Member Reviews: 2012 Volkl Mantra

  It is great when a skis strengths are also it's weaknesses. For 2012 Volkl has refreshed the Mantra with a bit of early rise and a slightly softer tail. In many cases, when a manufacturer does this evolution, they change the characteristics of a ski to the point where it can alienate it's faithful, Volkl did not do this. The newest evolution of the Mantra is very well the best, it does what you would expect with a broader range, for the skier that laps Kt from first chair to last, (s)he will not be disappointed nor with the skier that is looking to step up to a ski that will help them become that charger on the mountain. While the 2012 Mantra's performance window has been...

I am a 40-80 day per year expert telemark skier. I ski Utah for the majority of my days per year and the East coast for about 20 days per year. I have 12 pairs of skis in my quiver. I have the Volkl Kuro, the widest Volkl made, and the World Cup Nordica Doberman SLR and many other skis in between. THE OLD MANTRA IS MY FAVORITE SKI OF ALL FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE DEEPEST POWDER DAYS. The last generation Mantra, 133-96-116, Is more stable at high speed and much better than the new Mantra for laying trenches. Furthermore the old Mantra is damp, damp and more damp installing a sense of calm at Mach speed. Although the old Mantra is a little hooky in deep pow, that problem is not evident...

I owned the former version of the Mantra for several years (white model with the samuri sword).  I had a love hate relationship with these skis.  The hard snow performance was first rate, and they held an edge on east coast ice perfectly.  However, the soft snow performance was miserable for a ski of it's width.  I eventually moved on to the Prophet 100, which trailed the Mantra on ice, but blew it away just about everywhere else in terms of versatility, manuverability, soft snow performance, and overall fun.  After a brief/miserable experience on the Prophet 98, the 2012 Mantra is now my ski of choice for all around use.   My first day skiing these on...

Wow what a ski I ask for it it give it and then some , decent hold an hard pack a real pleasure to ski jot for the light hearted. This is a real ski it will out ski you if you let it, really. Can't wait for a powder day.