder
Length on the ski: 178 cm
Riders weight: 73 kg
Riders length: 175 cm
Stability, turning radius, control
Weaknesses:
piste
Summary:
the best
Model year: 2015
Riding style: Off track, Powder
Length on the ski: 178 cm
Riders weight: 73 kg
Riders length: 175 cm
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Strengths:
Speed stable like few others in this class. Requires its skier, but it is difficult to reach a level where the ski is limiting. A true cruiser on a piste, but with speed. Allmountain with emphasis on off-piste.
Weaknesses:
Less good on hard surfaces and ice. No tight turns. I have received criticism from friends who say that it is not possible to lie behind me as the wide tail sprays snow straight in their face.
Summary:
Best ski I have owned.
Model year: 2006
Riding style: Piste, pillows
Length on the ski: 190 cm
Riders weight: 86 kg
Riders length: 187 cm
Speed stable like few others in this class. Requires its skier, but it is difficult to reach a level where the ski is limiting. A true cruiser on a piste, but with speed. Allmountain with emphasis on off-piste.
Weaknesses:
Less good on hard surfaces and ice. No tight turns. I have received criticism from friends who say that it is not possible to lie behind me as the wide tail sprays snow straight in their face.
Summary:
Best ski I have owned.
Model year: 2006
Riding style: Piste, pillows
Length on the ski: 190 cm
Riders weight: 86 kg
Riders length: 187 cm
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Strengths:
The sense! Floats well on top. Goes on all surfaces as telisar. Is good to stick in ice at low speed. Thanks to the rocker, you get high load on the steel edge under the foot. Traditional profile gives load on so much longer part of the steel edge ---> low pressure.
Weaknesses:
Heavy uphill. Not witty in the puffer.
Summary:
Cannon Ski!
Model year: 2012
Riding style: Off-piste.
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 76 kg
Riders length: 178 cm
The sense! Floats well on top. Goes on all surfaces as telisar. Is good to stick in ice at low speed. Thanks to the rocker, you get high load on the steel edge under the foot. Traditional profile gives load on so much longer part of the steel edge ---> low pressure.
Weaknesses:
Heavy uphill. Not witty in the puffer.
Summary:
Cannon Ski!
Model year: 2012
Riding style: Off-piste.
Length on the ski: 186 cm
Riders weight: 76 kg
Riders length: 178 cm
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