Demo'd the Mantras Saturday

[skigrl27]

In 177. However, and much to my dismay...it was LAST year's Mantra. Who demos last year's stuff?? Lame. This year's Mantra is a bit wider.

So the low-down: They were a bit long for my skiing style. I ski the bumps and found the 177's to be a bit too long to traverse through them as quickly as I'd like. I did like their stiffness& flex and they were SUPER fast & fun. I took them up Highlands Bowl, skied in thigh deep powder and they performed well, however, I enjoy my Nancy's better in the pow, since they're a bit fatter. But, had I demoed THIS year's Mantra, could have been different.

In a nutshell - wouldn't buy this ski after the demo. But I really would like to try this season's model. I really enjoyed taking out another ski for the day and can't wait to demo more stuff soon.

Next on tap: The Volkl Bridge in 169. I'm going to take them out next weekend and wouldn't ya know....looks like another big dumper storm is on the way!!

 

[SnowHot]

I was at the Volkl Demo tent today at Boyne Mountain.
Let me tell you how it went.

I stood in line for about 10 minutes, looked over the selection of skis, They had a lot of skis in different lengths, which is a very good thing!!!

I juuuuuust about got up to the front, when the guy I was going to decided to stream line and let the other guy handle the paper work end while "he" did the set ups. Duh, why didn't they do that from the git go!?
So I get to the front of the line again, when a man comes back with a ski and has questions, so I'm left standing.
Then I get his attention again, when he asks, as he's handing me the clipboard with the waiver and info, "ma'am, what are you thinking you want to ski" I said, the Bridge, The Aura, and the Fuego!
He said, "I have all of those but the bridge is not in a size you would like, its in a 169 which is a little long for your size."
I said, that's exactly the size I want to demo.

He turned to look just as the other guy was handing it to someone else. ARGH!!

Then a woman comes back with a pair of skis she has been trying to ask him for her next pair. He leaves me standing there, (I've now been in line, and being fairly ignored for 35 minutes) I said, "you need me(the customer) more than I need volkl skis!"
I skied away and had fun on my Blizzards!

 

[Jilly]

Ouch SnowHot, reminds of a thread about women and ski shop no!!
Glad you walked away. And tell everyone, maybe they'll smarten up and realize they need 1. more people on staff, 2. at least one women there and 3. a plan for the day!!

 

[IdahoSkiGirl]

I bought the Volkl Auras (female version of the Mantras) this year and I really like them. I have taken them in all types of powder conditions and I've always had fun! I took them in the backcountry today and I love that I can throw quick turns through the trees. I went from a 170 powder ski to a 163 in the Auras and really like the shorter ski.

 

[skigrl27]

Yes, Saturday was certainly day 1 of many demo days to come. Auras are on the list for sure. They only had a 156 when I went there.

Problem is, when I find "that ski" I'll have to buy the darn things. Or...is that a problem?? lol. That's what tax returns are for!!

 

[lil mountain girl]

skigirl,

the mantras are definately different this year than last . . .

besides being fatter this year , they're also stiffer -- good news for me 'cause i like stiff skis !

that's the reason i didn't like the auras -- i found them to be too soft for me

have fun demo demo demoing in the sweet storms to come!

 

[perma-grin]

Wow Snowhot! I'm really sorry to hear that! I will pass this along to the Rep. I don't know if he was running the Demo, or if it was one of his guy's. In any case I am so sorry that happened to you. I have always found him to be very supportive of women in the industry, me being one of those women( buyer,general manager,area pro rep). Nor have I ever found Kevin to be condesending to women. He has always been very supportive of my Womens ski Instructional programs. His wife was the 1st female tech rep that I ever met ("LookBindings"). She was right down there in the snow pits adjusting bindings with the guy's, that was a tough go round in the "70's"!! (Heck it ain't that easy now!) Both of his daughters are Alpine Racer's and I know that he is very supportive of them too. I would never equate Kevin with being patronizing to women. :( All I can say i that having been a veteran of many on snow Demo's from both sides of the bench, sometimes thing are beyond anticipating. Every body has questions some more than other's and it is impossible for one rep to carry enough skis in enough sizes to make every body happy all the time. I'm verry sorry that it was you this time. Please give Kevin a second chance next time. I will pass this along to him and let him know how unhappy you were with the way you were treated.

 

[altagirl]

When I demo skis, I go look for the tents with smaller lines and see if there's anything I want, and keep an eye on things I want to demo.

I'm interested in trying the new Mantras too. I loved last years. I had been hoping to demo some Auras, but once I tried the Mantras, I figured there was no point - I wouldn't want them any softer.

 

[IttyBittyBetty]

Love my Auras

I love my Aura's and don't find them soft. Then again, I'm only 5'1" and 110 pounds, so I think for a bigger gal, the Aura's might feel soft. You tiny ski divas should give the Aura's a try!

I have a few guy friends with the Mantra and they love them (last year's and this year's). Also hearing rave reviews for the Gotama, which is not made in a women's version so far as I can tell :(

 

[sibhusky]

I didn't demo the Mantras here because I thought that maybe 170 would be too long. I liked the Auras in the 163 but felt I needed it longer and really believe in demo'ing before I buy. My recent foray into getting the Outlaws based on my Recons has only reinforced that one needs to demo the ski before they buy it. Does anyone have an experience between the Mantra and the Outlaw?

 

[volklgirl]

What info are you looking for? I demoed the Outlaw in a 174 last year and the Mantra in a 170 this year.

 

[sibhusky]

Well, is the Mantra lighter? Stiffer? More damp, less damp? What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of each?

 

[volklgirl]

I found the Mantra to be livelier, stiffer, and more willing to carve shorter turns. For me, it was almost too stiff. The Outlaw was way damp yet carved medium and large turns with the best of them. I found it to be smoother and totally unflappable. As I recall, it skied "big". I'm assuming you read my take on the Mantra.

Here is my review on the Outlaw (I have no idea if there were any changes from last year):

K2 Apache Outlaw 174cm (Freeride Fat): Another Wow!! This ski just surfed through the little bit of crud and pow I could find and made the sun hardened chop feel like gliding on carpeting. This ski is a well mannered powerhouse with no speed limit what so ever. It wanted nothing to do with short turns (not surprising considering its size), and wasn't thrilled with medium turns, but in longs turns it had no equal. It was stable, grippy, and incredibly forgiving. As fat as it is, it still carved as well or better than some of the 'carvers' I tried. If I lived out west and actually got to ski powder, I would most definitely buy this ski! In the conditions it's made for, it gets a solid 5!

Does that help?

 

[sibhusky]

Helps a lot. When you say the Mantra was perhaps too stiff, it made me wonder how much you weigh...but I guess if you skied the Outlaw in a 174, you're enough in my weight range for your assessment to apply to me. Thanks!

 

[volklgirl]

Hey, I'm not shy. 190+ currently, but losing.

 

[lil mountain girl]

just to be anoying, i thought i'd also add some insight to the mantra

although volklgirl found the mantra stiff, i kinda like it that way (i'm 5'7", 150lbs and i ski on the 177)-- we probably just have different styles and preferences, not to mention location!

what kind of terrain do you ski on most?
what's your location? are they for eastern or western conditions?

that might help you decide which ski might be best for you.