Völkl Releases the Mantra M7 and Secret 96 Skis

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Wait, another Mantra? Today, Völkl has officially unveiled the next generation of their venerable all-mountain freeride series with the release of the Mantra M7 and women’s Secret 96. If you’ve been a fan of the existing Mantra and Secret skis, you’ll love the updated version. In a nutshell, they’re both even more, well…Mantra-ish. IFYKYK.

For years, these skis have left their mark on the freeride all mountain category with their unmatched ability to plow through and smooth out any kind of snow conditions. They crave high speeds, aggressive skiing, and reward pushing hard into the front of your boots. This year, a few subtle design updates give both the Mantra M7 and Secret 96 a more playful character–without sacrificing any of the hard-charging DNA they are known for.

We'll have full reviews on both skis soon, but in the meantime, here are the details on the updates.

Updates for 2025:

The biggest update is that both of the new skis receive Völkl’s new 4-Radius sidecut profile. Whereas the older skis were known for their stability and comfort when arcing huge turns, the addition of a fourth, shorter-radius sidecut profile in the tip gives the new M7 and Secret 96 a more responsive tip to permit quicker, shorter turns in tight terrain.

Looking at the numbers, you’ll see Völkl has done the math the optimize how each section of the ski responds. In the tip, there’s an approximately 25m radius (short for Völkl standards), followed by a super-long 40m radius section from tip to the front of the binding to promote stability and prevent deflection. Then, to increase edge grip and maneuverability, there’s a super-tight 15m radius underfoot, followed by a longer 25m behind the boot for a smooth finish out of your turn. These sidecut shapes are tailored to the specific ski lengths. 

On snow, the variable sidecut noticeably adds liveliness to a ski known for its damp, super-quiet ride. When we tested the new Mantra M7 and Secret 96 this past spring, testers noted it was much more responsive and fun than the older version they were familiar with, without a trade off on stability.

The rest of the ski remains largely unchanged, still featuring a full wood core, full-length sidewalls, a Titanal frame, carbon reinforced tips, plus the stiff and heavy character the ski is loved for.