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AMA: this year's skis (and some from next year)
- Thread starter Verve
- Start date
Nembahobbit
Diva in Training
cool, the Mantras sound like a good option to replace my Fuegos. I’ll try to demo them
Nembahobbit
Diva in Training
cool thx! Where is your shop? I go to VT to mountain bike pretty often. Happy to detour to visit a good shop :-)
Verve
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
@Nembahobbit welcome! I’m at Alpine Options on the access road to Sugarbush in Warren VT. Good mountain biking here too 
lmk if you’ll be dropping by. Everyone who works there is great. We’ll be having a big tent sale Labor Day weekend as well. Everyone should drop in for deals on last years’ equipment & apparel and help us make space for all this years’ skis (so many!).
lmk if you’ll be dropping by. Everyone who works there is great. We’ll be having a big tent sale Labor Day weekend as well. Everyone should drop in for deals on last years’ equipment & apparel and help us make space for all this years’ skis (so many!).Will you be able to join any of Diva East at Sugarbush, even if just apres? If not, we might need to stage a mass visit to the shop.
@Verve I appreciate your generousity with your expertise and time. I was wondering what you think of Volkl's Mantra 84 W? I believe the 2027 is the same construction and technology as the 2026, just different color/graphics.
I ski the 2018 Fischer My Mtn Pro 80. Technically at 159cm it's really 79mm underfoot. This ski has been great, very versatile, but I think it's time to try something new.
I'm 5'1" and 165 lbs., intermediate/adv. intermediate. I stay away from 88mm and wider skis bc they bother my knees after a day or two. I ski mostly groomers out west but sometimes I venture into easy bumps. TYIA!
I ski the 2018 Fischer My Mtn Pro 80. Technically at 159cm it's really 79mm underfoot. This ski has been great, very versatile, but I think it's time to try something new.
I'm 5'1" and 165 lbs., intermediate/adv. intermediate. I stay away from 88mm and wider skis bc they bother my knees after a day or two. I ski mostly groomers out west but sometimes I venture into easy bumps. TYIA!
Verve
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hi Vicki! I do think the Mantra 84 sounds like a potentially good fit for you and you're right that nothing changed with this years version vs last season (and I personally like the the new topsheet a bit more). It's got a very smooth feel underfoot because there is a fair amount of metal - including a thin frame that goes all the way around the edge of that ski. They're not light but like all the mantra/secret/kenja/kendo etc line of years past, they have a very "stuck to the snow" feel that people love on groomers. My coach skis her Mantra 84s in the bumps like an absolute champ - as a less finessed bump skier, I before something with more tip and tail rocker but I do appeciate the edge hold when the back side of the bumps gets icy. I think you might enjoy!
Verve
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hiya! Sounds like a demo is the way to go since there are going to be so many options for something narrower and more frontside oriented than your Pagoda and you'll want to explore. I'm inclined toward brand loyalty too in many cases but when it comes to making a carving or an all mountain narrow ski, DPS is going into a totally new set of technologies from what they use in their super popular all mountain west / free ride options like your Pagoda. I haven't personally been impressed by their new carvers (though I know people who disagree!) and think you can get more for your $ from other brands that have been making race skis and frontside carvers out of Europe for decades. There is SO MUCH in these categories now, which is exciting and maybe overwhelming, haha. I know you mention nothing has come close to your pagoda - what have you had the chance to ski in recent years and in what ways did they fall short? I wonder if something that still has a rockered shape, like what you're used to with the pagoda but a little metal underfoot and a narrower waist would be a good compliment to that ski for groomer days - so not going full "carving" ski and focusing on the narrower "all mountain" options that are going to be a little more versatile.
I’ve tried so many. I guess the “smoothness” of the Pagoda is what I like. I’m curious about the Blaze. Many people on here like it. I may try at Taos. I can’t bring myself to buy the DPS carvers. Too expensive for me.
Verve
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I should have asked which version of the Pagoda you have! DPS's way of naming their skis is honestly a headache because they've changed it several times and small differences in names can mean very different skis. I assumed the Pagoda Tour - 112 underfoot and a lot of carbon in the construction.
The Blaze is a go-to recommendation for those who want a light ski - either to set up as a hybrid touring and resort ski or just because they enjoy light skis. When I think of smoothness in a ski ride, my mind goes to skis with some metal in the construction - so a little heavier than a touring-oriented Pagoda or a Volkl Blaze which is primarily a light wood stringer construction with a very thin metal plate where the binding is mounted. But since you've tried many skis, you may have a better sense for what equals smooth performance for you!
Smoothness corresponds to dampness in my mind. Is this idea correct?
A lively ski is fun and light on a smooth groomer, but it can be a rougher ride--i.e. throw the skier off balance unexpectedly-- when skiing through heavier snow or through chopped up snow. I cannot speak to how a lively ski might feel in powder.
A damp ski might be heavier with more metal, but could power through those tougher conditions. In that case, it could be a smoother ride.
I think we have a thread somewhere here on SD where ski terms like this are defined. I'll have to track it down.
A lively ski is fun and light on a smooth groomer, but it can be a rougher ride--i.e. throw the skier off balance unexpectedly-- when skiing through heavier snow or through chopped up snow. I cannot speak to how a lively ski might feel in powder.
A damp ski might be heavier with more metal, but could power through those tougher conditions. In that case, it could be a smoother ride.
I think we have a thread somewhere here on SD where ski terms like this are defined. I'll have to track it down.
Verve
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
@VickiK that's my association as well but I think there is room for subjectivity so I always like to dig into what smoothness means for the user. This is a great example as I wouldn't expect the pagoda to be a smooth ski in the way I think of it but @Bookworm has that experience with is so I want to understand which Pagoda she has and then I can work forwards from that skis construction to make some intuitive leaps about what she might like in a narrower ski.
From Gearpedia!
Dampening – Describes a tool or technique to reduce the vibrations in a ski, which could be external or in the ski’s construction. A ski with a lot of dampening will feel solid and glued to the ground at speed/ A ski with less dampening will feel more lively and may chatter (flap) at speed or even feel squirrely (unstable and super turny).
Dampening – Describes a tool or technique to reduce the vibrations in a ski, which could be external or in the ski’s construction. A ski with a lot of dampening will feel solid and glued to the ground at speed/ A ski with less dampening will feel more lively and may chatter (flap) at speed or even feel squirrely (unstable and super turny).
It's the Pagod 100 RP shape. I have Pivots on them too.
