Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch (2008)

K2 skis are made in China. China has the lowest quality control. I would not trust my life to anything made in China!

Well now that’s about the dumbest posted comment I’ve ever seen on a site like this.  “Made in China” - I am sure you are trusting your life to a number of things made in China already and you don’t even know it.

I couldn’t care less where they are made, as long as they work and buying them isn’t going to add to the world’s problems in any major way.

K2 Are not made in china

The stiff setting offers a nice GS feel, but the truth is, after playing around with the ski, I believe 9/10 skiers will have the switch set either on stiff or soft and leave it there permanently. They will end up saying ‘yuck’ to the other setting.

Just as with the Rossi Radical with the interchangeable arms,  I doubt anybody will really find themselves switching back and forth much, if at all.

My only complaint was in soft mode - the front of the ski bends a bit too much and there doesnt seem to be an even flex. It’s as if the front of the ski is warping and folding, rather than flexing.

To me, both the Volk and Rossi concepts are too gimmicky - if you want a stiffer GS feel get a GS ski, if you want a softer short turner get a short radius all mountain ski. You can probably find both in last years models for under the current retail price of the 10 foot system.

The BEST SKI I have ever had the pleasure to use! They are simply fantastic!

Rented a pair last week in France and after the first run on the slope I was speechless. And that was before I started playing with the “Switch Technology”! I was convinced before I used them that this couldn’t make a difference. BUT I WAS WRONG!!!! It is really like switching your skis from soft to hard in 1 second. All I can say is “TRY THEM”, you’ll never want to ski another ski again…

I bought a pair yesterday)))

Awesome agree, I agree…but come one, BEST SKI! written 1-24-08, you absolutely HAVE to work for Volkl.

I don’t work for V�kl, but I wish I did… Been skiing on Head for years, and tested several other skis before I decided on these.

Was skiing yesterday in Austria with my new Tigersharks and all I can say is; I still can’t wipe the smile off my face.

For me they are the “BEST SKI” The morning was icy, had the switch on. Afternoon 12 Deg. C., switched to off for a more flexible ski in softer conditions. PERFECT!

Chew on that title for a second. Swallow. Down it goes. Kind of makes your stomach uneasy, doesn�t it. Indeed the rumors are true - Volkl is moving production of their snowboards and skis to China, joining K2 in the far east. Since negotiations with unions for a moratorium on wages and for additional (unpaid?) overtime pay failed, Volkl management will start laying off 9% of their workforce, with more cuts to follow.

Huh, who would have thought 5 years ago that both the American and German made ski giants would be joined at the hip in…China?

Tried a Pair of 12ft 168s over Christmas Holidays and couldn’t stop smiling until I realized I would have no choice other then to buy them as they are (without a doubt) the best skis i have ever skied. I ended up with 10ft 175s for greater control at higher speeds. At 5"11 200lbs if i could to do it over again I’d probably do the 168’s as it is impossible to take an “easy” run its fast as hell or nothing. As for the powerswitch i wasn’t a believer until i tried it, it really does make a difference. Whatever your mood is you can dial the ski right in. Highly recommend the ski to anyone who is in the market. at least demo them you’ve got nothing to lose other then 1500 once you realize you have to buy them

This is a fact.  K2’s ARE now made in China.  K2 being an American brand, got stuck in the off shoring fad that has already compromised the quality in many other products.

ANd it is also true that Volkl is owned by K2.  BUT Volkl is a German brand, menufactured in Germany - still.

If I find out Volkl is making skis in China because thry wouldn’t pay overtime I WILL NEVER SKI VOLKL AGAIN.

I have been looking for skis that are both stable at high speed and responsive enough for bumps. I’ve tried the Volkl Racetiger GS, which I like most so fare but haven’t quite tried on high bumps and the Supresport superspeed, which are also good but as one reviewer said, you have to learn how to do bumps with these and they tend to push you back. Are the Tigershark any better on bumps and speed? Any ideas of good models with these characteristics (heard the Head xrc 1400 chip were also good allrounders). Many thanks

Has anyone experienced problems with the outer layer blistering our easily seperating?

i had 2 ski replaced 05 ’ 06 ’ both volkl all stars 05 blistered or void under top sheet 06’ base peaked under binding just the same prob k2 have was a fight with volkl however the ski shop replaced under waranty

10 ft shark no switch have to say the best agree the wally switch is a toy for those that develop the gear with no idea

Skied on the 10ft power switch last week in Italy and they are awesome. Had the Volkl P60 GS Racing before, but what a difference. Only thing I doubt about is their length. I bought 168 and maybe 175 would have been better. But they’re super ski’s and the power-switch does really work ! Amazing…...

