Freeride ski review(s)
Völkl Mantra

Advanced level freeride skier
Heyman's rating of this ski:

 Considering his skiers profile:

Big radius all-mountain freerider

The Völkl Mantra 2015 has a radius beginning at a big 21.5m for the 177cm version up to a ridiculously enormous 27.9m for the 191 version. Although you can see that the ski has virtually no sidecut, you think because of the moderate width of a 100mm underfoot that the skis will turn when put on their side. But when you do put these skis on their side to initiate the turn, nothing happens. They keep on going straight and you need to quickly make corrections to prevent a total wipeout. Well, that's how I started out with the 2015 Mantra. On piste I can not give it more than 2 stars. But wait till you get off-piste. A miracle! Suddenly the full rocker profile makes these skis invincible. You shoot over any sort of unevenness, bumps, snowheaps, gullies. Turning becomes easier, you still have to work for it though, but the skis float well. But above all: rock solid stability. For freerideing it gets 4 stars.

This ski is made for...

Maybe the Mantra 2015 is made for very serious skiers, who hate even the smallest bit of playfulness in a ski. Maybe the Mantra 2015 is made for freeriders who ski their off-piste runs turning as little as possible and need a huge amount of stability to support their speed. As I am neither of those type of skiers, I can give the Völkl Mantra only a 3 star rating.

Völkl about the Mantra

"In its first year, the new Mantra earned Ski of the Year honors, excelling in any snow conditions - from powder to ice. Thanks to early taper in the tip, a 100mm waist width, and Full Rocker, soft snow performance was improved, with more overall foregiveness and no loss in edge grip. The best Mantra EVER comes back in year two at the top of the heap. 40% Groomed, 60% Powder", according to Völkl.

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