Volkl has been at the top of their game for years with the Mantra. The Volkl Mantra has almost developed a cult following. Most skiers who own a pair of Mantras have likely purchased more than one. Although this years’ Mantra has been completely redesigned, traditionalists fear not. The Mantra comes back with just as much reliability as before but now with a full reverse camber. What remains is the two sheets of titanium, multi layer wood core and the high quality construction that Volkl has been known for. Many of you will ask, “Why mess with a good thing?” I was wondering the same thing myself until I discovered the benefits of the redesign firsthand.
At 6’1″ and 180 lbs, I tested the 184 cm length. It was an early season day at Loveland Ski Area in Colorado and the conditions were cold and a bit icey. The snow was falling on the two runs that were open and after a few hours the crud was getting pushed around. This made for a pretty versatile testing condition. The first thing I noticed about the Mantra was the excellent maneuverability at slower speeds. A lot of these metal clad skis feel very clunky until they reach their desired speed. The Mantra was happy going slow, linking lots of turns and danced quite nicely. Once gravity took over, the reverse camber kicked in and glued me to the trail. An excellent carver that can really cut through the crud. Many testers have criticized the Mantra for having too stiff of a tail for bumps, but I found it to be fairly compliant and predictable. I could still feel the power of the titanium springing back, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. If you are looking for a one ski quiver, the Mantra can most likely handle that request. I would recommend this ski for someone who is not afraid to turn it up and really try to get every centimeter of power out of it. While the reverse camber has made it a bit more accessible to intermediate level skiers, this is surely an advanced to expert level ripper. If you are confident in your skiing and are looking for something to progress your game, the Mantra will be there for you for many years to come.
