This is a good choice if you're looking for strong, precise, and challenging. It will make you a better skier if they don't scare you away first, few weak spots. Masonry Contractor

hard to control your speed.

Great hold on hardpack. Stable at high speeds.

Not durable. Easily overpowered.

This ski has received outstanding reviews, but since I didn't demo the ski before buying it I was utterly disappointed. I am 6'1" and 195 lbs. and I completely overpowered the G3 at 191 cm. The pair of skis I had prior to the G3 was a pair of 205 Rossignol Viper Xs, which in my humble estimation are more fun in the bumps and deep and variable snow. The G3 did shine on hard pack snow, and ice, holding an edge without compromise and delivering fun slalom and GS turns at high speeds. However, in the bumps the ski was simply overpowered, and didn't have enough guts to keep up. Similarly, when I took the ski out into the crud, it noodled with every change in snow condition, which isn't much good to someone who is used to plowing through the variable spots. To make matters worse, I broke two sidewalls within the first week of using the ski. Granted, I am very hard on equipment, but I feel the ski should have held up better. Volkl was inclined to disagree.

Similar Products Used:

Atomic R9.22, Rossignol Bandit XX

Strong, precise, challenging, will make you a better skier if they don't scare you away first, few weak spots

May be too much ski for some, hard to control your speed.

This review is for the 02-03 Vertigo Motion (Gold color) skis. I bought these last year and skied them in New Mexico, Colorado and Utah in all kinds of conditions. When I first got them I had a bit of a hard time since I was only an intermediate skier and these boards just wanted to go, go, go, fast, fast, fast. In the beginning all of my energy was spend trying to keep my speed down. They are a pretty a demanding ski if you're not a real expert. Once I got the hang of them though I learned to sit back a bit and enjoy their extreme technical precision. They have made me a much better skier and I've found them to excel in pretty much every condition except for deep powder.

Incredible all around ski. Holds an edge in ice and pounds through all snow consistencies. Very manuverable in the bumps. Good in powder up to 6 inches a little tougher to handle in deeper snow. If you are 35 + this is the ski for you!!

all around performance -- everything is possible

none.

I looked into Volkls after noticing a lot of good skiers who were about my size and strength (6'2", 200 or more lbs, skiing hard all day on all kinds of terrain) seemed to have them and like them. I settled on the G3 Motion after demoing them -- bought a demo pair, 177s, for the price above at season's end of 2003. Unbelieveable performance. They give you full confidence that you can make any move at any speed, and the "old-guy" twin tips allow you to have some fun as well. My kids, who used to blow by me on my old recreational skis (which will go unmentioned), were left catching my drift wherever we went. The motion system seems to be a good innovation.

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Saloman X-Screams

This review is for the Volkl Vertigo Motion 1200 which is the same as the Vertigo G3 packaged with the Marker Titanium 1200 binding. I'm an advanced/expert skier, been skiing for 20 years, 6'1" and 220lbs. I've had a good 2003 ski season; skied in Lake Tahoe, Whistler, The Alps in all sorts of conditions and demoed many brands of performance skis. This weekend, I decided to buy (on impulse) a pair of Vertigo Motion 1200's based mostly on the reviews here and the fact that they had good end-of-season prices right now. This ski is BY FAR the best ski I've ever skied. It tops anything I've tried this season. I took it up to Heavenly in Lake Taho, it was amazing. This ski was great all over the mountain. I had no problem floating on the powder (and I'm a big guy). What's amazing is that the ski kicks you out of the turn like no other ski. I found that I was able to ski much longer without my legs getting tired. It was also great on groomed runs and no problems in moguls. I definitely prefer the Motion 1200 system which integrates the binding on the rails, it seems to give the binding a more stable foundation for a better edge which means better/easier turns. Although I'm sure the G3 is just as good. I also like the dual tips so I can go goofy if I want to. MSRP is $1000, the shop listed $850 (includes binding) but I offered $699 and they took it. You can definitely get a better price, but this ski is hard to find. I looked all over Tahoe and they were sold out everywhere. I still give it 5 for value because you get what you pay for, in this case, it was worth every penny.

DEMO BEFORE BUYING. I rave about my Vertigo G3’s. I’m an advanced/ expert skier and spend most my time in Oregon; Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood. I demoed K2 axis X, Salomon X-scream, Atomic Beta Ride 10 and Volkl Carver V3’s. After a long day of demoing in 4 inch new snow I put these babies on and it was like morning again. Flying through the trees, cutting up moguls and reaching speeds where I now need to buy a helmet. After purchasing the G3’s I have skied on ice, 5 inch steep and deep, and two day old mush. In every case they have excelled. Long GS turns, tight bumps, and punching through crud. BUT… if you live in a location where 5 to 12 inches of powder and thicky stick is the rule of the day you might want a fatter ski. The Vertigo G3’s are truly an all around condition ski and are fun, fun, fun!

Customer Service

In Portland Oregon always go to the US Outdoor Store. I bought Volkl Carver V3's, skied on them, thought they were too unstable in the thick, brought them back and got a trade in at FULL VALUE.

Similar Products Used:

K2 axis X, Salomon X-scream, Atomic Beta Ride 10 and Volkl Carver V3’s

These are a great ski if you want to control your speed. It will not let you ski at extreme high speeds without losing an edge. I found the X-Screams held a better edge. They are however easier to ski in moguls than the X-Screams, due to their lighter construction. I also felt that the G3's were a little too light in the crud. The crud tends to grab the ski and pull you. The lighter ski does let you ski a longer day though. If you stick to mostly grooms, moguls, and fluffy powder (no heavy stuff--too light of a ski), then this is your ski. I tend to ski on the X-Sreams on most days because of their tremendous stability.

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Elan MX2000, 2003 Salomon X-Scream Series

Just got back from my first day on my new g3's....wow! the best ski of all time. Anybody can do anything on these skis!

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elan scx, k2 5500

Picked up my new G3's yesterday and hit the slopes last night. Didn't demo anything and just bought them based on online info. Only skis I've been on prior to yesterday besides a shorti trixster are my 10 y/o Olin DTSL long stix. Took my spankin new G3's to some good ol Pa loose granular and hardpack with a bit of ice for fun. These babies rocked! They chewed up everything the mountain had..icy crud covered bumps, loose granular cruisers, hard pack cruisers. As soon as I started down the mntn on these things a smile took over my face and I knew skiing was going to be huge fun again. I can't wait to ski the terrain these skis are supposed to excel in. I'm dieing to go off piste on these babies! The G3's gave me elusive form and confidence like i've never had. Rock solid stable at all speeds(prob got em up close to 40). My buddies that were with me and who usually ski with me accused me of having snuck off and gone to ski school over the holidays. They refused to believe that the skis were responsible for me looking like a skier they didn't recognize(confident with un-erring form). And this was my first time out this season. I got the G3's at 177 w/marker 1200 pistons. I will not need another ski for a long time! These skis took me from an inconsistent mid level 8 to the next level up. I'm 40 y/o and last night I felt 20 again. These skis manage kinetic energy like I couldn't believe. I skied all night hard and never fatigued while my 7 yr younger buddies were dragging their butts at the end of the night. You can really feel the way the G3's throw the energy back into the hill and not up through your body. I always struggled with cross under technique in the past but it just fell into place on these after about 5 runs.

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none..and i really don't think i need to bother