Description of Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch Alpine Ski w/ Motion iPT 12.0 TS Binding:
Just like the notoriously aggressive and wide ranging fish that shares its name, the Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch Alpine Ski roams the resort, shredding everything in its path. This mean bastard’s backbone consists of two full length sections of Volkl’s Extended Wood Core on either side of the ski, both laminated to a lower layer of titanium providing a stiff, responsive, and vibration-absorbing flex. The Tigershark 10 Foot also combines an aggressive sidecut with a relatively wide footprint for killer performance whether you’re making tracks on fresh corduroy or in virgin powder. Volkl built the integrated iPT 12.0 Motion TS Binding into the ski for a rigid connection for better energy transfer on any surface.
Bottom Line: Seek and destroy on the Volkl Tigershark 10 Foot Power Switch Alpine Ski w/ Motion iPT 12.0 TS Binding.
These are my go to sticks for daily use ski patrolling in the icy east. These ski's edge like nothing I've gone downhill on before. I can lay down perfect arcs on the iciest manmade snow you've ever seen riding the 'sharks. And that means when I'm driving a sled with a 250lb patient downhill on boilerplate snow, they can rest easy cause I'm on the 'sharks.
These ski's are so much fun on groomers all I want to do is turn. My favorite part of the day is opening the mountain on fresh corduroy riding my sharks and looking at my tracks on the way back up the lift. I wouldn't recommend them in the pow though. They're just way too narrow for that.
Replaced my 4 year old Volkl 6 Stars with these skis last year (March 2008). Did not want to give up the stability and edge hold of those skis but was looking for something with a shorter turning radius and bit more forgiving. I hoped the switch would give me a lively, athletic ski in the morning and a more forgiving ski in the afternoon.
After 10+ days on these skis, I am a big fan. They ski as billed - and met my goal. On groomed or hardpack, they are quicker edge to edge in 168cm than my 175cm 6 stars and they still hold everything on eastern hardpack and ice, even at speed. But they also soften up with the flip of the switch and give a more comfortable flex for bumps, 8" to a foot of new snow, or just a mellow afternoon. I've read the critiques about the switch being too gadgety but for my money, I think I got a very versatile eastern ski thanks to the switch. It is like having two skis in one and I recommend them highly to anyone with goals similar to mine.
These are my one-ski solution for eastern front country - possibly the last pure alpine ski I will buy. I am 6'1" 190lbs, 53 year old advanced/expert who spends about 1/2 time lift served and 1/2 time backcountry. I have a pair of 175 cm Movement Chamans for alpine touring here and in the Alps and Atomic R:EX in 180 cm for backcountry and deeper snow - both with Freeride Plus bindings. I am so happy with the lot of them that I can't quite justify a pair of Gotamas or Katanas for out west...at least not yet.
