2023 Volkl Mantra 102 Ski Review with SkiEssentials.com
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- Jeff and Bob share their thoughts and experiences on the updated 2023 Volkl Mantra 102. This ski receives the same tweaks as the Kendo 88 and the changes in performance follow a similar trend.
Written Review: www.skiessentials.com/Chairli...
0:00 - Intro
3:05 - Construction
6:30 - Shape
8:30 - Testing in Sun Valley
11:30 - Bob's Experience at Stowe
I hit up demo day at my resort this year and was able to try 8 different skis. This was my favorite. I first tried the 184 and really liked it. I then tried the 177 and it was even better. Still had all the dampness and power, but felt slightly more playful. These will be my new daily driver in the Tahoe are. Great ski and nice review guys.
Great ski for the Tahoe area!
The 2023 Mantra sounds great. Also love the looks of it.
I used to really dread the kind of conditions in the intro as my balance and abilities are ok at best.And then i bought my dynastar m free 99 and sudently,i loved it.I really admire sking that with a titanal ski cause i just cant.
M-Free 99 is a fantastic ski for someone in your position. Light enough that's it not fatiguing to throw around and the rocker profile allows for relatively easy edge release. It'll get bounced around a bit at really high speeds, but it's far easier to ski than something like this Mantra 102!
Another fantastic review -- thanks fellas! It was really good to see this ski just tear up the crud -- that's what I end up skiing far more than groomers (not by choice), so it's great to see this in it's ideal environment. But honestly, the ski looks exactly like the Mantra 96 looked when I saw it in my local shop: intimidating. Bob's preference for the 184 was also really interesting, and makes total sense. Black Crow's JUSTIS seems to share some similarities with the MANTRA 102, or is that a flawed assumption?
Justis definitely shares some characteristics, but like the Stance 102 we referenced towards the end, the rocker profile is MUCH more pronounced than the Mantra 102. That's really what sets this ski apart from others. The amount of metal, the width, and the mostly-cambered shape. Basically everything else in this width range either has more rocker or less metal, or both. You assumption certainly isn't flawed, but the Justis is a good example of a ski with more forgiveness, despite also being quite powerful on its own.
Love mantras, suggestion for another vid would be a comparison of other skis like mantras
Mantra skier here. Couldn't pass up the deal on Rossi Sender Ti skis this spring (half off!). Looking forward to this season to see how they compare to the Mantras. Maybe I'll do a review video :)
I’ve owned Mantras since November 2006 and it’s always come down to two things: 1. A fat GS-like all-mountain carver, and, 2. A crud buster. The worse the crud, the harder I charge, and the more I enjoy them. Not so fun on moguls…
moguls & tight trees on the 2020 , 191cm, you start reconsidering your choices...
Moguls on the 191 2012-2014 M3, you start reconsidering your sanity.
The Mantra 102 - if you're an ex-racer that skis on concrete crud flat out, this is your ski. When I closed down the season at Sunday River in April with my partner and racing daughter at the U14 NorAms, my partner and I skied for 4 days in our Enforcer 88s while the kids were racing. We brought many different skis, but once the conditions get really variable, you just need mass to throw at the conditions - the Mantra 102 would have been a great choice - the Enforcer 88 was similarly perfect. I would buy this ski just for the street cred.
Lots of street credit for the Mantra 102... that's for sure! Spot a pair in the lift line and it's a good bet that guys means business.
On the sustained aggressive skiing, I took these down a tight tree/bump run; had a ton of fun and loved how they felt, but yes, they were brutal on the legs. Did the same run on the new QST 106 and my Revolt 121, had a far less painful experience on both of those. Overall great ski, seemed to do everything a little better than my M5
Great feedback, thanks for sharing Steven!
A 102 on a bump run? lol.
daily’d the last gen 102 at Alta last year. curious about the new sidecut, with the change in tip and tail taper does this still feel locked in when you’re on the groomers? for me it was worth the extra effort getting them to release in tight spaces in exchange for how much it felt like you were on rails on the groomers, and I especially loved how much the old ones wanted you to fully finish a turn compared to the other skis in the class. (also it was a relatively dry season at alta so that’s why I’ve said groomers so many times… )
HI Nick!
I like the slightly shorter arc of the newer 102. It is every bit as stable and strong as the outgoing model, just feels slightly turnier. Complete and total confidence on the 102 for sure. Nimbler and more agile. I think it's an improvement. Have fun!
SE
Your awesome reviews make so much better to get to know the different skis but right now for me its even harder to decide. I loved the Mantra from 2013, been skiing it since. Though i do appreciate al the Qualities it brings especially those on firm ground i was thinking about going for the Elan Ripstick Black edition. can you tell me if I will miss the race- character of the Mantra.
