All Things Volkl Thread

[byates1]

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...-IGGY-BLIZZARD

[SV Kris]

the 100eight was rad but one of the worst durabilities of any volkl ski in recent years. I broke multiple pairs on stuff they shouldn't have broken on.

This was fixed with the 2018 model. Any of the revisions with "3D Glass" were much more durable, as that was the fix for that exact problem.

[PNW-skier78]

How does the new version of the mantra 102 ski compared to the original? I own the original and it is starting the delaminate. Debating if I should keep an eye on deals for the new version.


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[Bandit Man]

How does the new version of the mantra 102 ski compared to the original? I own the original and it is starting the delaminate. Debating if I should keep an eye on deals for the new version.


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Volkl “M6-ed” the new one. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing depends on you. The underfoot radius is a tad tighter and the new one is more eager to carve. It is also slightly more manageable and skis/feels a bit softer. The new one charges for me (I’m on the 184) but is more fun. The old one feels dead stable but more work.

Another way to look at it is that the new one is a bit happier on piste and the old one feels like it wants to be off piste.

[PNW-skier78]

Volkl “M6-ed” the new one. Whether or not that’s a good or bad thing depends on you. The underfoot radius is a tad tighter and the new one is more eager to carve. It is also slightly more manageable and skis/feels a bit softer. The new one charges for me (I’m on the 184) but is more fun. The old one feels dead stable but more work.

Another way to look at it is that the new one is a bit happier on piste and the old one feels like it wants to be off piste.

Are they still pretty stable but just a tiny bit less than the OG. I know you like stable skis so if you say they are good then I feel confident I will like them. The OG is my favorite 100ish ski to date.


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[Bandit Man]

Are they still pretty stable but just a tiny bit less than the OG. I know you like stable skis so if you say they are good then I feel confident I will like them. The OG is my favorite 100ish ski to date.


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They are quite stable…like 95% of the OG but more accessible. I haven’t found their speed limit yet. It’s hard to beat the OG M102. The flex and turn radius are so dialed. I really like the M6, so adding a bit of that DNA to the M102 works for me.

[MD12]

Agree with this 100% that if you are into stiff skis and have good or better technique and like directional skis, the current gen m102 is the best one-ski quiver i could think of.

its not even bringing 7 skis to the mountain to decide which one to ski that day. sometimes its like you’d need to change skis 5 times a run to get a better overall experience than just using the m102.

[ezgzy]

Family photo


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[gaijin]

Sometimes its like you’d need to change skis 5 times a run to get a better overall experience than just using the m102.

I think you spelled Gotama wrong. Sorry— that was Volkl— they spelled Gotama wrong.

Regardless, Marshall seems to be steering in the right direction with the HL FL105. I’m pretty sure this was a the ski we all seek for this genre.

Just sayin’.

As much as I love my m102, and do consider it a version two Gotama, I’m pretty sure the FL105 is what I seek.

[ticketchecker]

Just scored one of the barn find 2013 dragon Katana's from Byates, anyone have advice on mounting point. There's three lines and I have micro feet, thinking the middle one for sure and possibly the +2 line

[BC.]

FWIW…I’ve had almost my Volkl (Katanas, Gotamas, Confessions, Shiros) at +1…and all have performed pretty damn well for what I needed them to do. My current 2014 Katanas are +2 to avoid previous mount(s)….and that is good too.

[BC.]

Heard at shop today:

Kendo is gone next year….being absorbed into the Mantra “collection”.

Find this hard to believe considering how good the 23/24 Kendo is now…

*Just confirmed by FlexonPhil…..it’s still there/ but it’s just not called the Kendo. He says it is now part of the Mantra “collection”.

Assuming it will be the Mantra 88?

[naedward81]

Heard at shop today:

Kendo is gone next year….being absorbed into the Mantra “collection”.

Find this hard to believe considering how good the 23/24 Kendo is now…

*Just confirmed by FlexonPhil…..it’s still there/ but it’s just not called the Kendo. He says it is now part of the Mantra “collection”.

Assuming it will be the Mantra 88?

It'll be the Mantra 88. M102 stays the same and changes graphics. I'm guessing the 25/26 88 and 102 go the way of the Mantra M7.

M7 with 4d radius now instead of 3d. Hoping to jump on these in the next few weeks.

Revolts update graphics only.