I have skied the 182cm Superspeed for 3 seasons. I have enjoyed them so much that I went to buy another pair and found out they were no longer made. I tried the Tigershark for a morning and returned them after lunch and used my Superspeeds for the afternoon. I don�t believe the Tigershark is in the same league as my old Superspeeds.

The Tigershark is not as stable at high speed as the Superspeed and has too much shape for an aggressive skier. The Power Switch seemed like a good concept but the ski chattered too much at high speed for me to consider switching it off. I wish I liked the Tigershark more.

Skied my son’s 5 Stars and loved them.  Looked for a new alternative and tried the Tigershark 10 w/o switch for the weekend.  Demo was a 160 and it held on ice as well as packed Pocono Mtn Powder.  Awesome ski.  I laid out touching my hands to the snow on the GS turns, and found I could turn them as fast as I wanted edge to edge with ease.

It only takes a slight pressure with your uphill toes to edge both skis.  As an instructor for Nat Ski Patrol I used the ski at a 160 running a loaded sled through all conditions and the stability was great.

I am ordering the ski, however moving to a 163 for a little more, but even the 160 held at all speeds

As you can tell by the many previous posts, not everyone likes or prefers the same ski. I checked 5 different skis on demo before deciding on this Tigershark 10 with Power Switch.

When you ski in the Eastern US, you need a ski that holds on ice and hardpack. Give me that type of ski, and I can handle the rest.

This Tigershark 10 was vastly superior for me on hard ice and hardpack, but performed just as flawlessly on the softer snow. In spite of the previous comments, I found it very stable at both speed and on ice. I could carve sharp turns, broad turns on groomed, and most of all in perfect carving control on hardpack and ice.

Some of the 5 skis I checked out were just terrible for me, with no control at all on exactly the same trail on hardpack and ice. The difference was remarkable.

The power swith does work. It is like having 2 skis on the slope. Analyzing things is what I did for a living, and I ran this and other skis through a careful analysis before making a decision. I’ only 5’6” 135 and 63 years old, but I found the longer 168 size to be the best for holding and stability on that all important ice and hardpack.

If this ski interest you, then I urge you to demo and compare skis on the slope. Only then will you find the ski for you.

The Tigershark is for me.

Is there a simple summary of difference between these Volkl skis?? I’m looking for a good all-around ski, and both seem to fit the bill. How to distinguish? thanks

The Volkl Gotama is made in China.  More are to followl.

i have a pair of the tigersharks, after 4 days the switches fell off, after 10 days one ski delainiated at the tip, there is crazy cracking at the tips of both skis. I challenge anyone to try to get a timely response from Volkl, if your willing to send the ski back (at your own expense) and rent skis for 3 weeks they will look at them. On a side every shop I have talked to have had problems with the switch. forget them, great skis but not worth the hassle

i have a pair of the tigersharks, after 4 days the switches fell off, after 10 days one ski delainiated at the tip, there is crazy cracking at the tips of both skis. I challenge anyone to try to get a timely response from Volkl, if your willing to send the ski back (at your own expense) and rent skis for 3 weeks they will look at them. On a side every shop I have talked to have had problems with the switch. forget them, great skis but not worth the hassle

i have a pair of the tigersharks, after 4 days the switches fell off, after 10 days one ski delainiated at the tip, there is crazy cracking at the tips of both skis. I challenge anyone to try to get a timely response from Volkl, if your willing to send the ski back (at your own expense) and rent skis for 3 weeks they will look at them. On a side every shop I have talked to have had problems with the switch. forget them, great skis but not worth the hassle

Demoed a bunch of skis, ended up buying the TS 10’.  The switch does work as described.  I, however, prefer the “on” setting for any condition other than powder.  Great response and feed back, good at speed.  but like the title says, there is no perfect ski for all people/conditions.  Some like blondes, some like redheads…

Demoed them last season at Mammoth. Very nice, but way too much work - you have to REALLY push them to feel them working ... meaning diamonds at least and I’m 6’5” 230. Otherwise they are too stiff even on Soft and I WAS LOOKING for a stiff skis. Regularly, I’m skiing 184cm and wanted stiffer shorter skis for tighter turns, but I don’t really feel the difference ... In my opinion, these skis are only for very aggressive skiers - no excuses if you are too lazy or casual ... So, I want TS 10 PS (not 12) and I want them BADLY :-)

K2 is a loser !!!

