Ski: 2024-2025 Faction Studio 2, 183 cm
Test Location: Mt. Crested Butte & Breckenridge, CO
Days Skied: ~12
Available Lengths: 166, 173, 178, 183, 188 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 181.0 cm
Stated Weight Per Ski: 1880 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1929 & 1982 grams
Stated Dimensions: 131-102-127 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 130.5-101.4-126.6 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (183 cm): 20 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 62 mm / 57 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 5 mm
Core Materials: poplar + carbon / rubber edge reinforcement layers + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered
Factory Recommended Mount Point:
- “Newschool” line: -3.8 cm from center; 86.7 cm from tail
- “Progressive” line: -5.3 cm from center; 85.2 cm from tail
- “Classic” line: -6.8 cm from center; 83.7 cm from tail
Boots / Bindings: Tecnica Mach1 MV 130 & Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 / Tyrolia Attack 13
[Editor’s Note: our review was conducted on the 22/23 Faction Mana 2, which was unchanged for 23/24, then renamed the “Studio 2” for 24/25, but was unchanged otherwise. In this review, we refer to it as the “Mana 2.”]
Intro
One of the more prominent athlete sponsor announcements last year came from one of the greatest skiers of all time: Candide Thovex made it public that he would be concluding his partnership with Faction skis.
Aside from loads of absolutely bonkers videos, Candide had also created many skis with Faction during his tenure. The namesake Faction Candide skis spanned several years, iterations, and waist widths. The Candide 2 has historically been a ~102mm-wide all-mountain freestyle ski, and for the 2022-2023 season, it returned constructionally unchanged but with a new graphic and new name — the Mana 2.
It’s been a while since we tested an iteration of this ski, so we were excited to get back on this strong, lightweight, twin-tipped all-mountain ski. This started last season (see our initial Flash Review) and continued into the current one, so it’s now time to chime in.
What Faction says about the Mana 2:
“The Mana 2 with its versatile 102 mm waist is the sleekest in the family, making it the ideal tool to transition from all-mountain, to backside, to park. This is a high-quality, high-performance craft that effortlessly responds to your movements and your commands. Its lightweight poplar core construction helps the ski to pop off booters, butter over rollers, and whip effortlessly between turns. Yet the Rubber/Carbon stomp pad keeps it strong enough to take hit after hit. Enjoy the finest, most durable Austrian construction, powered 100% by renewable energy.”
Shape / Rocker Profile
Like the other Mana skis, the Mana 2 doesn’t feature much early tapering at the tips or tails, but it has fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines for a ski of its width.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Mana 2:
Tips: 7
Shovels: 7.5-8.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 9-10
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 10-9
Tails: 8.5-7.5
Particularly for a freestyle-oriented ski, the Mana 2 is pretty strong. Unsurprisingly, it’s softer at the rockered portions of its tips and tails, but most of the ski is quite stiff, and its flex pattern feels pretty symmetrical, with a back half that’s only a bit stiffer than the front.
Sidecut Radius
At a stated 20 meters for the 183 cm length we’ve been testing, the Mana 2’s sidecut radius is pretty average for its class — nothing too out of the ordinary.
Mount Point
For 22/23, all Faction skis are being labeled with three potential mount points: “Classic” (most rearward), “Progressive” (middle), and “Newschool” (most forward).
On the Mana 2, that means its recommended lines range from about -3.8 cm from true center to -6.8 cm, with the Progressive line sitting at about -5.3 cm. Those are all pretty forward mount points, as you’d expect of a freestyle-oriented ski, but they still span a notable range; we’ll say more about that below.
Weight
This ski, in its various iterations over the years, has reportedly varied quite a bit when it comes to weight (from year to year).
Looking at the 22/23 Mana 2, it’s a fairly lightweight ski (~1950 g per ski @ 183 cm), though its weight isn’t that much of an outlier in today’s crop of ~100mm-wide all-mountain skis.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.
