Volkl Mantra 88 Ski - 2027 One Color, 163cm

"What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:""I ran these on a firm, icy morning when a lot of other skis would've skittered around, and the edge hold stayed rock solid through every turn. The tailored Titanal frame gives them a confident, locked in feel that makes pushing speed on groomers actually enjoyable.""There's a specific joy in laying a ski over on firm snow and feeling it lock in without a hint of chatter, and the Mantra 88 Skis are built entirely around that feeling. We push them into fast, arcing turns down freshly groomed runs, trusting the edge to hold even when the snow turns icy and unforgiving, and they never once feel like they're working to keep up with us. It's a ski that rewards commitment rather than punishing it. That precision comes from a build tailored to the skier holding it. A titanal frame scales with each ski length, adding more stiffness and dampening in longer sizes for stronger skiers while keeping shorter lengths lighter and more agile, so the performance actually matches who's on it. Tailored carbon tips are embroidered along the ski's natural stress lines for sharper handling up front, and the 3D Radius sidecut lets us hold long, committed arcs or snap into tighter turns without ever changing our stance."

Price: $849.99 from Backcountry