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Anymore, the discussion on skis seems to dance around directness. For one, the tech jargon that frames the dialogue is rife with cliche and superlative. Words like all-round, versatile, and quiver-of-one get tossed around hastily, while proprietary technologies pepper official marketing copy, attempting to create novelty, all to push users toward certain models that undoubtedly have carbon copies offered at other makers.
But the perception a ski endures is also subject to the skiing public’s ingrained, often inflexible notions. As such, skis are imprisoned by their width, their supposed special use cases narrowly defined by commonly accepted if restricted parameters. A skinnier ski is thus a “dawn patrol warrior,” while those of the wider girth are invariably “powder slayers.”
Thus reviews often lean into these patterns. But no matter how anyone might describe the Voile Endeavor–in a sales scenario or otherwise–the model is simply a good ski. And I’d argue a great one.
Voile Endeavor Specs:
- Lengths: 157cm, 164cm, 171cm, 178cm, 184cm
- Sidecuts:
- 112mm – 80mm – 97mm (@164)
- 115mm – 82mm – 99mm (@171cm)
- 117mm – 84mm – 102mm (@178)
- Radius: 18.0 (@164cm) 18.5m (@171cm), 19.5 (@178)
- Profile: early-rise tip, camber underfoot
- Weight: 2752g per pair (@171cm)
Shape, Flex, and Construction
Running 82mm underfoot at the 171cm length–and complete with tip notches for attaching climbing skins à la skimo racing planks–the Endeavor certainly looks the part of a carbon-light touring drone to the uninitiated. And the ski indeed does fine work on the skin track. But it only begins there.
The Endeavor is listed at 2752g per pair in the 171cm length–just over six pounds. While that number may leave a lycra wearer or two looking elsewhere, or may underwhelm sport tourers used to similar spec’d skis in lighter packages (Blizzard’s ZeroG 85 at 170cm for instance is listed at 2140g per set), the Endeavor is unique as a solid-wood, telemark-compatible ski. Its stout poplar core retains free-heel bindings from tearing out in a way the new paradigm of carbon-forward, lighter wood core skis often don’t. But it still tours with prowess.
Photo: Jack O’Brien
On-Snow Performance
In fact, the Endeavor’s construction makes it an uphill-capable model while pleasantly avoiding the chatter of similar if lighter carbon-based alternatives on descent. It uses the same tooling and camber profile as its cousin, Voile’s Objective, a paulownia-core up-and-down-oriented plank that skis capably while borrowing much from skimo racing.
The Endeavor is by comparison a more traditionally constructed ski, and it shows on the downhill–the damp poplar construction and nimble profile makes it an eminent descender. Paired with Voile’s Transit TTS–a tech-toed telemark binding complete with a springed cable heel assembly customary of telemark rigs of old–the ski inspires confidence.
Not a skid was had either telemarking or using free-heel alpine turns in the dark of dawn on a steep, icy, eight foot wide corridor I frequented this December on resort tours. And they skied marvelously on softer but nonetheless hardpacked early season corduroy, aggressively staying on edge both on long, fast arcs as well as short radius turns. And in softer snow–spring slush and even a little late season powder–they skied superbly.
Photo: Brendan Mulvey
While not a specific free-heel model, Voile conceived of the Endeavor as a telemark-ready option. “With our broad line of telemark 3-Pin and Switchback bindings, as well as the TTS Transit, we wanted a ski that would pair well and provide a stronger mounting platform,” says Voile partner and production manager Mark Christopherson. “The Endeavor has proven to be just that. It has a poplar core which is still light, but offers a bit more dampness over the Paulownia.”
Matching Voile’s broad line of free-heel bindings that the Endeavor pairs well with is a similarly wide breadth of options for the ski itself. Voile offers the model in five lengths–157cm, 164cm, 171cm, 178cm, 184cm–and with a standard downhill base (the option skied for this review) and a fish scaled option. The Endeavor has thus quickly become a stalwart style for Voile.
Related: Review: Faction Studio 2
“The Endeavor is a top seller,” Christopherson continues. “The fact that we offer it in a scaled and non-scaled version helps to broaden our customer appeal. A lot of users want a ski that they can walk around on without skins, travel lightly and sometimes just cover rolling terrain.”
Christopherson has interestingly seen not only the rising popularity of skis that allow a skinless, seamless ability to move from ascent to descent; he’s also detected a renewed interest in narrower widths as skimo’s influence has crossed the aisle into other disciplines. “While there was a time where fat skis were popular…I think narrower skis have a renewed appeal,” he says.
Photo: Pete Morelli
Owing to its mix of respectably light weight and confident skiing prowess, the Endeavor is an great choice on bigger backcountry lines, too. And it showed during a particularly redemptive Colorado spring this last year.
From one Saturday to the next, the Endeavor showed its might, first on a narrow, icy couloir, achieving survival skiing when it was needed most, then on a still snow-clad Fourteener. Climbing and skiing Colorado’s Torrey’s Peak, the Endeavor felt neither heavy nor burdensome on the back. And, as luck would have it, my heart and body had the good fortune of experiencing how the plank might handle the spoils of June corn from on high. And enjoy it we did, the ski allowing exhilarating arcs just as well as exciting jump turns.
What Type of Skier is The Voile Endeavor Best For?
The Endeavor is a balanced, capable ski that not only makes a turn on the skier’s terms in pristine conditions. It doesn’t get bullied by challenging snow the way hyper light options can, bringing into clarity how a little weight on the ascent doesn’t so much add to the challenge of a climb. Just the right amount can keep the ascent sane while paying dividends on the down. Isn’t that the moment we are all up there for in the first place?
Voile’s Endeavor is a top choice, not only for resort tours or steep corn skiing. It’s not just a ski that offers a damp, soulful telemark flex while holding an edge with ease, even on the firmest snow. And it isn’t simply a skinny ski that can even show up in a little powder. It’s all of these things. But I wouldn’t call it versatile, nor the only ski you should own. I would simply say it’s a great ski.
