Völkl Rise Above 88 W (Backcountry Touring Ski 2022/2023)

The ski for demanding female tourers looking for the perfect balance of lightness on ascent and power on descent.

The Rise Above 88 W is the first choice for demanding female alpinists for whom ascents and descents are equally important. The most versatile ski in the Rise line, it’s light enough for a swift ascent yet stable enough for any downhill conditions, whether icy, wind-blown or powdery. Its multi-layer wood core is light and provides an impressive combination of minimal weight (1,186 g @ 170 cm) and stability. The 3D radius design is especially useful in constantly changing high alpine conditions such as narrow passages and high speeds. A narrower waist underfoot and moderate shaping in the tip and tail minimise effort when skiing.

The Rise Above 88 W is a touring ski that takes the ups and the downs in its stride.

3D RADIUS SIDECUT
Three radii in one ski for maximum turning & speed versatility in all mountain skiing.

SMART SKINCLIP
The newly developed Smart Skinclip system allows the ski tourer to decide for himself, depending on the situation, in which direction he should pull the skin on and off. A standard snap hook at the tail end of the ski allows the skin to be attached and detached from behind. The skin can, however, also be pulled on and off quickly and easily from the front. This new flexibility is made possible by an elastic snap hook, which is also easy to grip with gloves. A subtle depression in the ski tip gives the hook lateral guidance and prevents it from unintentionally releasing the skin while walking.

HYBRID MULTILAYER WOODCORE
The extra-light hybrid multilayer wood core is a very complex core that is used in the Blaze. Light and very stable poplar and beech woods, individually weighed and selected by weight before gluing, are used in this wood core. In the tip-to-tail construction, the wood extends to the tip of the blade and end, giving them the sophisticated combination of good stability and low weight. In the center of the core, a CNC-milled Isocore area contributes to optimal liveliness and dynamic development. All in all, this design allows the stability of the ski to meet the high demands of a freeride ski, and this at a weight that is only slightly higher than that of a touring ski.

FULL SIDEWALL / MINI CAP
Full sidewall construction with mini cap overlapping to provide best durability.

At the 2022/2023 WorldSkitest the skis in the category „Touring Skis Ladies“ were closely evaluated. Tester’s opinion: "The "Völkl" is right up there with the strong competition and thanks to its great performance is awarded with a well-deserved third place. The handling of the skins is particularly uncomplicated and further on this touring ski shows no weaknesses. The "Rise Above 88W" was rated with a "very good"."

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