Aimed at advanced skiers who want one ski to go everywhere on the mountain, the Kenja 88 is remarkably versatile. It has the grip to carve big, high-speed turns on piste and the width and handling to ski fast off-piste in variable conditions. The Tailored Titanal Frame runs full length to provide the best dampening and stability, as well as power for the edges. Carbon Tips reduce swing weight and the low tip and tail rocker ensure that it’s impressively manoeuvrable.
Terrain Type & Ability Level
Terrain Type
Everywhere on the mountain, remembering that skiing off-piste is much more than only powder runs. The stability and grip that serve it so well in choppy and packed snow are also important on piste for strong skiers.
Skier Type
Advanced and expert all mountain skiers who want some width for stability but who are realistic enough to know they won’t be skiing deep powder often. The Kenja 88 has plenty of power and grip for skiing all the conditions and terrain that good skiers will encounter off-piste, as well as plenty of time on piste.
Overview
Shape
88mm underfoot works well as a compromise for a serious all mountain skier; not too wide to make the ski feel sluggish on firm snow and offering float and balance for other conditions. Updated for 22/23 the centre section of the 3D Sidecut is 1m shorter in radius than the previous model, making turning even easier. The sidecut is fairly straight to help with stability; the tips and tails are relatively short to keep a long effective edge. The tail has a slight rise that assists turn release, especially useful in trickier terrain or snow.
Rocker
Tip and Tail Rocker uses camber underfoot for excellent grip and response, with tip and tail rocker to aid turn initiation and release.
Core
The Multi Layer Woodcore uses a combination of beech and poplar, resulting in an extremely durable core composed of hard wood in the binding area and lighter wood around. This is reinforced by a full length Tailored Titanal Frame that increases torsional stiffness and improves dampening.
Construction
Full sidewall produces direct and strong power transmission for the best control.
Key Features
Tailored Titanal Frame
Tailored Titanal Frame is an evolution of Volkl’s familiar Titanal Frame. In this design, the width of the Titanal upper belt can be adapted to the length of the ski; the resulting torsional stiffness and the desired damping behaviour can be adapted to the skier. The Titanal content is reduced in shorter skis, which means shorter and lighter skiers can get the most out of their skis without excessive effort. The new Tailored Carbon Tips make the Kendo 88 extremely versatile. Carbon fibres applied by means of Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) allow our engineers to influence curve behaviour with great accuracy. The strength and alignment of the fibres define the force you need to apply and the energy that builds up where it’s needed. Agile shovel reaction is a feature of special note. This means that as soon as you initiate a turn, you can steer the ski in a measured, easy manner. In other words, simply think about changing direction – and it happens. This construction also allows means less weight without any loss of stability.
3D Radius Sidecut
The 3D Radius Sidecut ensures a range of turn size feel natural. A long radius on the tip and tail is combined with a tighter radius in the centre. The longer radii aid bigger turns and higher speeds with easy steering, less tip disruption and smoother turn exits. The shorter radius in the centre makes it easier to execute short turns and improves agility.
Carbon Tips
In this innovative manufacturing process, the Tailored Carbon Tips are produced by embroidering the individual carbon fibres onto a carrier material. This allows them to be positioned exactly along the stress lines, opening up completely new possibilities, for performance at the front of the ski, which has a decisive influence on the handling of the ski. The stiffness, torsion and thus the skiing characteristics can be specifically adjusted via the fibre thickness and millimetre-precise alignment. In this way, the fibres guide the dynamics to the areas of the ski where they are needed. The visibly integrated Carbon Tips are light, allow an agile shovel reaction with less effort and quickly build up energy. The Carbon Tips thus reach a new level of precision, direct tip response and active skiing pleasure.
EB tester’s comments: Claire (Milton Keynes) This ski was super super stable at high speeds. It was responsive edge to edge and held up really well in long turns.
| Size (cm) |
Tip Width (mm) |
Waist Width (mm) |
Tail Width (mm) |
Radius (m) |
Weight (g) |
| 149 | 129 | 88 | 113 | 20/11/16 | 1540 |
| 156 | 129 | 88 | 113 | 156/12/19 | 1630 |
| 163 | 129 | 88 | 113 | 23/13/21 | 1710 |
General Information
- Skier Ability: Intermediate|Advanced|Expert
- Terrain Type: All Mountain
- Rocker: Tip/Tail Rocker
- Radius: Medium
- Base: Sintered
- Bindings: Ski sold flat
- DIN: n/a
- Construction: Full Sidewall
- Core: Wood, Carbon, Titanal Laminate
- Demo: No
- Sizing Description: Nose level to forehead height is ideal, but longer length is important if there is a bigger rocker or you're spending more time off piste where the extra stability and float a larger size provides will be beneficial.
Free delivery on orders over £80
