2027 Volkl Shine SC Carbon

For 2027, the Volkl Shine SC Carbon gets a new graphic and a new binding plate but otherwise returns unchanged. While it does fall on the lighter side of the spectrum, it’s still quite stiff and narrow. Those with a strong skiing or racing background will fare the best here as the ski is capable of making very short and energetic turns. The waist width of 69 mm is a bit difficult to overcome if you’re not used to such a sharp feeling underfoot, and that fact puts this ski into the upper end of ski skill. Because of this narrow waist and on-trail preference, it is more of a specific ski and likely used as a front side and carving specific ski rather than an all-mountain option. It's unique and crisp, offering a lot of grip and energy for accomplished carvers.

Volkl uses a lot of sophistication and engineering in the Shine SC's construction. Built with energy and sharp turns in mind, the Shine SC features a multi-layer wood core consisting of poplar and beech. The beech holds up well to strong skiing and reduces vibrations throughout. Volkl adds a titanal band to the ski to further keep it quiet and smooth. We then see some carbon added, in the form of tailored carbon tips. This inlay of carbon stringers provides easy initiation while keeping the swing weight down. As it’s an upper end ski, we also see a nicer plate system that holds their binding. This adds up to a weight of 2765 g/ski in the 158 cm length with that binding. Smoothness and confidence come through here thanks to their strong and sturdy construction.

Volkl certainly leans on their race and on-piste influence to dial in this Shine SC's footprint. At 69 mm underfoot, there’s not a whole lot of room for imagination here. This ski is shaped and designed to be skied on firm snow and smooth conditions. If you get it in anything softer, it’s not going to respond as it’s intended to. On hard snow and ice, though, this ski grips tight and delivers rock-solid performance with a lower weight. This is the main difference between a lighter ski like this and a dual-metal laminate race ski. The Shine SC handles crisp and powerful carving but won’t drag you down—there's a lot of energy here. The sidecut measurements of 125/69/103 create an 11.8-meter turn radius in the 158 cm length, so these feel a lot like slalom skis. We only get tip rocker here, highlighting the Shine SC’s preference for groomed trails. And even at that, there's not a lot of rocker, making it truly a directional front side ski for carving enthusiasts.

While this ski is relatively one-sided, it fares very well on that side. If you like a narrow waist and a crisply turning focus, the 2027 Volkl Shine SC is a great choice. If you’re more interested in casual cruising and a wider platform to stand on, there are better options. This ski is better served for skiers who prefer to be active participants in the process of skiing rather than observers. You can’t really rest on a 69 mm underfoot ski, and with a quick turning nature, you wouldn’t want to, either. If you like slalom-like turns with a lot of energy, it's tough to beat a Shine SC.