Exploders vs. Mantras vs. Gotamas

[schindlerpiste]

I have skiied Exploders (180) for the past 3 years. At the end of last season, I picked up a new pair (still in plastic and unmounted). Recently, I bought a few pair of Mantras (184). Also, I have on order a pair of Gotama (183). Mostly, I ski The Canyons (25-30x/yr.); however, I do make it over to LCC 5x/yr. Has anyone skiied 2 of the three? 3 of the three? What are your thoughts? BTW, in my mind Exploders are the best ski ever made. I have never skiied Mantras or Gotamas.

I also own 6****** and AX4.

[powder11]

combine that quiver with a pocketfull of ludes and your good to go my friend. Ive yet to ski a Volkl I didn't like.

[CRACKER]

I highly recommend avoiding the search function.

[schindlerpiste]

I am only keeping a three ski quiver. Probably 6*-AX4-Explosiv. I am wondering whether anyone could convince me to bag the Exploders for either the Mantra or Gotama. I doubt it, but it may be worth the post.

[verbier61]

so you have brand new xplo, mantras and gutamas ....
And you ask for suggestions....

[verbier61]

... you already have them. Use'm, enjoy and let us know.

[skifishbum]

put some touring bindings on any of them. Sell the rest of your quiver and ludes. Buy BC safety gear, find solid touring partners, spend you canyon days in the bcc or lcc BC and change the handle to Shindlersoffpiste is what ya ought to do IMHO

[Lostinthetrees]

Go on a diet.

Have you thought of taking up mono-skiing?


And ditto what V61 is telling ya, JONG.

[seldon]

sell your six stars.

keep ax4s for rock/groomer skis, exploders as an everyday ski, and gotamas for deep days. or switch out exploders for mantras. but why you would even consider selling gotamas to keep six stars is beyond me, JONG.

[schindlerpiste]

sell your six stars.

keep ax4s for rock/groomer skis, exploders as an everyday ski, and gotamas for deep days. or switch out exploders for mantras. but why you would even consider selling gotamas to keep six stars is beyond me, JONG.

It's a good point. I only used the 6* 3x last year, and they were all in Nov. If I keep them, it will be for the outside chance that I will spend 7-10 days in St. Anton.

[verbier61]

It's a good point. I only used the 6* 3x last year, and they were all in Nov. If I keep them, it will be for the outside chance that I will spend 7-10 days in St. Anton.

ha.... so you go to st anton to use the 6*.....

[schindlerpiste]

That's 2x now that you are dissing me. I have well over 150 days in Stanton. I used to own an apartment there. St. Anton has more steep groomers, and non-groomed areas in between with volkswagon sized bumps than anyplace in the world. 6* is a good choice for just about all of the in bounds terrain there. Of course, I would bring my Exploders along with me for all the deep stuff off of the Schindler chair. You seem to be making rather bold statements with little knowledge of the actual terrain.

[seldon]

Dude.
Most, if not all, of the people that post on this board consider groomers to be at best a way of getting from one lift to the other, and as such, would not even consider a "groomer-specific" ski. For example, I am not particularly unusual in having a one-ski-quiver that is 97mm at the waist. There are plenty of people who have 5 or 6 pairs of skis here, none of which are under 90mm. If you're interested in skiing bumps and groomers, you'd get better advice over at epic. Why not just spend all your time in the BC if the "non-groomed" areas have VW sized bumps?

[schindlerpiste]

Seldon, thanks. That's a good post. Epic sucks. It seems that they are more concerned with threads like "How much are you spending on skiing this year" and "Who has the best quiver" than anything really substantive.

Like I said, I used my 6* only 3x out of 30+ days, and all 3x were in Nov. I appreciate what everyone has to say, as I am trying to decide which 2-3 pr. of skis to keep. I really like my AX4s. They are my everyday ski. My Explosivs are not replacable. My best days are always on them. Just keeping these two would make for an excellent quiver. I'm sure that both the Gotamas and the 6* are fun, but maybe not necessary. Actually, I really like what you said in your first post.

[baseWeldr]

I don't even know what six stars are
and I'm not sure I care

[addict]

IMO, AX4s and exploders, or AX4s and gotamas would be the 2 choices for a fine all round quiver. Seems to be what most people here are getting at here. I think the AX4s are plenty fun for groomers and VW bumps anyways. A good ski at any speed, they should be at least almost as fun as the 6*s (OK so I've never ridden 6*s, but have a lot of fun on AX4s). So the real question now is: Exploders or Goats? I've never ridden snow that Exploders can't handle, but that's just me. Sell the other skis, plus everything else peripheral you may own, that'll give you enough to buy some BC gear like skifishbum was talking about, plus a cheap sled, an old dodge truck, a winter of not working and more turns than you could handle. That's what I'll be doing

[Kya]

Send me one pair of your extra Mantras and Explosives. I'll ski on them this winter and let you you know which to keep. Then you can send me the Gotamas as some kind of simple "testers fee."