Völkl Deacon 74 review 2020
PROSKILAB™ reviewers' comments
The "Best Ski" last year, the Deacon 74 from Völkl appeared more powerful but also more demanding this year.
The Deacon 74 is made to go fast, very fast and for big curves. The stability of the ski, the curve holding, and the "powerful" grip are high-flying. "A rail", the reviewers say. The ski just asks for acceleration and a lot of energy.
The ski requires adaptation time, commitment and attention. At low speed, entry into curves is more tedious and the ski is hard to deform.
We recommend the Deacon 74 from Völkl to skiers of excellent to expert levels, of medium to heavy sizes, who seek performance above all.
Review: Pros
- High-flying performance
- Powerful ski
- Carving handling
- Skills in large curves and at high speed
- Stability
- Grip
Review: Cons
- Technically and physically demanding skiing
- Rigid ski that requires speed and engagement to deform it
- Requires adaptation time
The ski review scores
Turn initiation | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 15.5 |
Stability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 17.5 |
Stability/turning performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 17.2 |
Grip | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 16.5 |
Short turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.7 |
Long turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 17.0 |
Skid turn performance | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.0 |
Handleability | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.3 |
Comfort | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 12.7 |
Snow contact | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.3 |
Soft snow fluidity | ☆☆☆☆☆ | 13.3 |
Who's it for?
Manufacturer's remarks
The Deacon range inherits Racing technologies such as Racetigers, with a wider scope. An All-Mountain Race range, for your days in the resort on the steepest slopes! #thesteeperthebetter
The snow conditions at resorts change a lot: perfectly groomed in the morning, a few bumps at the end of the day, and sometimes artificial snow that does not have the same grip and feeling of sliding. It is for these particular conditions that our engineers and reviewers present a widened ski with the same characteristics of sliding, grip and performance as a typical race-type ski.
The Deacons are equipped with the new UVO 3D: we find a 360° movement with a spring that allows this UVO 3D to move up and down to reduce vibrations even more and allow the ski a better ski–snow contact.
In terms of the construction of the ski, the Deacons opt for 3D Glass technology: fibreglass positioned vertically along the straight sidewalls at the level of the nose and the tail, which will bring more rigidity and power to the ski. The fibreglass is flat at the bindings to allow the skier to deform the ski more easily.
This range includes the Deacon 74, a ski with a medium radius (15 m @ 168 cm), which will allow you to vary small turns at medium speed and large curves at high speed. This ski has been awarded by magazine reviewers many times. This model is available in a PRO version with the famous Larker WC Piston Interface plate. Available in black or coloured versions.
Features of the Deacon 74
Brand : | Völkl |
Model : | Deacon 74 |
Year : | 2020 |
Family : | Piste performance |
Size tested : | 173 cm |
Tip size : | 125 mm |
Waist size : | 74 mm |
Tail size : | 104 mm |
Radius for the size reviewed : | 16 m |
Your review
Reviewed by PROSKILAB™
in La Clusaz, France, March 2019