1707 & 1752 4FRNT Switch, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
1781 & 1795 Atomic Maverick 100 Ti, 180 cm (21/22–22/23)
1807 & 1840 Atomic Bent 100, 188 cm (18/19–22/23)
1808 & 1823 Shaggy’s Ahmeek 95, 180 cm (21/22)
1896 & 1942 K2 Reckoner 102, 184 cm (20/21–22/23)
1925 & 1934 Black Crows Camox, 186.5 cm (19/20–22/23)
1929 & 1982 Faction Mana 2, 183 cm (22/23)
1933 & 1943 Norse Enduro, 188 cm (20/21–21/22)
1936 & 2013 Salomon Stance 96, 182 cm (20/21–22/23)
1938 & 2003 Nordica Unleashed 98, 186 cm (22/23)
1960 & 1962 Majesty Dirty Bear XL, 186 cm (22/23)
1970 & 1993 Moment Deathwish 104, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
1973 & 1997 Volkl Revolt 104, 188 cm (21/22–22/23)
1976 & 2028 Parlor Cardinal Pro, 182 cm (19/20–21/22)
1985 & 2006 Parlor Cardinal 100, 185 cm (16/17–21/22)
1998 & 2044 4FRNT MSP 99, 181 cm (17/18–22/23)
1999 & 2060 Line Blade, 181 cm (20/21–22/23)
2010 & 2023 Moment Commander 98, 182 cm (20/21–22/23)
2022 & 2046 DPS Foundation Koala 103, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
2024 & 2112 Dynastar M-Free 99, 185 cm (21/22–22/23)
2043 & 2089 Volkl M6 Mantra, 177 cm (21/22–22/23)
2049 & 2053 Whitedot Altum 104, 187 cm (19/20–22/23)
2054 & 2063 Salomon QST 98, 189 cm (21/22–22/23)
2074 & 2088 Line Blade Optic 104, 178 cm (22/23)
2077 & 2096 Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm (22/23)
2089 & 2105 Nordica Soul Rider 97, 185 cm (15/16–21/22)
2120 & 2134 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (19/20–22/23)
2128 & 2186 J Skis Masterblaster, 181 cm (21/22)
2165 & 2186 Wagner Summit 97, 182 cm (21/22–22/23)
2178 & 2195 Volkl M6 Mantra, 184 cm (21/22–22/23)
2218 & 2244 Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm (19/20–21/22)
2230 & 2290 Line Blade Optic 104, 185 cm (22/23)
2281 & 2284 Blizzard Bonafide 97, 177 cm (20/21–21/22)
Now, let’s get into on-snow performance:
FULL REVIEW
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg): We started spending time on the Mana 2 late last season, in conditions ranging from slush to ice and even some pow, and then got back on it at the beginning of this season. Dylan Wood and I both spent time on the ski, and both of us quickly became pretty big fans.
Groomers
Luke: We’ll often start reviews with the conditions / terrain in which a given ski really excels, but the Mana 2 is more of a generalist — in a good way — so it’s not as easy to pin down one particular arena where it shines. But let’s just start on piste.
Overall, the Mana 2 is a fun, predictable carver. It provides very respectable turn initiation, edge hold, and energy when carving on piste, though it’s not mind blowing in any single regard. Taking into account that it’s a 102mm-wide, pretty rockered, freestyle-oriented ski, though, it’s still a blast on most groomers. The less rockered, metal-laden, and narrower Faction Dancer 2X is a bit better when it comes to digging into very firm slopes and really launching you out of each turn, but the Mana 2 is by no means some sloppy ski on piste. On anything short of icy, scraped-off sections, I could easily get the ski arcing across the fall line, bend it into fairly tight, high-edge-angle turns, and feel some of my input returned back in the form of an appreciable “pop.” It’s not what I’d pick for carving tight turns on icy groomers, but for its category, it’s a very solid carver.
Dylan Wood (5’10.5”, 155 lbs / 179 cm, 70 kg): Getting on a new ski, there are some things that surprise me about it and other things that I sort of expected. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Mana 2 handled groomers. As Luke mentioned, it offers good edge hold and energy, and initiates carved turns in a less vague manner than many other skis in its class.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
Luke: With its strong flex pattern and precise edge hold (for its class), the Mana 2 really surprised me in terms of how loose and maneuverable it felt when I wanted it to be just that.
And apart from its fairly deep (but not extreme) rocker lines, the Mana 2’s design doesn’t really scream “ultra maneuverable ski.” But after my first few turns on it down one of Mt. Crested Butte’s steep, bumped-up lines, I immediately became comfortable skiing it with an aggressive yet dynamic style — lots of last-minute slashes and adjustments, airs whenever I can, and basically just trying to skid and hop as quickly as I can.
Now, the Mana 2 is not an ultra forgiving ski like, say, the K2 Reckoner 102; the Mana 2 will let you get away with some backseat skiing, but it will protest at a certain point, especially if you’re dealing with really big, tightly spaced moguls. In less challenging, nicely spaced bumps, though, I found its sweet spot to be surprisingly big, allowing for a variety of skiing stances and styles.
