About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2020.

My take

Völkl Secret 92 Women's Skis are good for everyday use on all-mountain terrain and are geared towards an advanced skier who knows how to stay in control and can make good, solid turns.

About the gear

• Model: 2021 Völkl Secret 92 Women's Skis
• Size: 92mm, 163cm

About me

• Height: 5’3”
• Weight: 150lbs
• Experience: 20 years of skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought these: Feb 2020
• Days tested: Roughly 52 from Nov 2020 to the present
• Mount position: Back, all-mountain, or powder position
• Boots: 2021 Atomic Hawx Prime 95
• Boot Size: 26
• Bindings: 2020 KneeBinding Mist - DIN 3-12
• Where I’ve used it: Holiday Valley, NY, and Sun Valley, ID
• Terrain: In the East, icy conditions as well as groomed runs. In the West, groomed runs, bowls, and some off-piste runs.

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was looking to upgrade my current skis and wanted something that I thought was capable of going anywhere on the mountain. I wanted to be able to carve, yet still float over the crud and powder.

Why I chose this gear

I did a lot of research before I actually bought these skis. I chose the Secret 92 ski because of the way they were constructed, and based on reviews from other people. I also participated in a demo day to try them out.

I tested different pairs of skis and the Secret 92 skis felt the best under my feet. I tested the 2021 Atomic Vantage 86, which was a great ski as well, however, the waist width was much smaller than what I was in the market for. I also tested the Völkl Kenja 88, which again was a great ski, but they ride softer than the Secret and I was looking for the extra stiffness.

What I love about them

• Speed: My skis are slightly too long for my height so I go faster down the hill, but I wouldn’t consider the Secret to be a speed ski. It’s more of an all-mountain ski that will be able to go anywhere. These skis can go fast when pushed to, but I feel that they are more of an all-day cruiser going through any conditions.
• Edge hold: I am able to get a good solid edge hold. Occasionally I do have to work for it as the ski is stiff, however, they have a titanium frame that makes the ski easier to bend and get the edge than other models.
• Turns: In my experience, the skis are very stable at higher speeds. Again the titanal frame provides enough rigidity to be reliable on hard-pack, but it remains soft.
• Groomers: This ski loves to carve on the groomers. When I start to turn I can feel the ski wanting to roll over instead of making skid turns.
• Powder: The ski has a rockered tip with a carbon structure which gives it an advantage in floating better than other skis of the same width. I have only had the opportunity to ski in powder once with them, but they did seem to float nicely.
• Trees: Going through trees with the Secret 92 is not bad. I found the ski to be quick and responsive enough to get around most of the turns needed.
• Moguls: Because of the waist width of these skis, they are better suited for moguls than I thought they were going to be. They are sturdy enough to allow skiers to stay on course, but are also soft enough to help absorb the mogul and quickly get to the next one.
• Park: I have not entered the park with these skis. I think they would be fine to hit a box two but they are not made for the park. They do not have a twin twip, and the back remains flat to the snow.
• Backcountry: I found that the Secret 92 was sturdy while skiing some backcountry runs, yet still responsive when I needed them to be.
• Durability: The skis are made with a multi-layer wood core and a titanium frame with carbon tips. I think this makes them feel smooth when riding and allows for extra strength and stiffness.
• Stability: These skis dampen well because of all of the metal that is in them, and I find it eliminates most of the chatter as well.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Speed: As I mentioned, I bought these skis long for my height so I will go faster than intended sometimes. To be clear, this is not really a problem with the ski itself but is more of a “me” problem I encountered.
• Durability: The skis are made with a multi-layer wood core and a titanium frame with carbon tips. I think this makes them feel smooth when riding and allows for extra strength and stiffness. That said, I had a wreck that twisted my ski up a little bit. I was making a turn and the tip got stuck in the snow and threw up over top of my skis. When I clipped back in I noticed that the ski does not rise the same as the other one. It is slightly bent and a little warped. I have not taken it to a shop yet to see if it's fixable.
• Weight: At 1760g, they are heavier than some other models of skis. I don’t have an issue with this but some other skiers might.
• Switch Riding: These skis have a tail that is flat to the snow. This makes it easier to catch the tails so skiers will need to be careful as the tail can become stuck in the snow opening up the potential for issues like wrecks to occur.

Favorite moment with this gear

I skied on the East Coast with the Völkl Secret 92 a lot and wasn't sure what to expect out of them when I traveled out west. I went into the bowls and moguls and some off-piste locations, and the skis performed really well. I was especially super happy with the way they performed in the different conditions of both the East and the West.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think Völkl’s Secret 92 skis are worth the money. They are made with a lot of technology that has not only made them great for all mountain skiing but has also influenced the design strategies of other companies—like Head—who are following the same pattern in building skis using similar materials.

The Völkl Secret is comparable to the Nordica Santa Ana, and the Head Kore. With the Nordica Santa Ana 93 there is a similar performance on hard snow, in soft variable terrain, and on groomers. It is a mix of wood and metal like the Völkl Secret, as well as both tip and tail rocker. It is a great choice for advanced and expert skiers. Though it’s not the most user-friendly or playful ski in the bunch, it’s dependable and stable—a great choice for women who gravitate toward a ski with some backbone.

The Head Kore 91, however, is a great universal ski for varying levels of ability and conditions. It has a lightweight caruba/poplar core and moderate tip and tail rocker. It does not have the titanal frame, but still performs alright when the conditions aren't great. Because it doesn’t have metal in it, it’s not the most natural carver on hard snow.

Final verdict

I think the Völkl Secret 92 skis have made me a better skier overall. They allow me to do more and play around with carving, holding edges, and they hold up to changing conditions throughout the day. Skiers who normally prefer a longer ski are likely to enjoy using the Secret in shorter lengths. It is a versatile all-mountain ski and for experts who value stability, the dampness of the Secret will be enjoyable in the longer lengths.