I demoed the 175cm TS10’s yesterday at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver. The conditions were extremely hard packed with areas of soft sugar on top. The ski’s were awesome. I’ve never skied anything shorter than a 198 and I’m used to carving medium wide turns as fast as I can. The Volkl’s were absolutely rock solid all day long. I think they may be the best boards I’ve ever ridden in 40 years of skiing. My Swiss ski buddy was on the same ski and was carving by me as smoothly as a knife through butter. I didn’t play with the switch because I was loving the way the skis felt just as they were, on stiff. This ski is definitely on my must buy list. 

Hey, I am looking to pick up a set of Tigersharks (without switch) and was wondering if there is any major difference bewteen 07/08 and 08/09 models? Any help appreciated. Thanks

I’m not your typical reviewer, and this is not a review. It’s more of a preview. My Tigershark 12s came via UPS last night and I just got my custom Salomon Impact 10s heat molded a couple days ago. Been hiking around the grassy hilly nieighborhood for 3 days… much to my neighbors’ chagrin/surprise/lust/dis-belief (I live in S. Austin: so anything goes.)

I’m looking at the skis, the Marker iPT 12 bindings w/ pistons, and my orange and white Salomons and thinking, “my god, what have I done.” It’s hideous. We should return to the neon ages of ‘1986-‘94.

I absolutely demanded the *non-switch* version of these Tigershark 12’s because 1) I hate gimmicks 2) I hate having to choose 3) I want to learn to ride whatever the hardware allows me to, without second-guessing whether I made a good or bad choice in the settings. It’s just simpler. Plus it’s lighter and less complex and hopefully I won’t suffer the chuffer looks from the patrollers. But of course I will, even though I cut all the tags off my gear and try to remain ingognito the locals spot a gaper from miles away.

I’m no gaper, but I do live 1200 miles from the mountains which means less than 20 days on the snow per year and perhaps 10 days rockclimbing on the cliff in the early fall. I usually get taken for a local by the locals when I’m in Crested or Breck or Telluride… just because I’ve been in those towns for more than 30 years and days/nights accumulated > one locals’ average stay.

My main point comes now. I used to push heavy IPC K2 KVC 205s down the mountain with snappy slalom turns. They were the only skis I ever owned and I skied them 30+ days year in every condition. Back then there were 3 kinds of skis: beginner, intermediate, and expert. I learned to snap turn on expert skis in POW, groomers, the course, downhill, crud, back bowls, trees, whatever, whenever. There wasn’t much choice.

It’s a similar sort of situation today where ski makers are fragmenting the market to try to sell more ski (quiver) to direct customers (ones who can and will drive every weekend to the mountain, and can afford to take a variety of skis for “different” conditions) to the one where the mountain biking market has become so fragmented no one can decide on a $7000 bike because it’s designed for one thing…. What ever happened to just learning to use your tools at hand… to learn how to make a race ski perform in crud or POW in the trees? I mean, my experience is hardly unique, but that’s what I did, and why I can ski 100% of any given (north american) mountain on a 25 year old pair of skis.

Same thing with mountain bikes. When I started racing BMX in 1978 no one had more than 1 bike and certainly didn’t think about how a different geometry might be more advantageous on one track versus another. In the 80’s we began changing our gear ratios for the tracks…. Now in 2009 we’re changing shock shim stacks, brake pads, and seat height for every ride—what gives? When will you ever know when you or your equipment faulted you for not clearing that rock garden?

Too many variables.

I’m giving a big preliminary thumbs up to my Tigershark 12s non-switch technology that will likely snap turn, tail lift, and edge ski like nothing ever before it—especially KVCs.

I hope to give a ride report after this week is over to let you know whether technology has outpaced me or to let you know whether you need to learn to control your given technical choices.

Best,

—f9a

All skis are made in China by K2.  For sentimental reasons, I would prefer a ski made in a nation that had a history of manufacturing alpine related products.  However, how can one justify almost 100% of all tennis racquets are manufactured in Taiwan and China?  As I mentioned, now I am sentimentally against buying a Volkl Gotama, if it was manufactured in China. 

Just picked up a pair of TS 10 foot w/switch but the bindings (boxed, not yet mounted) are ipt 12.  As these are “system” bindings, will they fit properly on the narrower 10 foot?

Feedback about ski length? I won’t know until I try them, any ideas about how this ski at 175cm will work for a middleweight?

I’m used to longer skis, 40 years on 205cm stiffies ie Dynamic VR17, VRM etc.  I’ve demoed a few fat models but first purchase.  165lb 5’10” expert, aggressive but slowing down and my knees are just about done. 

Ski mostly Ontario & Quebec, last year I rented powder skis out west but will try the 10 ft in switch off mode this year.

—nadish