Volkl Unlimited AC40 Carbon (2008)

I loved these... bit too stiff but they loved the powder and cut through the crud on the groomers at the end of the day. Also a fast ski. Would definitely buy if I had the cash.....

I tried them out on one of the smaller areas in Colorado before they got good snow; it was not as bad as the vermont ice but i think they would work just as well out there. Really good ski on man made snow and icey-snow mix- good control and grip in icey areas; would love to try them with more snow or deep powder because they felt so light and resaponsive.

Just bought a pair and skied in Lech Austria and they went like a charm in the powder and the transition onto the groomed slopes was perfect 
Great all round ski

I decided to demo the AC40 at Crystal Mtn, WA. I'm probably an advanced intermediate - blue and single black kind of guy. I rode these skis to heaven. They are going out of the store and into my car by the end of the week. Very responsive in crud and in powder, a light ski for a Volkl, and very fast to turn, squirrely on speed runs, just keep them on edge, big wide arc's and it's fine. These ski's have a lot of power, pop right out of turns, really fun!

I recently returned from eight days of skiing at Alta in Utah and had a chance to demo a few skis, including three from Volkl: the Mantra, the Gotama and the AC40. Was skeptical at first of how well the AC40 would handle deep powder and crud but...wow! This ski does everything well. They hold an edge on hardpack and ice like skates, and they float in deeper stuff. Good response, nice turn radius...these were easily my favorite skis of the week. The Mantra and Gotama were good, thick, big-mountain skis, but if I had my choice for a one, do-it-all ski, it would be the AC40. Great job, as usual, by Volkl.

Tried these over the weekend in Tahoe and wow. These skis are amazingly light and so responsive. If I tell them to turn, they do it on a dime. Very comfortable, very easy to control. And for what they do on general terrain, the price isn't bad either. Try these, you won't regret it.

Tried these in Tahoe yesterday, which was one of the iciest day that I have been on in years. Very good edge hold. Had no problems with short or medium turns and they were surprisingly easy to handle in bumps. Although they are quite a bit heavier than my previous skis, I didn't notice. You get what you pay for, and I am glad I went with these. They inspire confidence and can't wait to use them again in some softer snow. For reference they are 170's. I am 5'10 170lbs.

I'm borderline intermediate/advanced skier...5'10 200 and not sure if the AC30 might be too soft?

I haven't had the pleasure of skiing these yet, but I've heard nothing but good about these babbies and after reading these I can't wait to demoe them. I'm heading to Utah in two weeks and instead of paying 200 extra dollars to bring my own skis I'm going to pay 100 to rent a pair of AC40's for three days. Totally looking forward to it now more than ever. I'll write after review when I get back. Wiish me luck!

I am going to Aspen next week and want to demo these...wanted to demo the AC30, but they only have AC40. I am 42 yrs old, 5' 11" and 235 lbs (heavyweight.) I ski mostly blues...have only been skiing for 4 years. Is this too much ski? Any recommendations???

Cruising Aspen blues? A perfect match for the AC40.

I am 42 yrs. old, 5'10", 175 lbs, fairly athletic, and just started my 4th year skiing (an advanced intermediate?). I was looking for something that could "take me to the next level". One of the ski instructors recommended the AC40 (he had just sold his recons and bought a pair). I, too, was concerned that it would be too much ski for me, but I took the plunge and bought 'em. The short story after 2 weeks: I looooove them!!! They ride like a rail on the groomers, hammer through the crud, and are tremendous in the powder. They give me so much more control that it has built my level of confidence. I feel like I am skiing at a much higher level. Don't be intimidated, you will love them!!! Enjoy the mountain!

Demo'd these last week from Peak Sports in Rapid City, SD. 
Took them up to our local hill, Terry Peak, where we typically ski very hard pack. Was not afraid to let these rip down the hill. Get them on edge & they really hold. Going to Idaho the end of the month & can't wait to take my new pair of AC 40s with me and ride them on something other than hard pack.

I just demoed the AC40 in a combination of knee-deep fresh Cascade powder (heavier than Col), powder with an icy crust, groomers and a hint of west coast ice (not vermont ice). 
 