Thanks and keep up the nice work!
I fear that you'll miss the race-character of the Mantra. Nothing wrong with the Elan at all, but there is still a difference between that ski and the Mantra--simply no replacing the metal in a ski with carbon, but the Elan does as good of a job as any of them.
When will you do a review of the rest of the bent family and the revolt 90 review? Really love your channel!
We did a review of the 2020 Bent Chetler 100 a while back, which is actually still relevant as the ski hasn't really changed since then. For 2023, we did the 90 and 110. We won't have another Bent review until next season at this point, but I could see us circling back and doing another video on the 100 since it's been so long. The 85 is a cool ski, but more on the affordable, value oriented side of the spectrum. Certainly some limitations. Maybe folks would be interested in learning more about it? The 120 would be a super fun review to put together, we just need to wait for the right snow conditions!
I appreciate for your answer and would like the new video of the 100!
Managed to scrounge my way in dealer demo day, skied the 177. We had 9" of pretty nice fresh on top of groom, even though it was snowing hard things got pretty tracked up right away. Two immediate take aways. Great stability which I expected, but with the lowish swing weight, maneuverability and quickness were a surprise. I found myself skiing right on the edge of the tree line dipping into the untracked and out again with great control and confidence. I skied it back to back with the new Kendo. No matter what you guys say about the Kendo's capability in deeper snow, I am here to attest that it's a better tool for groomers and an in-between storms off trail ski. The Mantra has enough float to make a difference. I am 69 years old, 6' and 162 lbs, I see the comments about leg fatigue but perhaps this is a technique thing. I did a run though our only mogul field when it was untracked without incident. I am impressed.
Yes I agree with you 100%, Kendo is more of a groomer ski than anything else. They improved its performance in soft snow and off-piste terrain, but there are still plenty of skis that are easier and outperform it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Is there a noticeable difference in swing weight due to newly added carbon? I love my mantra 102 from a couple of years ago except big moguls. Otherwise super stable crud busters that I feel confident ski in any given condition!
Yes, in my opinion, there is. Removing some of the metal mass from the extremities of the ski does bring down swing weight enough that you can notice it. It's not, however, enough to make it particularly easy in bumps. Less fatiguing, but still on the more challenging/demanding side of the spectrum.
I used to live in sun valley and your skiing footage brought back memories, in all the skis that you have skied this year, was the 102 mantra, in your opinion, the ski that handled the variable snow in sun valley the best, or was there other skis(Qst-Fisher-MFree-enforcer) that came to mind that would have made those conditions a little easier to ski in, from a high intermediate to expert level skier for western snow or pacific NW snow? I remember that sun valley is low altitude (6000' base 9000'top) compared to colorado/utah and that even with the 10" of new snow , it was probably heavy and would make skis deflect , the one guy in your video looked like he was out of control(off pole plant arm was way up in the air) and was moving fast, but he didnt fall(at least not in the video) so maybe it was because the mantra was dampened and could take the variable conditions? Bob had said his favorite ski for alta was the Sal stance 102?
I skied this ski at Waterville during a heavy wet 5" snow day and this thing was by far my favorite. This thing is a knife and I agree with everything you guys said. I'm 230lbs and the 184 was plenty ski for Waterville. Super smooth and precise. I've been waiting for this review to come out and it confirmed everything I had interpreted for this ski. Great job!
Dude? That skier is obviously an aggressive expert skier. He was hitting major heavy chop at speed and likes it a little raggedy.
@@mrsmartypants_1 In sun valley when i worked as a ski instructor, one of the things that we taught to hi level skiers when we would take them on tours of the mtn, was that you keep everything from your waist up , quiet and in control, your pole plants would just be a flick of the wrist and your arms would never go above your waist, so the person i mentioned was not skiing like that, its ok if that is the way he wants to ski, but technically its wrong and it wears you out twice as fast and it is the reason that he had to make huge wide course corrections. And for an example the person holding the camera at that person , then turned around (and looked uphill) and got the next person in the RED outfit coming thru the same conditions ,and that person was just slicing thru , quiet and in control, and guess what , he was a SUN VALLEY ski instructor/ski patrol, so there is a difference in how you can ski those conditions
@@ambertudor Absolutely there are different ways to ski very competently. You seemed to be implying that the dude in the vid was out of control and possibly fell (out of frame). Nothing could be further from the truth. Sammy Carlson violates every rule in the (your) book yet he’s one of the finest extreme skiers.
ruclips.net/video/KVXJ2E41_xE/видео.html
@@ambertudor I was thinking the same. The first skier was not absorbing the terrain, which I personally do by flexing my core muscles and letting the knees move up or down as shock absorbers, as when skiing moguls, but adapting the technique to a different kind of terrain.
