 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi  's,
I need some advice on which skies to buy.
I'm stuck between 184cm Volkl Mantras and 186cm Line Prophet 100s. I've had a search through the threads and all the related threads seem to be from last year. Which isn't necesserily unhelpful as I get the impression these skies haven't evolved much since last year except for graphics.
My skiing style is full speed ahead on piste and through moguls, off piste I'm ok and will attempt anything, style is inversely proportional to steepness. Hopefully 2 weeks in Tignes in December and 4 weeks in Val in Jan will hone my off piste style!
I'm 110kg, 183cm tall and 40 years old.
The last two seasons I've skied on Salomon Tornados which were excellent on piste but sink noticably off piste.
Learning so far is...
Mantras - excellent ski, indestructable, can be a handful and heavy.
Prophet 100 - excellent all mountain, shorter radius, more float.
I'm leaning towards the Prophets as I think these would be better in moguls as they are twin tipped and more flexible. Plus just bought all the off piste gear so will be carrying the extra weight of a pack around this season.
Moguls are the only thing I can think of where the Mantras might be too stiff.
The package I'm looking at includes Marker Griffon 12 bindings. Was thinking of going for the Jester binding. I've been using a DIN setting of 8/9 for the last few years.
Over to you snowheads...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Both good skis IMV so you won't really go wrong. Mantras have IME edge hold probably at the top of the class for their width but I skied the Prophet's predecessor for years as my main alpine ski and loved it to bits so I'd probably go for it in a straight decision. YMMV.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I reckon you have enough KGs to bend the Mantras !!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Prophs are great skis, though don't feel they'd be the best for Moguls
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dansmith, Thanks for the nod towards the Jester, that's how I'm thinking at the moment. Had a look at the snowtrax site, couldn't find an explaination of the ski flex rating?
Steilhang, Like your name and your location! I spent 6 months in Munich over 1998/9 working at BMW when they owned Rover and Landrover = lots of weekend trips down to the Alps  Beautiful city, how is the Hofbruhaus these days? 
I probably won't be spending as much time as you off piste, probably more like 50/50 on/off piste for me. Interesting that you say the Tigersharks are better in moguls than your Mantras, I would have thought they were of similar stiffness.
papasmurf, do you think they'd be better in moguls than the Mantras? That's really the question, I know they both aren't the ski you would chose for moguls but I think the prophets might be more forgiving in moguls than the Mantras, which may tilt the balance towards them.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Prophets are a lot softer than Mantras; we love them both but if you're heavy and strong with decent technique you'll get more out of the Mantras for longer. If you weighed less and liked the pow, I'd say go for Prophets.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Anyone tried the new Volkl Kendo as I have my eye on them for this season?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Man up and get the longer Mantra's to avoid the flotation issue, you are tall enough. 
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You know it makes sense.
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i just bought a pair of mantras 191 on recommendations , im 6 4 and 100kg and older than you
gonna give em a spin in december... didnt learn a whole lot at hemel after 3 runs
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Interesting debate this ..........
My view is probably that the Mantras are a bit stiff for most of the skiers who think they need them.
I have a pair of Mantra 186s ....... I am 85KGs and 6ft 2ins ........ think I am a pretty OK skier ..... been doing it 35yrs and ski realistically 50/50 on and off piste ....... may be getting old and tired though !
Mantras are quite hard work - you get out what you put in ...... so you need to drive them. Have you considered the new Nanuqs ..... supposed to be a bit softer Mantra.
I have not skied the Lines - but like the look of them.
The best fun skis I have ever had are Pocket Rockets - soft yes but fun all over the mountain ................... and thats what we do it for.
Go for the ski you are going to enjoy most ..... not the most macho.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| PBJ wrote: |
Interesting debate this ..........
I have a pair of Mantra 186s ....... |
PBJ, do you not maybe mean 184s?
I am 6 foot and 80kg and have a pair of 184 Mantras. You do have to drive them fairly aggressively but IMHO they are a great ski for variables, crud, long radius carving and powder.
Never tried the 100's so can't comment on those unfortunately.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes 184s
Take a look at the thread on Tetongravity ............ some good useful reviews.
They don't generally rate the Mantra in the powder ....... and I agree ........ thats why I've just got some Preachers.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There are definitely better skis out there than the Mantra for powder. But it is a pretty useful go anywhere ski and can ski powder although on the stiff side for sure.
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PBJ, I have Mantra 191s am ~6ft and weigh 86Kg... I don't find them stiff at all and think they rock in powder ( European, not Champagne ). They also rock in heavy chewed up powder ( if you can call it that ) and spring slush. They are only so so for high speed carving on hard pistes, so I would not buy them as a piste ski, but would definitely consider the Tigershark for that. My opinion!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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snowgood,
I was looking at both of these skis earlier in the year, when searching for an all mountain ski with an off piste bias. The Mantras just seemed to be a wide GS type ski, which I've already got (sort of, with a pair of Stormriders). The Prophet seemed to fit the bill better, but then I took a chance and decided to go for WDF Preachers. I can't emphasize enough how shite hot these skis are. They do just about everything (don't know about moguls though), and will put a permanent grin on your face. You will have a great time on them.
