2025 Volkl Peregrine 80

As a new ski for 2025, there’s a lot of excitement around the Volkl Peregrine 80. While some other skis that used to be called Deacon return unchanged as Peregrine, the 80 gets a whole new build and shape versus the outgoing Deacon 80. Basically, the new ski is quicker, straighter, smoother, and more enticing than the older 80, and that’s saying a lot because that Deacon 80 was a standout in these zones as well. Volkl adds the Peregrine 80 and 82 to replace Deacons 80 and 84, using a new mold and style in addition to a few new construction techniques. Overall, testers loved the insanely quick edge to edge speed and the ease of use. Whether on groomers or in the bumps, these skis outperformed many expectations, showing a need for a utilitarian ski like this for most on-trail ski days. As a wider frontside option, the 2025 Volkl Deacon 80 is a great carver, a smooth bump performer, and has a nice platform to stand on for carving all sorts of turn shapes and styles.

Built with Volkl’s multilayer wood core consisting of poplar and beech, the Peregrine 80 gets a sturdy start. One of the interesting parts here is that Volkl uses the beech closer to the edges and the poplar in the middle. This shows a commitment to edge grip and carving control while keeping the central spine of the ski lighter and more manageable. Under the core, the skis get a full length titanal band that keeps the ski smooth and quiet. Since it’s not full width, it keeps the weight down slightly. Instead of the titanal frame of the wider 82, the 80 uses a tailored glass frame that adds to the energy and pep of the ski. By using fiberglass in wider and narrower zones, the ski can be optimized for pop and zest in various lengths. Like the 82, the 80 uses Tailored Carbon Tips to increase the ski's initiation speed while keeping the swing weight down. In the 177, the ski sits on the scale at 1990 grams without the binding. They do use the Lowride 12 TCX system, which is an amazing setup. The rails are built into the core of the ski so you’re getting amazing energy transfer from your boot to the snow.

Overall, the Peregrine 80 features a narrower footprint than the Deacon 80. Peregrine’s stats of 126/80/109 are slightly less than the Deacon’s 128/80/111, leading to a straighter overall cut. By using Volkl’s 3D Radius, the Peregrine gets a longer arc in the tips and tails while keeping the central section of the ski shorter with a 15-meter radius. The longer parts, consisting of 27-meters in the front and 23-meters in the back allow skiers to achieve higher speeds with greater smoothness. The rocker profile helps here, too, as the longer and lower rocker keep the ski closer to the snow and more amenable to achieving these attributes. When the ski is flatter overall, it’s easier to get from edge to edge, resulting in a lightning quick turn style and a smeary/skiddy character that works great for bumps and short-swing turns. Tester Bob St.Pierre lives in this zone: “I love how the Peregrine 80 makes such fast turns. I spend most of my free skiing time on the sides of the trail making short, skidded turns as if I were in moguls. The Peregrine 80 is my new favorite ski in this zone. It also works great in the bumps—one of the best overall and certainly one of the top new skis for moguls. I don’t always need the top end of carving performance like the 82 provides, the 80 suits my needs and wants better than the stiffer 82.”

That’s interesting because Bob is a bigger skier who could use/need more metal to get more stability. As a result, the skier type here is more based on preference rather than ability. Application matters, too. More skiers looking for shorter turns and bump performance will fit in better with the 80. It’s a great option for intermediates through experts who want something that excels on groomers and other maintained zones.