Curated Skiing Expert Hayden Wright got his hands on the 2024 Völkl Mantra 102 this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every skier is different; if you have any questions about the Mantra or need recommendations on which ski would be best for you, reach out to a Skiing Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Völkl claim about this ski? Völkl claims that the Mantra 102 is simply a real hard carving ski both on and off trail. This is their freeride, all mountain option with a 102 mm waist.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of the ski? They have no speed limit and they are stable at all speeds. They're also really good off trail. It's a very unique ski that's almost equally as good on trail as it is off trail (maybe slightly leaning towards better performing in the off trail category).

How does the shape of the ski affect the way it rides? The Völkl Mantra 102 has a lot of titanal and a multilayer wood core. The big takeaway for me is the 3D Radius Sidecut. You have a turn radius up in front of your boot, a turn radius underfoot, and a turn radius in the tail - that's the 3D Radius Sidecut Völkl’s been doing for a few years now.

There’s also tailored carbon in the tip so they have a real nice low swing weight. For being a 102 mm waisted ski with a good shovel on it, I found that the swing weight wasn’t as much as some other skis.

Carving

How does the ski turn? The tailored titanal, which you can definitely see on the ski and feel in person, creates a real rigid ski. When it’s on edge, it’s not going to fold over for you.

What is the edge hold like? The Völkl Mantra 102 is going to hold edge on anything: soft stuff, hard stuff, slush, and powder.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the skis? I didn't experience much chatter and, like I said, I was taking these safely to some higher speeds. Again, it’s a real confident ski at speeds, and it's going to have your back.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle skiing? It is a freeride ski so if you’re boosting sidehits and jibs, it’s going to be a stiffer ski. Also, I wouldn’t necessarily hit park jumps with these.

Is it good for skiing switch? They have a slight rise in the tail so you can ski switch on groomers. But, I wouldn't land any bigger jumps switch or land in powder switch. It's a directional freeride ski.

Freeride

How is it for freeride skiing? We had some awesome firmer corduroy in the morning and then it got softer in the afternoon. These things plowed through it all like nothing stood in their way.

How is it in powder? It would be a really fun ski in some choppy, tracked pow. I have ridden the 2022 model in powder and it does decently well.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend these skis to? I recommend the Völkl Mantra 102s to anybody that likes speed and charging hard. They’re ideal if you're a heavier or taller skier that skis aggressively and doesn’t want to be stuck on the groomed runs with a narrower carving option. Even though they are 102 mm underfoot, I found that they were fairly easy edge to edge and, once you got it there, they grip and rip.

Who should avoid these skis, there are better options out there for them? Anybody that doesn't plan on going off trail at all should avoid these. This is just going to be a lot of ski for you.

Also, this is a lot of ski for a beginner. It really likes to be driven in those turns. So, if you're just getting out of rentals, maybe look at some other options.

Skis work differently for different types of skiers. If you are wondering whether the Mantra 102 is the right ski for you, chat with Hayden or any other Skiing Experts here on Curated, and they’ll put together free, personalized ski recommendations on the best skis for your needs.