Mantra 102 - where to mount it?

[BC.]

I’m trying to decide on some pups from this new Volkl litter.

Looking at M102, K108 and the blaze in either 94 or 106.

I live in New England, blaze will get a tech binding, the burlier pup will be alpine.

You can pick two, which ones get adopted?

Oh and I have the new Kendo too. Never owned a Volkl before but I’m going in deep this season.

^^^^[emoji1320]....since u have Kendo...get K108 for shits and giggles.

NE ice- Kendo
NE fresh snow/crud buster- K108
NE Tour- Blaze 106?

[singlecross]

The M102 is a great daily...Blaze 106 for dawn patrol freshies. I really like my M102.

[ticketchecker]

I really want the katana and I know the 102 is a baller. Have a w99 mounted tech but may end up skinning the resort more this year with the bug going around. Fucking carbon skis blow on NE hardpack, so the 99 may be decommissioned.

Blaze 106 and Katana seems redundant

[gaijin]

I can’t imagine how often you would miss the Katana at an Eastern resort if the M102 was your daily.

And on those softer days, ski the Blaze 106 in the morning?

[SoVT Joey]

I really want the katana and I know the 102 is a baller. Have a w99 mounted tech but may end up skinning the resort more this year with the bug going around. Fucking carbon skis blow on NE hardpack, so the 99 may be decommissioned.

Blaze 106 and Katana seems redundant

Blaze and katana seem redundant why? They seem completely different in build and in desired use.

I’d buy the katana and the 106 to add to the quiver. I don’t own a ski less then 100 except my Ova for low tide skin tours. I have a 107 and 110 that are my go to touring and then for the resort days I have a 100, 108, 107, and another 108. I ski east coast.

In all honesty I’d buy the mantra and the katana both.


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[YoEddy]

...In all honesty I’d buy the mantra and the katana both.

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I thought about keeping the M102 when I got the new K108, but couldn't justify - they're so similar (caveat - I have yet to ski the K108 but same construction, same sidecut, same ski but 6mm wider can't be very different other than the width). If it's soft then I'll be on the K108, and if it's crusty and hard I'll be on something other than the M102.

The Blaze and Katana are vastly different skis than the 2mm difference in width belies.

[ticketchecker]

Re: redundant I guess I was focused more on width than construction, they're very different. I also have a legend x106 so that gets to be a crowded spot in my current quiver. Although this is a quiver realignment exercise..

And I've got a lotus 120 spoon so there's that

leaning towards blaze 106 w tecton and Katana but in a shorter length than my x106

EDIT: 102 is going to get the nod over Katana, just more usable around here

[jski171]

I have brand new 184s up in gear swap

[HHTELE]

Bumping to see if there any more thoughts on forward mounts.
177s just showed up today.
They are replacing E100s and Collective 105s, both 180ish for lift serve skiing in the NE.
The mount looks far back, but not as far back as my Vectors.
Happy to give up top end speed for easier pivoting in tight trees. Thinking +1.
Any input?

[yeahman]

All I can say is mine are mounted on the line and I like it there. I have four days on them so far this season and I really like this ski. Edges as well as the M5's but has a little more oomph in the chop, which is exactly what I wanted. Pivots quickly, carves well, very intuitive. Makes me psyched for low tide early season skiing. That said, I've never been one to mess with mount points, so take it with a grain of salt.

[DumbIdeasOnly]

I said before mine are mounted +1. Take this with a grain of salt because I’m a beater, but I like them +1 because it makes it less likely my slightly too old to heal well ass will make traumatic contact with snow while I’m attempting to learn exciting tricks in the park like hitting jumps and landing without hurting myself.

In terms of on the ground performance - I have gotten occasional hooking which is either tune (possibly fixed this year), technique/laziness or being a bit forward on the non-traditional side cut. High speed stability is quite satisfactory still in general and the weird behavior is rare and seems most common on roads or other low angle terrain where it doesn’t matter much.

Have no regrets on the +1 even with the occasional hookiness.

[1000-oaks]

If anyone is curious about sizing, the 184 M102 is about 1cm longer than 2012-2014 184 metal Katanas (which run way longer than 2011 and earlier Katanas). But the M102 has more tip and tail splay, so it probably skis shorter.

[SeatownSlackey]

First day on my 191s today.

For those keeping tabs, I mounted them +1 for a 320 bsl but have a 325 so puts me @ +0.75cm.

Heavy file detune to tips n tails.

Short version : Super stoked.

Great blend of stiffness, energy, and turn shape versatility.

Pleasantly surprised by the amount of rebound from a relatively low camber ski too.

Last three years the 190 QLab has dominated the no new snow, frontside quiver slot. M102 has 95% of the beef but is decidedly more versatile and intuitive. Looks like I’ve found the usurper.

Will report back after more days and a little bit of carnal knowledge but great first date.




