2023 Volkl Yumi 80

Now that we’re about a ski season or two removed from the move from Kama back to Yumi, it’s always interesting to go back and think about the history of the Yumi 80. The Volkl Yumi/Kama relationship has been a bit strange over the past few years. First came the Yumi, which was an all-wood ski that had fantastic success among the intermediate crowd. Easy to ski, fun, and light, the Yumi sold a ton of skis for Volkl. Then they changed the Yumi to have a titanal band and a wider waist, targeting more advanced skiers while still keeping the intermediates interested with the success of the name. To take the place of the outgoing "Yumi," the Kama was introduced. It was actually the same ski as the old Yumi, just with a different name. So, there was a bit of a musical chairs type of deal going on with these Volkl ladies' skis, and it kind of continues here in 2023 with the Yumi 80.

Aside from a graphics refresh, the Yumi 80 remains the same as last year. The biggest difference over the past few years was the addition of the glass frame that also graces the Yumi 84 as well as the men's Kanjo and the Deacon 80. Other than the difference in the glass frame, the titanal power plate and the general shape also differentiate the Yumi 84 and 80. Likely a better choice for lower-end intermediates or skiers who spend pretty much all of their time on the groomed terrain, the Yumi 80 is quicker, lighter, and easier to turn, but does lack a bit of the versatility and horsepower of the Yumi 84. Underfoot in the 84, the titanal power plate keeps the skis stiffer and more grippy, but the lack of that in the 80 makes it more flexible and easygoing. Better suited for lighter and less-aggressive skiers, the Yumi 80 is a great segue between the rental market and a higher end ski like the Yumi 84 or even the Kenja 88. It's also a lighter and more maneuverable option than a system ski like the Flair series skis that are more front-side and carving-oriented than the Yumi 80. Ariel Aidala is a great candidate to test these skis, and offers some great insight as to the performance and intended audience of these awesome all-mountain skis from Volkl.

Ariel skied the 154 and found it to be a bit short, but that didn't stop her from having a fun and positive experience on it. 5's out of 5 on her scorecard were given for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness. Her overall impression, as well as versatility, earned 4's showing the overall well-rounded nature of the new Yumi 80. In her words, "the Volkl Yumi 80 is a great ski for a lady skier who primarily skis on-trail and wants a ski that can grow with them as their skills progress. With an all-wood core and the 3D Radius Sidecut, this ski is very forgiving and perfect for a skier that doesn't want to work too hard to make a nice turn. While this ski is only 80 mm underfoot, when I tested it there was a few inches of fresh snow and it performed tremendously. It was forgiving and very easy to maneuver and turn from one patch of fresh snow to the next. I was surprised that even though the Yumi 80 is very light, it still has decent dampness on the hardpack. The length options are great, offering something for everyone from a 147 to a 168. Sometimes the lengths are awkwardly spaced and you either have to pick a length that is slightly too short or slightly too long, but Volkl nailed it perfectly with these lengths. Give the Yumi 80 a try if you are a lady skier looking for a great all-around, all-mountain ski that performs well on hard pack, powder, and bumps that will grow with you as your skills progress."

There's a whole lot of skiers out there who will benefit from the easy-turning nature yet high-end capabilities of these skis. Thanks to the shape, profile, and construction of the Yumi 80, skiers of various levels and backgrounds will be able to take advantage of all that the Yumi 80 has to offer. They're fun, compliant, and are great confidence boosters in a wide variety of conditions and terrain. The Glass Frame really takes these skis to another level of energy and pop, much to the pleasure of true all-mountain skiers.