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snowgood, I've not skied any of the other skis mentioned here, but bought the Mantras in 191 last year. I'm a tad shorter and lighter (but a decade older) than you and found the 184s just too prone to tip dive in soft snow (lots of knee-deep powder last xmas). The guy in the shop recommended I try the 191 and it was chalk and cheese - immediate sale. You really should try the 191s before deciding. Trees do through then start requiring a bit more work. Agree with the comments above regarding them needing driving - I had to pack up early in the day a couple of times last season as I was starting to lose it after some hard skiing, but I hadn't been doing much on my fitness then (reminder to self - do so NOW!!!)
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Snowgood, I have nothing but praise for Mantras. I have just sold my 184cm 07/08's on this forum for good money (and have had 4-5 people chasing after they sold, shows they are sought after IMO). I bought 09/10 Mantras again 184cm, (with new tricky graphics) only so I can have a Marker Duke binding. I ski hard and fast on piste, 50/50 on/off and they are rock solid at speed on piste, great in powder (just float), crud (bash through) and moguls (easily steerable). I am 50, 98kg (and want to be 85-88kg), 1.86m and an aggressive skier IMO. They turn on a 2.5p (sixpence in old money) piece and are perfect in all situations, for my money I'd not want for anything else................also just bought my wife some Aura's (same as Mantras but female version).
I dont get the tiring comment above, never had an issue, and have skied them 10 weeks I reckon..............cant wait to try out my new ones! 
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I'm with Steilhang on this, although have never had issues on piste, but you DO have to drive them on piste, almost like entering a power-band on a motorbike - they perform better when pushed hard.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Going back to the Prophs v Mantras I have been through the same debate. TGR has done this to death.
As S from A says, the Mantra is essentially a fat GS ski. It's there to be pushed hard and will definitely have a higher performance level on piste than the Prophet (at speed) - its double metal sheets make it feel really burly.
Being wide and softer the Prophet is better in the powder and moguls and depending on your level you might not lose that much performance on piste.
More importantly, they both look awesome. The Prophet has a partially transparent top sheet showing off the wood core, the Mantra has a really sweet pearlesenct under coat.
On bindings - Jesters are the way forward for these skis - bit of substance to them.
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S From A, and Frogman............"the Mantras just seem to be a wide GS ski"..........no way, they are never in this bracket, have skied on many skis over the years and i'd never class these as a wide GS ski, still its maybe me, i'd best keep an eye out for those race gates as I power down Tortin, Vallon D'Arby, Stuben, Zurs and others...............will post if I see any! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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6', 82ks and 184cm Mantras here - I love them. Sure they don't rail as well as race ski but they're pretty good at carving on everything apart from absolute boilerplate. I find them quite easy to ski all across the mountain and never found them as tiring as my race skis or the Legend Pros they replaced. To me they do feel like a wide GS ski, obviously a little softer and nothing like as stiff a tail as a true race ski.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Markymark29, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick (assuming you have taken it as a negative), a wide gs ski would be a good thing for doing big fast gs turns offpiste and smashing through variable snow.
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Wow, thanks for all your comments, now I'm tending back to the mantras!
I think I may pop over to the Birmingham show tomorrow and take a closer look at them both. 
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You know it makes sense.
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snowgood, bring a credit card and MTFU
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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After some of the above comments I am tempted to MTFU, ditch the 184's and go for the 191's!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Touchguru, nah you will be good with the 184's i used to ski karmas in 177 and found em only a bit short at my er um girth...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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snowgood, 1 stiff 5 soft... its a bit of a guide more than anything made up by us, it may not be actuate. both are fantastic skis and u won't be disappointed in either! when my amplids die I will prob end up with one of these 2.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Fogliettaz, I'm not sure I should be posting in this thread, not nearly enough testosterone  Just wanted to say I skied the Kendos last year and loved them. If I needed an allround ski this year they would be top of my list, I thought they were, very, very like the old Karmas and skied pretty close to the Mantras, which I tried on the same day, just a little skinnier and easier going. I loved the Mantras for the few runs I tried them but would be worried about finding them tiring after a whole day and the Kendos seemed like they would be ideal for people like that and a lot of fun in a lot of different conditions.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Having noticed a few references to Sport Conrad on various threads on here, I've just been having a look at the Sport Conrad site, their prices seem very good.
Has anyone had any problems when they have ordered skis from them and had them shipped to the UK?
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PS. How come Google haven't street mapped Germany yet?
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| Quote: |
Has anyone had any problems when they have ordered skis from them and had them shipped to the UK?
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I've bought skis from them. Arrived in the UK within five days. Telemark Pyrenees are good as well. In fact I got my wife's Mantras from them.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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lynseyf, Thanks for that, I have to buy some Gotama's for my son (bribery works wonders at exam time) and i was looking at either Mantra's or the new Kendo for myself. We share the same boot size so most our kit can be used by either of us. I was swaying towards the Kendo rather than the new Salomon Sentinel and Dynastar Sultan.
snowgood, I have bought on a number of occasions from Sport Conrad and the service is excellent usually delivered in 48 hrs.
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snowgood Well done for going for the longer skis, I'm sure you've made the right choice.
I thought I'd bought one pair of slalom skis from Sport Conrad a while back, but on checking back it was from another German ebay seller. I'm sure you'll have no problems. I've also bought several times from Telemark Pyrenees - not quite a bargain basement as Conrad but excellent service and prompt (I once called them from a chairlift in Switzerland one Friday morning re a broken binding and the replacement part was on my desk when I got back to England the following Monday)
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FAQ
Hence why I'm considereing them. Just back from a bike ride to try and "tone up" for the coming season! 
)