There are certainly looser, more playful skis overall (e.g., Line Sir Francis Bacon), but for how precise it feels on piste and how hard it can (but doesn’t require) be pushed, the Mana 2 offers an impressively surfy and nimble ride when things get tight and technical.
Dylan: Yep, the Mana 2 isn’t the loosest ski in its class, but it is still a very maneuverable ski. Its low swing weight let me flick it around in the air between turns, but it is also easy to pivot and slide around on the snow surface as well. Despite having a mount point pretty close to the true center of the ski, it didn’t demand a centered, balanced stance. I could still drive the shovels of this ski if I wanted, and its relatively stiff tails let me recover from getting backseat instead of just washing out.
Powder & Soft Chop
Luke: In any variety of soft snow, the Mana 2’s performance mimics how it behaves in tight terrain — loose and quick enough to feel agile, but supportive enough to be skied quite fast and hard.
Arguably, soft conditions are where this is the most beneficial — and the most fun — since the snow provides a bit of ‘give’ and suspension, while the ski’s strong flex pattern allows you to drive it pretty hard and take to the air knowing you’ll have a supportive landing platform when you come back down.
As far as flotation goes, the Mana 2 feels about average for a forward-mounted, ~100mm-wide ski. I.e., it’s fine, but not amazing. You can get its tips to dive if you try to really drive its shovels in snow deeper than about 6” (15 cm), but ski it centered, and it still remains pretty maneuverable in deeper conditions. Anything deeper than roughly 6” and I’d definitely prefer to be on the wider Mana 3, but the Mana 2 performs admirably in deeper snow for its moderate width.
The lower density the soft chop (or slushy spring snow), the more fun the Mana 2 is. When there are just a few tracks on a run, I feel like I can ski the Mana 2 just as hard as some much heavier freestyle-oriented skis. If the snow is pretty heavy and/or more cut up, then its low-ish weight starts to show and it gets knocked around more easily, and that’s where you’ll benefit from adopting that dynamic style mentioned above — anticipate the obstacles and aim to avoid ramming directly into them. Doing so can be very engaging and enjoyable, but trying to blast through heavy chop on the Mana 2 will result in some deflection.
Dylan: I have no quarrels with how this ~100 mm-wide freestyle ski handled powder and soft chop. I agree that the Mana 2’s flotation felt pretty average for its class, but if this is functioning as your widest ski and you will be encountering soft and/or deep snow somewhat frequently, I’d be more inclined to mount on the “Progressive” or “Classic” lines to shift your weight a bit further back on the ski and allow the tips to have an easier time planing on top of the snow surface.
Firm Chop & Crud
Luke: As I alluded to above, the Mana 2’s performance / fun-factor definitely decreases the firmer and rougher the snow, but for a ski of its weight, it’s still quite respectable.
I would not call the Mana 2 particularly damp or plush in the way that a heavy, soft ski will typically feel, but it does have a level of predictably in challenging snow that’s somewhat rare for a ski of this weight — and especially one that feels this strong in more forgiving conditions.
So this is not what I’d pick if you want a very smooth, planted ride — I suspect Faction’s heavier Prodigy series would be a better call. But if you’re willing to sacrifice some suspension in rough snow in exchange for a more agile ride when conditions are more agreeable, the Mana 2 definitely warrants consideration. We’ve talked a lot about how “light + stiff” is often a recipe for disaster when it comes to suspension / damping, but I think Faction has done a good job of not going too far in either regard with the Mana 2 — it doesn’t feel as harsh on firm snow as I initially expected, while still feeling quick and supportive.
Dylan: That’s right. I would not personally call the Mana 2 a damp ski; to me, it feels more energetic and lively than it does plush and smooth. Heavier options like the Sego Big Horn 106 mute out rough snow better, but the Mana 2 is still relatively enjoyable and predictable in firm, variable snow.
Playfulness
Luke: The Mana 2 is not extremely playful in all regards, but it definitely still feels like a ski that was designed with playful skiing in mind. It feels pretty light and balanced in the air, it’s easy to slash and throw sideways, it’s quite lively, and it skis switch very well. On the other hand, it’s not that easy to bend, which makes it a bit less engaging at slower speeds / forces than some of the most playful skis in this class. But if you prefer a stiffer, fairly light freestyle ski, you’ll likely feel right at home.
As Luke touched on, the Mana 2 feels balanced and light in the air, and is definitely a good ski for throwing spins, flips, and tweaks on, inside or outside of the park. It skis forward about as well as it does backward (especially mounted on the “Newschool” line), and so long as slower-speed butters and presses aren’t your main goal, the Mana 2 could fulfill just about anybody’s freestyle needs.
