Test: Völkl Rise Above 88

The first choice for ski mountaineers facing high-altitude terrains where climbs and descents are equally important.

Völkl’s Rise Above 88 is a ski that shines both downhill and uphill for its qualities. Thanks to its low weight, the ski is easy to master even on longer tours. Easy to maneuver at all speeds, this ski is also perfect on the feet of an intermediate skier. Despite being designed for ski touring, its versatility makes it fun even on the slopes. The Hybrid Tourlite wood core provides an impressive combination of minimal weight (1190g in the 170 size) and stability. The 3D radius sidecut provides a highly durable tip which is especially useful when skiing in windy, hard snow conditions. The sidecut construction provides both agility and maneuverability in couloirs or in narrow passages in general. For heavy-duty ski touring, the combination of a snug fit under the foot and moderate shaping in the toe and tail areas helps skiers stay in control and requires less effort when changing direction. Rise Above 88 is also equipped with Völkl’s new Smart Skinclip, for quick attachment/detachment of the skins. A rather easy model, perfect for crossings, trips at high altitude, and which are well suited to different types of skiing. In powder it is not very fun, both due to the buoyancy and the profile of the ski. Uphill it is very agile: its lightweight greatly facilitates changes of direction.

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