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[lowsparkco]

Agree with this 100% that if you are into stiff skis and have good or better technique and like directional skis, the current gen m102 is the best one-ski quiver i could think of.

its not even bringing 7 skis to the mountain to decide which one to ski that day. sometimes its like you’d need to change skis 5 times a run to get a better overall experience than just using the m102.

Stoked to read these reviews from both of you. I’ve never owned a pair of Volkl’s but have loved a bunch of two metal sheet skis from Dynastar, Nordica, and Kastle. Fucked around trying to find a soft snow ski and pulled the trigger last night on a pair of ‘22 Mantra 102’s. Should be here Thursday.

[Bandit Man]

It'll be the Mantra 88. M102 stays the same and changes graphics. I'm guessing the 25/26 88 and 102 go the way of the Mantra M7.

M7 with 4d radius now instead of 3d. Hoping to jump on these in the next few weeks.

Revolts update graphics only.

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Are they keeping the K108? I wonder if that ski will get updated (like the M102) or dropped from the line. I love them, but understand they may not sell a ton.

[naedward81]

Are they keeping the K108? I wonder if that ski will get updated (like the M102) or dropped from the line. I love them, but understand they may not sell a ton.

Yep, stays with no changes. Becomes the Mantra 108. Just a graphic change.

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[BC.]

Yep, stays with no changes. Becomes the Mantra 108. Just a graphic change.

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Yeah…Phil said all the K’s are becoming the Mantra “collection”. Same skis/ just different name.

[lowsparkco]

They are quite stable…like 95% of the OG but more accessible. I haven’t found their speed limit yet. It’s hard to beat the OG M102. The flex and turn radius are so dialed. I really like the M6, so adding a bit of that DNA to the M102 works for me.

Changed it this year for the 23/24?

When you’re referring to OG as up to 22/23?

[Bandit Man]

Changed it this year for the 23/24?

When you’re referring to OG as up to 22/23?

They changed the M102 last year (22/23)

This one:

[lowsparkco]

They changed the M102 last year (22/23)

This one:

Thanks. They label this year as updated or new design, but probably a marketing thing.

Everyone had them in stock other than Volkl.

[Djongo Unchained]

The volkl rep told my local shop manager this fall that the 23/24 M102 is a tad easier to ski than the 22/23.

Softer, I dunno. Another dimension? I dunno

[gaijin]

the Spiderman carbon stringers in the tip are definitely different from the 2020 OG, which was a full carbon tip and pingy on ice. Hurts the ears and that reason alone makes me want to get rid of it. But, I rarely ski ice... so there's that... because it does rip on everything. (I just don't think resort skis need carbon at all, frankly.)

I'm not gonna research the dims and changes but do recall people saying that v2 of the M102 was easier to ski. /shrug, the OG is easy to ski, too. Also, keep in mind that when the m102 debuted, the k108 didn't yet exist. So, the k108's debut the next year was a wider v2 of the m102, imo. Then, feedback from the v1 k108 resulted in v2 of the m102 the third year. Get it? They're alternating years of tech changes in their lineup from an R&D perspective. It makes complete sense that next year it will be m88, m94 (96?), m102, m108. It's almost predictable as they experimented with 4 different widths and 3d sidecut and carbon placement.

All that said, notice the rocker profiles haven't really changed at all. And notice the birth of the Blaze114 and its rocker profile. No carbon there.

I personally think the modern Volkl hype is more about their camber/rocker profile than anything. I think they nailed the subtlety of their profiles. Carbon is kind of a shrug, while 3d radius proved to be a legit thing.

Version 2 of the Blaze 114 is on my radar. I really wanna see what that looks like in 2026. But, I think the HL FL113 is already there today.

[Lord Thomas]

I got a chance to demo the Blaze 114 briefly in deep snow and was really surprised. At well north of 200lb I can usually make a ski find its way down to bare earth but the 114's, even in a 184, floated beyond expectations. Really loose at low speed in 3D snow but held up pretty well at speed in didn't struggle nearly as much as they should in the soft chop. Did just fine on the groomers back to the lift. Need to spend more time on it to really test in various conditions but my initial impression is that it could be an ultimate 50/50 ski and would kick ass in Japan. If I get to go again it will be on my short list of inbounds skis to go along with my C132's for touring. I agree with gaijin completely, Volkl killed it with that series of rocker profiles

[yellofin]

I have the all black 102 mantras
We all love them but I need to tune them. Is a 1.5 base and
1.0 edge and de-tune on the tips and tails all I need to tell shop
I know a lot has been talked about here but I miss my baby

[cat in january]

That sounds like a weird tune