Mount Point(s)
Luke: I tried the Mana 2 at all three of its recommended mount points, ranging from about -3.8 cm from true center to -6.8 cm. The good news is that it felt intuitive across that range, and each shift brought with it predictable results — mounting closer to the centered “Newschool” line left me with a more balanced feel, while the more rearward “Classic” line allowed me to drive it harder through the shovels. That said, I found the ski adaptable in terms of stance across all three mount points, which is a plus for anyone who doesn’t like to feel locked into a certain style of skiing (raises own hand). Personally, if I were mounting up my own pair, I’d probably go right around the middle “Progressive” line.
Dylan: True, if your definition of a playful ski is a ski that is very easy to bend, butter, press, slash, and surf around on, there are better skis in this class for that, like the K2 Reckoner 102. Rather, the Mana 2 is a stable, supportive freestyle ski that handles little jibs just fine, but is most impressive on medium to large features. The Mana 2 provides good pop on takeoffs, and a supportive platform for landings. Stiffer, more cambered options out there (that are also less proficient outside the terrain park) do offer more support on landings, but the Mana 2 is also more appropriate for smaller jibs than those skis.
Dylan: It’s really hard to go wrong with mount point here; the Mana 2 feels great on all of them. The more that this is functioning as a wide park ski for you, the more the “Newschool” line makes sense. If this will be a playful all-mountain ski that sees soft or deep snow somewhat regularly, the more the “Classic” line makes sense. If you’ll be doing a mix of both or just aren’t sure where to mount, the “Progressive” line is a safe bet.
Who’s It For?
Luke: The most obvious demographic for the Mana 2 is playful / freestyle-oriented skiers who want a ski that’s pretty quick and maneuverable but also stiff and (just) heavy enough to still be skied quite hard in most conditions, aside from really rough, firm ones.
That said, it’s also well worth a look from those directional skiers who value a low swing weight and a looser ride in tight terrain, but who still like to carve hard and don’t want a ski that forces them to ski super centered or forward.
As for who it’s not for, the Mana 2 isn’t ideal if you (1) want a really damp, plush ski that absorbs all vibrations from the snow or (2) freestyle-oriented folks who like a pretty soft ski that’s easy to bend with little input or speed.
Dylan: Yep!
Bottom Line
With the Mana 2, Faction has managed to combine several often-counteracting traits into a very cohesive, versatile, and plain fun ski. It’s pretty nimble, surfy, and intuitive for freestyle-oriented skiers, while also being stiff, damp, and precise enough to encourage aggressive directional skiing in most conditions.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Mana 2 to see how it compares to the Faction Mana 3, Faction Dancer 2, Black Crows Camox, Nordica Unleashed 98, Salomon QST 98, Line Blade Optic 104, Fischer Ranger 102, Volkl Revolt 104, DPS Foundation Koala 103, Moment Deathwish 104, K2 Reckoner 102, Whitedot Altum 104, Majesty Dirty Bear XL, Dynastar M-Free 99, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Norse Enduro, Atomic Bent 100, J Skis Masterblaster, and. 4FRNT Switch.
The 20-21 version of this ski, the CT 2.0, was about 300 grams heavier and much more of a charger ski. It kind of left its “park” focus and became an all mtn charger twin tip ski. It seemed the park skiers felt it was too burly and the charger style skiers loved it. Can you give a little history of the last few years of the CT skis and where this new one fits in the park vs all mtn charger spectrum.
If you look on TGR you can find a long breakdown regarding all the construction changes and weight changes of this ski. it sounds like that 20-21 version was the holy grail of all mountain chargers that everyone slept on until it was too late and they were all snatched up. I’m still mad I didn’t grab one on sale after taking a hard look but ultimately talking myself out of it.
I’ll say that my 20/21 CT 3.0 in 190 cm weighs 2,350 g each, and has an impressively stout flex. It’s super damp and can be pushed hard. It’s still not my “charger” though because it’s an overall smaller ski than it looks. Wish it was 195 cm. Paradoxically, it’s also really easy to ski and let you relax on it too if that’s your style. The camber is misleading because that middle section is softer than most skis. The flex seems pretty much uniform, thus relatively stiff extremities compared to most. Results: skis more like a full reverse camber.
Hopefully blister gets on the new Mana 4 too!
There’s a few new pairs on sale for pretty cheap near me, at Skiers Sportshop. (Canada + US shipping, if you’re interested)
How about a mana 2 vs black ops 98 comparison?