I've been riding last year's Mantra (170 cm)since... last year.... and have had them in just about every condition short of east-coast ice. The only thing they didn't kill at was skiing at Mach 3 in spring slush at Vail trying to keep up with a bunch of racers. They kept up, but I was scared sh*tless, so maybe it was more me than the ski. They aren't race skis! They're nearly 100mm wide at the waist! Even so, at high speeds (except in heavy slush) they are stable and turn great, with the typical stability and snappiness that Volkl is known for. If you're someone who skis mostly spring slush or frontside groomers as fast as you can, then go with a purpose-built frontside carver. But if you like to ski all over the mountain, deep powder, bumps, groomed, crud, whatever, this ski will do it and do it well. If you're used to wet-noodle skis, you'll have some adjusting to do. I'd say the one thing that this ski does unbelievably well is punch through crud and chopped snow so that you feel like you're making first tracks. If you want a ski that kills it at everything, this is the ski. If you want a ski that is good at some stuff but sucks at certain things, then buy something else.

Not only does this ski have the sickest graphics out there but the construction is bomb proof, the reaction and touch is quick, they can float in the powder and they can cut a sick GS turn down any groomer. I've skied these for two weeks now in almost all conditions (no slush yet) and these skis are the best I've ever been on. Without a doubt the Mantra is the hotness of the season. If you have the spare cash and the skill to run these bad boys there is no reason to be skiing anything else out there. The Mantra kills it!

I bought these skis a couple weeks ago and just got back from a week long trip at Squaw- skied them on everything, i mean EVERYTHING. these things are amazing in steeps, powder, crud, sierra cement, and to my utter suprise, were on par with my old volki carver vectris in terms of ripping gs turns on groomers. i was stunned that a ski so wide could hold an edge so well. obviously not the best on ice, and certainly not a mogul ski, but will get you through the run no problem, and if you are like me, you wouldn't be looking at these skis if you are a mogul skier, and lets be real, who buys a ski because they are the bomb for ice (unless you are a racer like jay_p, in which case, you are in the wrong ski catagory)? Bottom line, if you like big mountain freeriding, and ripping groomers, buy these skis.... NOW! also, put some Marker Dukes on em, they are the best bindings on the market, and will give you a bit more height than the jester, making laying out big ass turns with your hands dragging on the snow a cinch.

I just bought these skis before heading west on a ski trip. These are the hottest skis at Steamboat right now and with good reason. They absolutely RIP. I feel like I can do anything on these skis. They are light and way quicker then you would expect from a ski this wide. Great in powder, fly through the trees then hit the groomers and rail high speed GS turns back to the lift to do it all over again! No joke, get on these skis and you will not stop smiling. After one run I told my friend to go straight to the shop and get a pair...and he did! Like it says above, THE MANTRA KILLS IT! I love these skis.

To put this in context, I'm a heavier skier (about 195lbs), ski 50-60 days a year and have been told by my ski buddies (ex-collegiate racers) say that I ski like an ex-racer. I bought the Mantra 184 to have something a bit more turny than my Dynastar Legend Pro 194s. I also demo skis each year to keep up on the latest and greatest. The ski is fairly soft, floats pretty well and handles deep pow at moderate speeds pretty good. When you start turning it up and doing bigger turns, the tips start to "flap" a bit and you realize that you have to pull back a notch. On hardpack it has an odd feel to it almost like you are disconnected with the snow and it is very light (again detracts from stability). That said, it is a pretty good ski for the average "expert", however, if you really are serious about high speed performance or you are a heavier skier, look elsewhere...Elan 999, Dynastar LP, Fischer Watea, etc.