2023 RMU Valhalla 107 Review
These playful planks were designed for skiers of the mountain west
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This article was first published by SkiMag.com.
The Scores (out of 10)
- Overall Score: 7.1/10
- Rank: #8
- Versatility: 6.4
- Crud Performance: 7.4
- Flotation: 7.8
- Playfulness: 7
- Responsiveness: 7
- Quickness: 7.4
- Hard-Snow Integrity: 6.4
- Stability at Speed: 6.2
- Forgiveness: 6.4
The Specs
- Price: $799
- Lengths: 162, 172
- Dimensions: 135-107-124 (172)
- Radius: 18.5 (172cm)
- Weight: 1,790 g (172cm)
- Level: Novice to Advanced
In a Nutshell
- Pros: Flotation (#3), Quickness (#5)
- Cons: Hard-Snow Integrity (#8), Forgiveness (#9)
Our ski test this year was set on the endless groomers at Sun Valley that, first thing on an icy morning and after a few weeks without snow, can be very unforgiving. But right around noon, the hardpack would finally loosen into soft, cream cheese. I happened to click into RMU’s Valhalla 107’s around lunchtime, and proceeded to have some of the best turns of the week.
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The blend of the tapered sidecut with the freeride rocker made the Valhalla 107 the surfiest All-Mountain Wide option at the test. Testers had a blast buttering these skis off the rollers on one particular run, and cruising through the mank once the crud got really slushy. The ski slashed turns with the best of them. Perhaps tester and SKI editor in chief, Sierra Shafer, put it best: “This ski is for the soul shredder who just wants to float through whatever conditions exist today.”
Testers were wary of taking this ski on anything firm, especially considering its width, lighter-weight poplar core, and rockered tip and tail (400 millimeters in the front and 320mm in the tail). But the Valhalla still felt quite stable for what it is, perhaps thanks to the camber underfoot and a couple fiberglass layers in the core. It could appreciate railing the hardpack (while it does have an extra thick ABS sidewall at 8.5 millimeters), as long as the snow wasn’t too hard. The Valhalla 107 does have a speed limit on very firm snow—which isn’t surprising considering its taper and rocker profile—but on anything softer than ice, that limit went out the window. A few testers also reported that the tails tended to wash out on the groomers, although once they were able to find the edge—bingo.
Read more: Learn How the RMU Valhalla 107 Stacked Up Against the Competition
A few of the testers who hadn’t skied on RMU skis before were shocked by how much they liked the Valhalla 107. While small and relatively unknown outside of Colorado, RMU is a brand gaining a lot of street cred within the Centennial State. This independent, freeride-focused brand popped onto the scene after making skis by hand from an underground garage in the Rockies (hence the name, Rocky Mountain Underground). They’ve steadily gained traction in the freeride world as they’ve improved upon their skis each year. Based on the way the Valhalla 107 performed, we’re excited to see what else RMU is able to put out going forward.
Ultimately, the Valhalla 107 is for the more freeride-oriented skier who loves to play in the bumps or make nice, cruisey turns in the soft stuff. But if you can set a deep edge (or want to learn how to), you’ll have a blast popping back onto the piste on these, too. If you want a spring ski, this is it. We just have one request for RMU as they build out their quiver: more length options for the ladies.
Kelly Klein is an associate gear editor specializing in skis and bikes. She lives in Bozeman, Montana.