Powder Review: Volkl Mantra 102
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In a nutshell
The Volkl Mantra 102 is an impressively reliable and consistent ski. It can handle most conditions, in a manner that caters to strong directional skiers.
Length Skied: 184 cm
Weight: 2200 g
Stated Dimensions: 142-102-124 mm
Stated Sidecut: 30/19/27 m
Recommended Mount Point: -11.5 cm
The Volkl Mantra 102 is available now.
Intro
To call the Volkl Mantra a popular ski might be an understatement. Blame the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon, once I was on a pair, I started to see them everywhere. This is one of those workhorse skis that a lot of people reach for during a lot of days of skiing. But, weirdly, the Mantra has always been a blind spot for me. I’d never actually gotten time on this ski before this review. So, I was excited to get to know the Mantra, and learn what all the hype was about.
Length and Mount Point
I skied the 184 cm Mantra 102. That’s right in my usual size range, and I got along with it very well. I can imagine jumping up to the 191 cm Mantra if I was using it as a specific quiver ski, instead of skiing everything with it. There are a few days a year where a 191 cm Mantra would be really fun, but for the vast majority I’m definitely in the 184 class. If you have dreams of going as fast as possible, everywhere, the 191 probably makes a lot of sense.
The Mantra is available in sizes from 170 to 191 cm, and the women’s version, the Secret, is available from a 156 to a 170.
The Mantra’s mount point is a very traditional -11.5 cm behind true center. If you see that number and immediately jump to “what if I bump it forward to -5?” you might want to reconsider your intentions. Playing with mount points is fun, but at a certain point, it’s just not worth it. This is a ski for directional skiers who want a directional mount point.
Where does the Volkl Mantra 102 Shine?
For the right skier, everywhere but deep pow. That’s an oversimplification, but, after time on the Mantra, I totally understand why so many people own one pair of skis that say “Mantra” on the topsheet, and reach for them every time they go skiing. This ski is really predictable. It has great suspension, it absorbs chatter and levels out firm snow, and it just generally feels dependable. The Mantra 102 never did anything surprising, which, to be clear, is a good thing in this context.
In a mix of a few inches of fresh powder and soft chop, the Mantra felt unflappable. Point it where you want to go, and it’ll take you there, smoothly. It’s not a very floaty ski, but the rearward mount point helps keep those tips up in fresh snow. This isn’t an easy ski to throw sideways and slash around, but it’s happy to make a wide variety of turn shapes, and isn’t terribly hard to break loose and skid.
In firmer chop and on groomers, the Mantra felt very composed. It prefers to be put on edge and driven through obstacles. If you like to stand up and try to wiggle around things, the Mantra might not be the ski for you. It can do that, it just takes a bit more effort than “easier” lighter and less traditional skis.
On groomers the Mantra is quite fun to carve. It’s not as energetic and springy as some of the lighter, narrower skis in this class like the Icelantic Pioneer X, but it gives back what you put in. It’s not going to bounce you back and forth between low energy carves, but the more you commit to the turn and bend the ski the more it will power you over into the next.
Where does the Volkl Mantra 102 make some compromises?
This shouldn’t need to be said, but it’s worth saying: The Mantra 102 isn’t a “playful” ski in the sense that word is typically used in. I’m sure a great skier could make a park day on the Mantra look fun, buttering rollers and boosting side hits. But for most of us, this is a ski that’s better used for traditional, directional skiing. Point down the fall line, make good turns with good form.
According to some corners of the internet, the Mantra has been “watered down” of late. It is certainly more approachable than I expected. I think intermediate skiers will have no problem making the Mantra do what they want it to. But I can also understand that there might be a little something missing off its top end. Personally, I didn’t find that top end. I’m too conscious of my knee ligaments, and the danger of small children lurking over blind rollovers to ski as fast as I could have on the Mantra. But, there are certainly “meaner” skis on the market — the Dynastar M-Pro 108 comes to mind. Those more aggressive skis sacrifice a lot of the approachability and consistency of the Mantra though. They take bigger terrain and higher speeds to really turn on, whereas the Mantra doesn’t feel like such overkill in mellower areas.
What would a perfect day on the Volkl Mantra 102 look like?
For most people a perfect day on the Mantra 102 would be any day of skiing. This is truly one of those skis that you can grab without looking at the weather report and just go skiing on. It’s not a great powder ski. But if you don’t live somewhere with plentiful bottomless days, the Mantra can handle anything you might want to throw at it, as long as you’re not a jibby, playful skier.
