K2 Apache Chief 06 vs. Volkl Mantra

[KBP]

I'm looking for a stiff ski that is great in powder, off-piste chop, and crud, and at least adequate on packed conditions @ speed. I have narrowed my choice to one of these 2 skis and appreciate any thoughts, imput, and hopefully first-hand comparitive experience and advice anyone has. I'm 6'2'', 225#, and expert. The skis are for all day/everyday skiing in lift assisted backcountry and heli-skiing in AK.They will be my ride regardless of conditions, good or bad.
This years K2 Chief is specd @ 131/98/116. The length I would be skiing is 181.The Mantra is 130/94/113, and I would ski it in 184. Capability in soft snow as opposed to hard pack is my priority, but I do NOT want a noodle on anything groomed or solid. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Yossarian]

At your size, for backcountry pow and AK heli-ski (???) I'd think you'd want to go bigger.

Go Apache at 188?

[Stikki]

I do NOT want a noodle

One man's limp noodle is another man's rigid shaft, or something like that. What do you ride now and what boards have you liked/dislike in the past JONG?

For a guy your size and seeking a stiff sidecountry/AK ski, the two skis you listed seem way undersized. Something like a Big Daddy, 193 m103, 190 Big Stix would be more along the lines of what you described.

[KBP]

I've been skiing the B3's for the last 2 years and the Rossignol Bandit XXX before that. I prefer the XXX. I've read how popular the Explosiv has been and thought the Mantra would be a good choice for my next ski. I've been on the Big daddys but found them only so so if there's not lots of snow. I am not sure how the new Chiefs ski but was intrigued by their sidecut profile.

[jonski]

the "sidecut profile" was actually taken from the TNC of way back in the day....nuff said really. Not sure I'd call the Chief stiff. Stiffer than say the Pocket Noodle, but...

[El Chupacabra]

I'm looking for a stiff ski that is great in powder, off-piste chop, and crud, and at least adequate on packed conditions @ speed. I have narrowed my choice to one of these 2 skis and appreciate any thoughts, imput, and hopefully first-hand comparitive experience and advice anyone has. I'm 6'2'', 225#, and expert. The skis are for all day/everyday skiing in lift assisted backcountry and heli-skiing in AK.They will be my ride regardless of conditions, good or bad.
This years K2 Chief is specd @ 131/98/116. The length I would be skiing is 181.The Mantra is 130/94/113, and I would ski it in 184. Capability in soft snow as opposed to hard pack is my priority, but I do NOT want a noodle on anything groomed or solid. Thanks for your thoughts.

I don't think the K2 Chief changed from 2004-05 to 2005-06, aside from the graphics. I have it in a 181cm, and it's my favorite soft-snow ski. It's not a super-soft ski; it'll carve smooth hardpack, but the shovels chatter a bit on faster & chunkier/ harder snow -- not uncontrollablly, just not really the conditions it was designed for.

If you want a truly stiff ski, the Chief isn't it. It's not a noodle, but it's not a plank either.

Some of my comparisons and my own questions are in this thread on Bro Models:

http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26860

HTH

-Karl