Volkl Mantras

Yeah I have a pair. They are amazing for all mountain/big mountain riding. I have them in a 184 and use them as my everyday ski. I have only skied them on hardpack so far, but I absolutely love them. Fairly stiff with a reasonable side cut and vertical walls= nice gs turns with good edge control. They are supposed to be a good pow ski too. Honestly though, I wouldn't want to have them on the east coast. I saw your other post about new skis...I would check out the Karmas if you want something that would be good for all mountain east coast skiing. (assuming you ride some of the bigger mountains out there)

Skiing magazine said they were the best.
Freeskier said they were the worst. Kinda confusing.

I really think it might have to do with where they are mounted. All the Volkl reps said 1.5 back, and that is where I have em and they are amazing. Perhaps they were mounted different for the bad test. They weren't the worst in the freeskier test, just not as good.

the Freeskier test was heavily biased toward the fattest, pure powder skis......all the high scores went to them (including a 10 for the Sumo???)

the mounting point makes a big difference

the factory line was moved up 2cm over the Explosiv to make the ski more all-mountain friendly (ie. groomers)

mounting it back 1.5cm brings it back to where it skis the best

huge difference

I'll bet they move the factory line on next year's Mantras

I have the 184cm Mantra and I love it for variable conditions in Tahoe (ie. Sierra cement conditions)

if I lived in Colorado or Utah, the Gotama would be my everyday ski

for Tahoe, though, the Mantra rocks just as it's predecessor did for 10 years

Nah man...the Gotama is way too wide to use every day. At least with the Mantra I can make it down through bumbs if I have to...with the Gotama you are pretty much screwed. But yeah...1.5 back is amazing.