Great review. I still ski my 2012 Mantra 98mm in 184 and love them...would you say the 102 is closer in performance and "feel" to the older Mantra? Tossing up between the 102 (or maybe the M6) and Enforcer 100 as my next ski but not had a chance to test either...hard to find demo's here in Australia...
I would. That was my first impression skiing the 102. The new M6 is quite a bit turnier and more agile, which can be a good thing, but if you're looking for a good old-fashioned tank on the snow, I'd go 102. Enforcer is right there with it, maybe a bit more freeride/off-trail oriented than the Mantra 102. Have fun!
SE
@@SkiEssentials Hey there, quick follow-up question...I can't get a hold of he latest 102 model (here in Australia) but can get a good deal on the old 2021 version (black and orange graphic)...would you still recommend it as a buy or should I wait for more stock on the 2023 model with the slight changes around the metal plating meaning better performance?
Would you also say the performance of the Justis can match the edge hold, high speed stablility, dampness and crud busting performance of the 102? Easier to source here. Thanks in advance!
Interested in your thoughts of these versus the Mantra M6? Does the 96mm vs 102mm make that much difference? I can get a good deal on the M6. Keeping my 2017 Volkl 100eights for those days when it's been dumping pow.
The 102 is basically more material, so more tank-like. Neither float particularly well due to the weight. If you have the 100Eight, I'd lean to the M6 for more all-mountain grip and agility. Have fun!
SE
I know you had said the Stance 102 has a lot more tail rocker than this ski, but how would they compare it terms of flex?
Pretty close, but the Stance is definitely a little softer. Add in the extra rocker, and when you ski it, I would say it feels substantially softer. It's still a very strong, stable, damp ski, but in terms of longitudinal flex, the Mantra is stiffer.
Would Kastle MX98 be a fair comparison? What about the stormrider 102? (Obviously much more expensive)
MX98 is a good comparison. Similar stiffness and equally as demanding. A little narrower, however, so quicker edge to edge. I think the MX98 feels closer to the M6 Mantra than the Mantra 102. Stormrider 102 is another good comparison, although the flex pattern is quite a bit softer and the ski has longer tip rocker. Lighter, too, so it's less fatiguing yet not quite as powerful as the Mantra 102.
5’10 195: I had a surprisingly easy time on the kendo 178 and mantra m6 184. Found them fast and supportive but easy to ski.
Would I find a similar experience with the 102, or is there a significant step up in demand?
Also, how would you compare this to the declivity 102?
Also also, do these get more rocker than the kendo and mantra m6?
The 102 is pretty similar overall to the narrower versions. Since it has more mass, it's going to feel heavier, but that also translates to more stability. I love the 102, personally, and I actually had a lot of success on the 177 even though I'm pretty big at 6'2 225--that's how stable the skis are. The Declivity has more rocker and taper, so it feels more like a freeride ski while the Mantra 102 still has that carving/all-mountain character to it. If I am staying on-trail more, I'd take the Mantra, but if off-piste and soft snow is more a part of your routine, the Declivity may be a better option. The difference in rocker and taper from the narrower versions is pretty small, especially when compared to the Declivity series where the 82, 92, 102, and 108 are vastly different in terms of shape and profile. The Volkl's stay more the same among widths.
I’ve been on a pair of Confessions the last five-ish years. I know it’s an odd daily driver, but I’m usually able to get away with it here in Idaho. I’m thinking to go skinnier on my next ski, though, and would love something as damp/directional as the Confession-but maybe also more capable on piste. This ski sounds about right. Does that sound like a fair comparison?
Totally, and the on-piste capabilities of the Mantra 102 are pretty amazing. Have fun!
SE
Great review! How do these compare to Bonfide's?
Bonafide is a good comparison, although realistically it's closer to the M6 Mantra in shape. At the end when we were thinking of skis to compare, we were trying to stick to over 100 mm, but the Bonafide is definitely in a similar league in terms of stiffness, power, edge grip, etc.
Anybody else think the skis are in charge of the skier vs the skier being in charge of the skis in that video? Looked like a lot of just hanging to the turns type of skiing to me. Not sure if that's heis skiing style or if these skis dictated how he skied. The following skier at the tail end when the camera rotates uphill is much smoother and in control of the skis - curious to know if he is on the same ski/length and what the body weights are of the two skiers. Bob's comments about not thinking someone could or would enjoy skiing that way all day long alludes to my observations I believe. The reviews around the interwebz on the revised 102 sound awesome but sometimes conflicting. Some suggest it's accessible and not overly demanding for expert skiers who prefer traditional feeling and directionally strong skis while others suggest it might feel like your worked at the end of the day type of ski......
