What ski to replace mantra?

[Squatch]

So I bent one of my mantras this past week, and I'm trying to find a replacement, possibly for this year if there's a sweet deal around, or for next year.

I'm not interested in next year's mantra, seeing as it gets wider (+4mm in the tip, +2 mm in the waist and tails) and the *last* thing that ski needs is more tip. I could see it, maybe, if that was your "quiver of one" ski, and that's the position I was in when I bought it fall 2005, but my ski needs have changed, and I've been using the mantra as a bump/tree ski. I've liked the relative softness of the ski for that kind of terrain, but seeing as this is the second pair I've bent after ~20 days, I should choose a new ski.

I was thinking about the 193 mojo 90, but I was curious if there are other skis I should think about for little mountain skiing (caveat: I've purchased some 195 Praxis, so I may use those for trees exclusively if they are as rad as claimed).

Skier Info
240 lbs, 6'9"
Skis: 191 Mantras, 193 Big Daddies (which I love, but are waaay too much ski for trees)
Ability: Decent...I can make stiff skis "work", a la Phill, but I'm comfortable with my penis size and would rather have a ski on the softish side. I liked the mantras because they weren't stiff but they could still rail on groomers, and I already have a ski for going fast.
Length desired: must be at least 190. Sorry, but I really should be on a 200 (this is for you Blurred & Prof) and the 190 is a compromise at best.

[bisnibble]

ANTs ??????????? (to fat??)
Titan 9's 188 (might be to short)

I have both Pm me if you are interested

[Squatch]

ANTs & BDs: overlap to the extreme.

Titan 9s: I think they might have more taper than I prefer.

edit: I wish the PE came in a 189

[dfinn]

edit: I wish the PE came in a 189

What about the Seth then?

[Magnoe]

6'9 ???

[Squatch]

What about the Seth then?

Frankly they're wider than I need, although the flex seems good in the 189. It's weird, though--right now there is a 191 Mantra, 179 PE (80mm waist generation) and a 189 Seth V, and the PE is the stiffest, and the Seth the softest by far. How's the edgehold on ice for the 189 seth?

6'9 ???

I know. Skiing shouldn't be my sport.

[El Chupacabra]

Buy the 190 Explosivs in gear swap.

Best. Ski. Ever.

[Squatch]

Buy the 190 Explosivs in gear swap.

Best. Ski. Ever.

that's terrible advice

(and I'm sure the explosiv would be a great choice for bumps )

[pechelman]

that's terrible advice

(and I'm sure the explosiv would be a great choice for bumps )

i actually thought they werent half bad in bumps as it was easy to butter the tails around and not have to worry about them hooking. actually awesome in the trees. plus the 190 is a bit shorter than 190 and has a huge tip, so it skis shorter. Think 186ish.

but as a dedicated bump\tree ski, there are for sure better options

193 mojo90 would be a good option although they are hooky.
on the line i felt they were pretty unstable unless you had them on edge.

edit: spelling and 2nd what Phill said below, when I bought my mojo90s, the red\blue pair of mojos hand flexed stiffer than the black wood grain topsheet mantra

[Phill]

What about a Ak rocket? I'd think it would be to soft, but you said you like soft skis

FWIW: mojo 90's flex fairly stiffly

[Squatch]

What about a Ak rocket? I'd think it would be to soft, but you said you like soft skis

FWIW: mojo 90's flex fairly stiffly

I meant soft by TGR standards. The madtrix mojo (186) that I just flexed seemed similar, if maybe a hair stiffer than my mantras. I'd be curious to try some AK rockets, but they seem pretty soft. Woodcore? I forget.

[Plakespear]

Have you looked at the Elan M777?

[Squatch]

Have you looked at the Elan M777?

I have. Or more specifically, I've watched Z get owned by them on bumps like I get owned on my BDs. So I'm hesitant.

[El Chupacabra]

that's terrible advice

(and I'm sure the explosiv would be a great choice for bumps )

i actually thought they werent half bad in bumps as it was easy to butter the tails around and not have to worry about them hooking. actually awesome in the trees. plus the 190 is a bit shorter than 190 and has a huge tip, so it skis shorter. Think 186ish.

but as a dedicated bump\tree ski, there are for sure better options

^^ What pech said.

I think they turn easily in bumps because of their straightish sidecut. But if you want a ski specifically for bumps, buy something else.

At 240 lbs, you shouldn't have any trouble getting an Explosiv to bend for you.

[summit]

6'9 ???

"squatch"

what's in a name?

[hway2]

I second the elan m777 recommendation if you are looking for a narrower mantra with less sidecut. ptex1 was selling them for around $375. This is their last year of production. If you get them, they ski short. I have 184s and they ski like a 180. softer, but very stout and plow through crud with a high speed limit.

[milkman]

Rossi B3/B4 (94mm in the waist) in 195? It's softish, long and has no metal (I think) so won't bend...

[dirtybryan]

If you liked the Mantras, I would think you should try looking for a mantra like ski without the metal.

Mojo 90s sound like a good idea.

[Conundrum]

So I bent one of my mantras this past week,


and I've been using the mantra as a bump/tree ski.

Skier info

240 lbs, 6'9"

My guess would be something with no metal or a lot more metal than the one thin layer that the Mantra has.

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Honestly, anything soft enough to ski bumps, someone as big as you is just going to bend skis. That's just the way it is. When I was competing in freestyle skiing (only 115-120 lbs) I bent at LEAST a ski a season and they were about the same stiffness as the Mantra. If you go with a stiffer ski, you won't bend it as much, but it will not be so foregiving in the bumps, and possible that it won't be as quick to turn in the trees...

I loved my Mantras so much I got another pair! Yay!!

[The Dad]

BD Kilowatt? Unfortunately, it maxes out at 185.

[StormDay]

would rather have a ski on the softish side. I liked the mantras because they weren't stiff but they could still rail on groomers, and I already have a ski for going fast.
Length desired: must be at least 190. Sorry, but I really should be on a 200 (this is for you Blurred & Prof) and the 190 is a compromise at best.

What about a 195 Rossi B4's? Smaller tip than the Mantra and pretty soft.

[pechelman]

squatch, you should just sac up and get some 194 lps or those 200cm/260 iggies gamma has for sale.

wtf, what maggot likes buying bump skis anyway?

[addict]

[QUOTE=hway2;1205955]I second the elan m777[QUOTE]

3rded. My old 192 777s floated a lot better than the wider 191 mantras, and were a lot more stable too. I didn't like the 184 at all though, a very different ski.

[Danno]

Interestingly enough, I'm also considering a replacement for the Mantras. And when I bought them they were also my quiver of one ski, but now I have Gots too, so on the deep days I won't use them. I'm almost a foot shorter than Squatch and 65 pounds lighter and am skiing the 177s. But I too expect to use them in bumps, trees, and hardpack groomer days.

Still my primary ski, but I don't really need any wider. And I like the stiffness of them, could handle a little stiffer but not much.