On the icier parts it held the edge quite nicely but the width reduced how quickly I could edge transistion.  
 
Where I was dissappointed was in the deeper powder. I like a neutral ski, and I found the AC40 preferred to have its powder turns initiated from more of a tailweight bias. So I found myself "jetting" my skis about half the time and on a couple of occaisions ended up having to crank the turn on a tail edge in a way that made my replacement ACLs twinge.  
 
That said, they are fast enough and quick enough that in the trees I had no problems with control, I just didn't like how I had to ski them to have that control. 
 
Also at speed (I'm an old GS board afficianado) these skiis required a lot of steering unless you had them laid on an edge. 
 
SOO - if you like the sit-back approach to skiing powder, this is a great ski that can handle the rest. If you prefer a more neutral stance or if you are used to initiating the turn from your tips, you won't be happy with this ski

I'm 64, a former ski patroller, 6'3" and 205#. I demo'ed the 177cm ski two weeks ago in 8" of moderate heavy windpacked powder, transitioning into heavily tacked crud and found the ski both responsive and predictable. I subsequently demo'ed Volkl Tigersharks, and Salomon X-Wing Fury's, finding the latter very squirrely. Based upon that, I bought the AC 40 ski. I've now skied 14-18" of quite light Snowmass powder in tight trees, bumps, and steeps, as well as on a great deal of broken crud, of varying heaviness from moderate to truly dense. My initial impression has held--these are an amazing and great pair of skis. I've not skied them on ice, but past Volkl ownership has me feeling pretty comfortable that this will not be a problem for them. 
 
I think these are the best pair of skis that I've used in many years. Quick, responsive, stable at speed and in trees, good in crud, powder and unlike the previous reviewer, I found them skiing best neutral and slightly forward about at the base of my big toe. They were surprisingly forgiving of skiing from the back seat, but that was definitely not their favored position.

Just demo'ed them. Expert skier. 
Handled anything I gave them. In the trees on Steeeep, packed powder. They did what I wanted. On the groomers, so easy to handle, didn't have to work. They're probably my choice to buy unless I find something better.

Bought the AC40s earlier this year and loved them. Got a pair of AC3s on sale (really cheap). I can't believe the difference in the two skis. AC3s/AC30s seem much quicker edge to edge as well as much more manueverable because of less weight. The AC40s, however, are still my ski of choice. They are much more stable, and seem to handle varied conditions much better. The AC40s definitely work better if you stay slightly forward . Either way, you can't lose with either ski. I would say if you prefer stability vs. quickness try the AC40.

That's what they should be called. I'm 177.8 cm (70 in) and 180 lbs. I would classify myself as an adv-intermediate.  
 
Anyway...ski dude talks me into these skis based on my extremely modest (seriously) description of my skiing ability. I wanted to be sure I got something that fit me and not something that got me killed or filled me with regret because I couldn't progress. So, he says for me to get the Nordica Olympia Conquer. So, NO. Style may not be a reason to choose a ski but its certainly a reason for me not to get one. I don't particularly like the fairy thing on the Olympia. So he tells me to try the AC40's. He says I need a 160.  
 
This is where I'm stumped. I know height isn't really the key factor anymore. Its more based on your weight and skill, right? So, I'm thinking that I'm on a 190 right now and he thinks a 160 is going to cut it and I'll still be able to kick my husband's a$$ on the slopes (hehe).  
 
I don't believe he's right so I got the 177 cm. They only go in one speed. That's ROCKET fast. I flew past everyone. Not because I necessarily wanted to, the ski DEMANDS aggression and rewards you with super fast speed with awesome stability. I was standing up straight and flying past everyone. I don't know if this is good or bad. But I love them. I just need a helmet and to increase my life insurance. 
 
I felt they were not as stable on icy parts unless I was going fast. Then they carved it up. It seems like they chattered at the tips when I tried to slow down and cruise and they weren't as stable. Could be my technique. To make them fly I just leaned forward the slightest bit and off you go.  
 
