Shine 72 review

Overview

The Shine 72 is the beginner model in Völkl's Shine women's piste line, the family that replaced the Flair. It is a 72 mm system ski with the vMotion 1 interface, sold in Europe with the vMotion 10 GW binding, and it is the only Shine built on a Composite Core: a synthetic PU core that Völkl describes as soft-flexing and "ideal for light-weight beginners". The sidecut is 123-72-104 mm, Sport Conrad lists an 11.4 m radius at the 151 cm reference length, and the ski comes in five short lengths from 137 to 165 cm. Völkl publishes no weight for it. The 26/27 catalogue carries it over unchanged under its 25/26 product code.

On-snow performance

Everything about the Shine 72 is tuned for the first seasons on skis. The soft composite core bends under light skiers at walking pace, so the ski will arc a turn without needing speed or strong input. The tip rocker lets the shovel float over the snow and, as Völkl puts it, makes it easier "to drift, slide and pivot" while parallel turns are still being learned; the camber from the middle to the tail still gives a hint of edge grip once the skier starts to tilt the ski. The 72 mm waist and the short 11-12 m radii keep turns quick and effortless. The flip side is obvious on paper: at higher speeds or on ice the soft core and partial sidewalls will feel vague, and a progressing skier who starts carving properly will want the firmer Shine 76 within a season or two.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Composite Core, a synthetic PU core with a soft flex for light-weight beginners.
• Sidewall: Center Sidewall, partial sidewalls under the binding combined with the slim 3D.Ridge construction, to save weight while keeping stability in the middle of the ski.
• Profile: tip rocker, camber from the middle to the tail.
• Base and top: P-Tex 2100 base; partially structured topsheet; edge tune 1.4° / 87.6°.
• Binding: vMotion 1 interface with a pre-mounted plate; EU packages ship with the vMotion 10 GW binding, GripWalk compatible.
• Dimensions: 123-72-104 mm.
• Radius: 11.4 m at 151 cm (retailer value; Völkl publishes none).
• Lengths: 137, 144, 151, 158, 165 cm. Weight: not published.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Shine 72 is for women who are learning to ski or who ski a few relaxed days a year on groomed pistes and want the ski to do the work. Lighter skiers benefit most from the soft core. If you already link parallel turns and want to progress, Völkl's wood-core Shine 76 is the better buy; if you want a wider, more forgiving all-rounder, the Volkl Yumi 80 is the softest option in Völkl's wider women's range. Among competitors, the Head Pure Joy is the closest match: a 75 mm beginner women's system ski with a similar soft build. The Atomic Cloud c7 (71 mm) and the Nordica Belle 73 play in the same easy-going class, while the Rossignol Nova 4 ca offers a lighter build for the same audience.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Very soft composite core that bends for light beginners at low speed.
• Tip rocker makes pivoting and skidding easy while learning parallel turns.
• Short 11-12 m radii and a narrow 72 mm waist for quick, effortless turns.
• Five lengths from 137 cm, including options for very small skiers.
• Complete system with binding, GripWalk compatible, at the bottom of the Völkl price list.

Cons

• Composite core and partial sidewalls run out of grip and stability as speed increases.
• Will be outgrown quickly by anyone who progresses to real carving.
• Völkl publishes no weight; expect an entry-level system weight.
• System binding limits binding choice.
• Strictly a groomed-piste ski.

Verdict: The Shine 72 is a purpose-built first ski for women: soft, short-turning and undemanding. Buy it for the learning phase and plan to step up to the Shine 76 or a similar wood-core ski once carving becomes the goal.