2023 Volkl Deacon 80

This is one of those sleeper skis that just kind of sneaks up on you. With a blend of technology taken from Volkl’s race as well as all-mountain skis, the 2023 Volkl Deacon 80 has a whole lot to offer in terms of edge grip and rebound while keeping things interesting and versatile in an off-piste format as well. Built with Volkl’s 3D Full Sensor wood core made from poplar and beech, these skis have a sturdy platform to stand on. Add to that a steel laminate for vibration damping and power, a fiberglass frame, 3D Ridge, and 3D Glass, these Deacon 80’s have a strong leg to stand on in terms of performance. The 177 cm ski produces a 3D Radius Sidecut of 24/15/21 meters, so the central portion of the ski really comes around cleanly while you can let it run a bit when pressing the tips and tails to get smoothness and stability at speed without the ski feeling hooky. This technology works really well in a ski like this because skiers are able to access the performance of the tighter cut in the center but still get the thing up to speed when you want to let it run. All of our testers were on the 177.

Bob St.Pierre noted that while fun, the size was short for him “I’m more of a 182 kind of guy.” An unsurprising score of 2 out of 5 was bolstered by 5’s for overall impression, quickness, and maneuverability. Bob also gave 4’s for stability, playfulness, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. Bob states that the Volkl Deacon 80 is “A complete and total joy to ski. This Deacon 80 is probably one of the most unassuming skis I've been on. It's light and nimble on the feet, but when you stand on it and push, it comes to life and you do not find the top end very easily. From long turns to short, you can feel the 3D Radius combine with the fiberglass frame to make a fun, capable, and energetic carver that will not let you down from top to bottom. This would make a fantastic front side ski for anyone from intermediate all the way to expert-level skiers.” We’ve certainly seen some high-end skiing on these things, and it’s impressive what the ski can do when it’s on the feet of the right individual.

Matt McGinnis noted that the sizing was “just right” and scored top marks of 5’s out of 5 for overall impression, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. His lower scores of 3 out of 5 went for flotation and forgiveness, with the rest of his scores as 4’s. Matt notes that “This ski rips. But it doesn’t *have* to. Which is nice. That dynamic makes these skis an incredible choice for a skier who grew in confidence last year and is ready to step it up this year. The standout feature of these skis is edge hold. When you lock it in, these skis turn into rails, keeping you engaged throughout the entirety of the carve. The other aspect of this ski that I loved was the incredible responsiveness and quickness edge to edge. With a center radius of 15m, these skis are capable of snappy edge-to-edge transitions even at lower speeds. That factor, in combination with high-speed edge hold, is going to bring a smile to any skier’s face who’s ready to take their ability to the next level. All of that said, these skis aren’t for skiers who aren’t confident in getting on their edges yet. While not overly stiff, they do contain metal which means skiers who prefer slower speeds or find themselves on their heels will likely feel as though they’re being taken for a ride rather than riding their skis for the right skier though, the Deacon 80 is an incredible ski.” The first part of his commentary I think holds very true in that you can rip on this ski but it’s not compulsory. Devin Frye-O'Neill notes that the 177 skis true to size, and he gave 5’s for stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold, with 4’s close behind for overall impression, quickness, and maneuverability. He did have some lower scores—a 1 for playfulness, and 2’s for flotation, forgiveness, and versatility. Devin calls it an “aggressive carving ski. I found it didn’t do so well on quicker off-camber turns and really wants you to drive it fast.” So, a bit different from Matt’s impression, and that’s part of the fun of running this ski test.

Most skiers are going to fit somewhere in the middle on this ski. High-end experts may want a bit more in the dampness department, while mellower skiers might find this ski to be on the reactive side. Either way, the middle-ground is enormous for the Deacon 80, and that allows a wide variety of skiers and skier types to enjoy this front side/all-mountain ski a whole lot, and for most skiers who ski groomers most of the time, this is excellent news and a fantastic ski choice.