I really don't think I would have been satisfied with the 163's which I think they come in. Maybe a 170 would have been a good one - but they were fresh out. 
 
I only got a half day in on some cruddy, icy stuff with a few groomed parts. I can't wait to get them on powder because that's where I think they will shine and perform like a dream. Maybe they won't be so fast in powder either. Hmm. Doubt it, though. :)~

Just returned from a week at Deer Valley/Park City/Canyons. Picked them up (AC40s) on way to slopes at REI in Salt Lake City (excellent service). First impression on packed/groomed was ok.  
 
I like to ski knees locked and tight turns and fast. Wasn't getting good response from skis at first. I was trying to force a fat ski to do something it didn't want to.  
 
Next day it dumped 9 inches and skis were unbelievable, floating on powder, responsive and stable. When the powder was gone, went back to groomers and figured out how to use the ski.  
 
A little wider stance and accentuating the natural pop out of the end of the turn. Using that pop to initiate the next turn. 
 
Now I don't want to use any other ski. Only negative is on black/ double black big mogul trails, the skis are stiff and tougher to turn tightly. On these same runs in powder....awesome. 
 
A swiss army knife of skis. This is one that can do everything although you will lose a little in turning radius...its worth it. 

I'm 60 and just got back from night skiing at Keystone. The week before I was at Beaver Creek. I've had the AC40s since December 07. I've been skiing 14 years now and have never had more fun in more places on more runs than with the AC40s. I'm 5'9" & 220, so I need a tough, stable but responsive ski. They perform on hardpack, crud, powder, groomers, anything you want including moguls and catching (for me, small) air. By varying basic technique you can make sharp, tight turns but they are also very stable at speed. I have the 177s and enjoy how much I can control the speed. I'm especially impressed at their ability to soak up shocks from chatter and jumps. But I also got new Technica boots this year that help since they have some vibration dampening built in. I sold my 3 year old K2 recons to get the AC40s and am extremely glad I did. The AC40 truly is an evolution in all mountain technology.

I just bought the AC40s after demo-ing everything and anything even remotely similar; the AC40 far outperformed all. I am 23 years old, 195(ish) 6'0" and a type III ex-racer. I love these skis because they have the feel of a race ski with the ability of an all mountain. I bought the 170s after having skied 185's for years; I will never go back to a long ski, these skis are incredibly versatile. I have used them in 12" of powder, glare ice, hard packed groomers, glades and pure crud, all have become a joy, . These skis carve as if they are mounted on rails, I have never used a ski that can hold an edge like these. Let loose and enjoy!!!!

I skied Snowmass and A-Basin in mid March and rented a pair of the AC 40s. I used them in powder, bumps, groomed steeps, and late afternoon crud. Amazing ski! 
 
Anybody want to buy a pair of used Salomons? I just bid on a pair of the AC40s.

I demo'd these at 170 yesterday on a foot of new spring powder at Breckenridge. Compared to other skis I've been testing these boards are heavy. Too heavy for the long walk at Keystone. However, they're jack-hammers when it comes to crust, crud and wet powder. They simply cannot be bumped off track. At the same time they are surprisingly fast snappy and easy to turn. With one huge caveat: you got to wake up and drive them before they get going. I may be too lazy to use this ski every day. But if you're an active participant you will be rewarded. The AC 30s felt as heavy but did not turn as readily. For the performance difference go with the 40s. I may have to punk-out and go with the lighter, easier to run X-Wing Fury.

Just spent most of the day on AC40, 170cm, and loved them. I am a 61 year old expert skier, ski everything hard and really loved the way these cut through crud, held on ice and floated effortlessly through the powder. And we had cold powder here on Mt. Hood today, April 21! They really felt solid and powerful. I felt very comfortable and confident with them. 
 
My Solomon Extra Hots are my standard and the AC40 is the first ski that beats it. I still want to try the Solomon Fury but I'm not sure if anything could beat this.

I live in Whistler, 49 years old, have been skiing for 35 years, I ski 80 - 90 days a season, expert skier and ski every kind of difficulty and snow condition there is, I demo a lot of skis every year, AC40 is my ski.