Interestingly, the initial skier is a former Nor-Am racer with no shortage of skill, but definitely a different style than the later skier (6/5 230). I believe the first was on the 177 while the next on the 184. I still think the new 102 is strong, smooth, and fantastic for certain skiers, and quite a handful for others.
How does the Mantra 102 compare to the Mantra M6? Would it be redundant to have both in your quiver?
I think you'd end up gravitating towards one or the other, so yes, I feel it's somewhat redundant. Personally, I'd end up on the 102. I think it's about as smooth and stable as it gets--just as good at carving as the Mantra, but with extra width for versatility.
Enforcer 104 free vs mantra 102. Thoughts?
I own the last generation Mantra 102 and the Enforcer 104 free (in addition to other dedicated front side carver and powder skis). These two are mg daily drivers. If there is any amount of fresh snow, I use the E104 due to the tail releasing more easily. Similarly, prefer the E104 on uneven conditions, moguls, trees. I haven’t been able to get the E104 above 55 mph. In contrast, when I want to go for speed and have wide open areas to run, the M102 is a super stable all mountain GS ski where I have hit 65 mph. They are very stiff and metallic feeling.
Enforcer 104 is softer flexing with a lot more rocker. As Peter describes, it has much easier edge release and is more user-friendly in trees, bumps, etc. On the other hand, the Mantra is more powerful, more precise, and holds an edge better on firm snow at super high speeds.
It’s a good ski…but if you are after crud busting beast mode it’s time to step up to the Katana 108
Katana 108 is the ultimate crud buster. Sometimes it's nice staying narrower and cutting through the chop, but yeah, that Katana is sweet.
I watched this just to see what you would say. I had 3 pairs of volkl and I couldn't get any of them to turn and I am a racer. I think you kind of said that;)
A lot of their skis are pretty demanding. Kendo, M6, Mantra 102, Katana 108. Some of the newer Volkl modela (Blaze, Revolt) are designed to be easier to ski and more forgiving, which is a nice way to complement their existing skis.
@@SkiEssentials i did get a chance to get on a pair.. i want to comment before watching the rest of the video.. the conditions that i was in was similar to the conditions at the beginning of this video.. the difference was that the snow was beginning to melt but lots of crud.. these were the first Volkl that i could turn and they were easy to get from edge to edge and they slid well too.. i will say that rather than going through the crud they floated over it.. i could still feel the crud underneath.. i really didn't push myself too much with these skis but i really didn't have a desire to either.. the first run i didn't have Ski Tracks on and it was my fastest run.. my guess is that my speed was in the 50s and for those conditions that is pretty fast.. i was on the 177 length which was perfect for me..
i can see that Gordy had the same experience on the ski as me.. floaty..
i will try to compare this ski to some of my other skis around that waist width.. i didn't get a chance to ski rock hard groomers with this ski but both my 104 Frees and 100 Foundation RP chattered.. i would imagine that this ski would be most similar to my 2019 Stormrider 105.. i think i was only on my 105s twice but they were extremely stable in adverse conditions and i would say that is true for these skis.. i would say it was easier for me to get on and off the edges for these skis than my 104 Frees and maybe that has something to do with less swing weight in these skis.. i didn't get a chance to ski tight trees or moguls with these skis or my 105s.. my 104 Frees are better than my 100 Foundation RP in tight trees and moguls but my 104 Frees are 177cm and my 100 Foundation RP are 184cm.. my 100 Foundation RP are the only ski i think i ever crossed the tails and i did that a couple times.. that was when i was not forward on the skis and i would say that even though all the other skis require me to be forward they are all a lot more forgiving than my 100s if i am not forward.. i would say that i have to be more forward with my 100s..
i have a ton more i can say about the comparison but i just want to say that i would love to ski test skis.. you guys have a great job;)
Lol. Best job ever.
Sometimes it feels like that! Behind the scenes, it's often like any other desk job, but the skiing part sure is fun! Also I'd rather be editing skiing footage than... say... cooking.
I love your videos. Every ski I own has been influenced by your videos. Thanks for your honest reviews.
yuck that color, looks like portland hipster green...or is it boy scout green? the ski does exhibit great pop with quick rotation, like you said thats good for skiing powder in open terrain
I wouldn't say it exhibits GREAT pop, it leans more to feeling damp, smooth, and quiet. You have to really power it up to get a lot of energy and pop out of it. Some skiers will be able to do that, some won't be able to bend it enough.
This ski is not for the faint of heart. Beginners/intermediates need not apply.
The only outlier to that would be a large and aggressive intermediate who knows they want something wide and rugged. Even then, you're correct in that they won't be able to access the top end of the performance.
@@SkiEssentials Intermediate and aggressive are mutually exclusive IMHO. On the slopes that is. With ski on their feet. Not at the apres where after 10 shots even a beginner could be aggressive :):):)