Another Mantra / Exp. ques.

I searched and really didn't see the comparison for icy groomer performance. How does the Mantra compare to the Explosiv for carving hard pack? And by hard pack I mean groomers that have turned to ICE. Would dropping down from the 191 to 184 help in carving performance? I have a pow specific ski so I would use the Mantra for all "non-powder" days and days when it generally sucks. I currently use my Explosivs for this slot but wouldn't mind an improvement in ice carving performance when the explosivs finally croke. Is the Mantra my best option? And in what size? I've seen a lot of props for LPs and Sugar Daddies as well for this type of ski.

For non-powder and ice, get something skinnier (G4, Karma). I just picked up a pair of G3's this year for ice and I'd forgotten how much fun a skinny ski is to rail on hardpack....

See this post. If you are really talking ICE. That is something different. I may get flamed for saying this but if you truely want to CARVE on ice get a race ski.

They've got 90 degree sidewalls and more sidecut than the explosive, so they rail. At least my 191's do.

Mantras are far better on groomers, but Explosivs are better in crud and pow. Mantra is more user friendly all-around, while Explosivs are better for hard-charging. I own both the Mantra (184) and Explosiv (180).

Thanks fellas for the info. I don't want a groomer only ski, I basically want an Explosiv that holds a little better on ice. I can rail my Explosivs on anything except for truly hard ice conditions and was curious to know how much the extra side cut of the Mantra helps resolve this 1 minor flaw. I'm willing to give up a little powder and crud performance because I use a wider ski on those type days anyway. Bandit Man can the Mantra handle GS and Super G type turns as well as the Explosiv?

Thanks Again Fellas!

Getting the Explosives to grip is a question of tune. Get your Xpl race tuned with low base angle (max 0,5, but try 0, all flat, first) and they will grip unbelievably well. Hard to ski at that setting though, but there´s definately some brutal grip to find in that construction.

I have a Mantra tuned at 87 degrees side/0,5 base and I have tried to ski it totally flat. It grips really well flat, but not "almost unskiably" well like my 190 Xpl on the same setting. Mantra on factory tune sucks on hard snow when compared to race tuned pairs.

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Originally Posted by ChowdahRidah

Bandit Man can the Mantra handle GS and Super G type turns as well as the Explosiv?

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I'll get hammered from this from guys who love the Mantra but never skied Exploders, but no, the Mantra does quite handle mach schnell speeds as well as the Exploder. They are a better all-arounder than the Explosiv, which is why I think they appeal to the above average Joe. Skier, but the Explosiv is the hard charger with no upper limit.

If you wonder why I sold the Exploder, I also have an 186 LP in my quiver. :D

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Originally Posted by ChowdahRidah

I'm willing to give up a little powder and crud performance because I use a wider ski on those type days anyway.

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You might want to take a look at the Elan M777. The M777 is better the Mantra on hard snow, but is still good in crud and spring corn. Currently, I'm using a 192 M777 as my hard snow ski. Mantra comes out when the snow is a little softer.

I have a 191 Mantra and i have to agree w/ the devil. It does an Ok job on hard snow, but not as good as the M777 and LPs. BTW: I had a 184 Mantra. My experience was the 191 was better at hard snow than the 184.

I have my 184 mantra's tune to 1 degree base and 87 degree side bevel. I think they handle ice and hard pack very well. Qualified in Gold division on Nastar with them, all 3 times I ran, on the east coast. Didn't have any race skis. That is a GS to less than GS turns. No experience with exploders.

Thanks for the advice about the Elans. I've demoed them in the past and really liked them. I've always felt Elan was underrated as a manufacturer.

I too have had issues with getting my Explosivs tuned properly. Now I just race tune them myself when I have time. I have actually had completely different experiences even from the same shop. Sometimes they make em' too hooky, other times I've felt they didn't get them sharp at all. Very frustrating.