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[prsboogie]

Kind of a random question but... someone had posted 102/191s for sale in GS but misspelled Volkl. I clearly remember this but cannot find the thread. Sure their long gone but thought I'd try. Anyone have a lead?

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[Bandit Man]

First day this season on my 184 M102’s today...mostly inbounds/frontside skiing. Love how they behave on hard pack. These may be the most intuitive Mantra I have ever skied. They rail on hard pack. Feel like they have no speed limit. Yet, they have this innate looseness in off piste conditions that is even better than the full rocker Mantra.

My 184’s are mounted on the line with Warden 13 demos. Perfect mount point IMO. Would love to try the 191 on a bigger mountain. My local hill (Stevens Pass) just runs out of room too quickly, so the versatile 184 fits my needs better.

[HHTELE]

First day on my 191s today.

For those keeping tabs, I mounted them +1 for a 320 bsl but have a 325 so puts me @ +0.75cm.

Heavy file detune to tips n tails.

Short version : Super stoked.

Great blend of stiffness, energy, and turn shape versatility.

Pleasantly surprised by the amount of rebound from a relatively low camber ski too.

Last three years the 190 QLab has dominated the no new snow, frontside quiver slot. M102 has 95% of the beef but is decidedly more versatile and intuitive. Looks like I’ve found the usurper.

Will report back after more days and a little bit of carnal knowledge but great first date.




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Curious- how far back did you detune?
skied a day on mine without touching them, but definitely will detune.

[YoEddy]

Detune? Man I haven't detuned a ski since the early 2000's when skis kept getting shorter and the detuning area kept getting smaller.

That said i did forget to base bevel my edges once after a stone grind and, wow, thought I'd forgotten how to ski. Turns out I must have beveled one ski twice but not the other.

[yeahman]

I found no need to detune my M102s. Don't seem hooky to me.

[SeatownSlackey]

I’m detuned about 15 cm down from tops and maybe 12cm up from the tail.

Added that detail as I’ve found having extra sharp edges at the widest points on the tip and tails hinders release more than it provides improved edge grip.


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[gaijin]

So can we all agree now that the M102 is savvy on hard snow / front side environments.

I mean, if people are detuning their extremities for added release value over edge hold, it’s clear that that tune trick is to benefit hard snow performance.

We’re tuning the M102 as our hard snow ski now?

I don’t disagree. I’m actually laughing in agreement.

[Bandit Man]

I’m detuned about 15 cm down from tops and maybe 12cm up from the tail.

Added that detail as I’ve found having extra sharp edges at the widest points on the tip and tails hinders release more than it provides improved edge grip.


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+1...I performed a very similar detune on mine. With the very dense maritime snowpack of the PNW, it makes a big difference when off trail and in tight spots.

[kid-kapow]

My pair ended up at +1.3.

I went back and forth between on the line and +1, before asking the shop to drill them on the line. They then proceeded to mess it up, which for Pivot mounts means no minute modifications is feasible. Oh well, they will probably ski just fine at +1.3 too - especially given my experiences thus far on MVWs.

I have yet to ski them. They will be my new low tide rippers. I have high hopes for them Will detune a bit before I ski them re the feedabck above.

[Bandit Man]

Well, I just ruined things for my 16-yo yesterday. I let him ski my 184 M102’s...and he loves them. He loves that they ski so stable and he said “I love that tail! I can get so much power out of it!” Well, looks like I need to find another pair of 184’s since I love these skis, too. He told me to sell his 185 Enforcer 100’s to fund the search.

Also, I made him ski them on the line. [emoji6]


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[HHTELE]

My 177s are about 7mm forward. Ski great, but have only used on harpack.

[kid-kapow]

I must admit to being somewhat sceptical if these would be able to live up to all thehype TGR and Blister/Paul Forward have delivered. I have also thought that perhaps I made the wrong choice when I sold my ON3P Wrenegade96ti before trying these.

I need not have worried.

Mantra102s - 177, mounted at +1.3cm with Pivots - are simply sensational on hard snow. I am not sure if the 3x radius thingy has anything going for it yet (I am not a short turn type of guy, so I do not really care how well they do that). The skis have a higher speed limit than I do on groomers. The tails release effortlessly regardless of speed or where in the turn one is. You def do not need to be an expert to have a lot of fun on these on harder snow, though a preference for high edge angles and big arcs does not hurt. They are freaking amazing at high speeds doing huge arcs. I cannot wait to take these to a more groomer specific resort with more vertical.

They seem to be a tiny bit more of a handful in skied-out variable, though not what I would describe as punishing.

So in closing - TGR - thanks for making me aware of these slayers. My quest for a worthy low tide slayer is officially completed, at least for the foreseeable future, even if I am more than a bit curious for what devilry Völkl will deliver in the rumored new 2022 Mantra M6.