Gentemstick Mantaray 2024 - 2016 Review by The Good Ride

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Welcome to an old but still very relevant review of the Gentemstick Mantaray 154 from an average rider with extensive gear knowledge.

The Mantaray has more nose, more set back and quicker turn initiation, so it kicks it up a notch when it comes to that quick slashy turning experience. What’s great, though, is it doesn’t feel any less fun riding groomers than the Stingray. There is a lot of magic going on with this board when it is and isn’t dumping.

Update 2024:

There seem to be no changes to the Mantaray I tried in 2016 vs. the 2024 Model. Gentemstick just doesn’t change their boards much or at all after they are designed. The review is updated to reflect what I’ve learned over the years and from riding the 156 a ton. The Mantaray does come in several sizes these days as well.

This review is for the 154

Then there is a review of the 156 Mantaray.

Then there is the 159 Giant Mantaray, which is more for bigger-footed riders.

There is also a Baby Mantaray that comes in a 142, 145, 148, 148 Hard Flex for stronger or heavier riders, and the 149.

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Size: 154
Days:   2
Conditions: Spring conditions with varied snow.
Riders: James, Matt, 
Boots: Burton Imperial, Burton Rover,
Bindings:  Burton Cartel
Set Up: Set back all the way, approximately 22″ wide, 15 front -3 back.

Approximate Weight: Felt normal.  Not heavy or light.

Shape

There is a good bit of taper, a much bigger nose, and a smaller tail. The Mantaray is pretty set back on board but not super set back like the snowsurfers in Gentemstick’s line.

On Snow Feel

There is a very mellow back seat camber that transitions into a mellow early rise.  It’s forgiving but still stable and really one-foots/flat bases very well. For something so set back, tapered, and nose-heavy, this has a stable feel that isn’t washy.

Edge Hold

Really strong grip, and this side cut really knows how to grab in hard snow but let go when it’s soft.

Flex

Nice stiff to medium-stiff flex, and it’s not really a board to butter, but you can lean back on the tail and wheelie up well enough. The nose butters pretty easy. There is also very easy pop on an ollie, and it feels like there is more camber here than there is.

Turn Initiation

Super quick edge to edge. I thought the Stingray was fun to turn and quick until I got on the Mantaray. What a great board to do anything from short-radius turns to wide-radius turns with.

Skidded Turns

Easier than you would think, and it doesn’t have a camber consequence, but it has more than a board with a continuous rocker or boards with less camber.  There is a good amount of camber going on here before it goes to a little early rise.

Turning Experience/Carving

What a joy to carve.  Especially if you like tighter circle carves. There is definitely more of a turny sidecut, but not too turny to be hooky. If you like across the groomer to circle carves this really lights up.

What I like about all the Mantaray’s is how they don’t need to be set up posi like many of the Gentemstick boards need to ride properly. With my 156, it turns best posi, but the tail doesn’t wash when set up 0 on the back foot or even duck. It allows many riders who haven’t ridden posi to work their way into those stance angles. You also can weight the turn on the back foot or through the front foot if set up posi.

Powder

So I never got the 154 in powder but got the 156 in powder a few times. The Gentemstick Mantaray floats very well. It’s not like some of the more snowsurfy rides like the Chaser or Hornet or many of the swallowtails in Gentemstick’s line, but it’s very competent. It has a pretty turny/slashy/semi-surfy ride in pow but doesn’t sit right at the tail so you can easily get air.

Speed

You can point the Mantaray much easier than you would think for this much taper and this turny of a sidecut.

Base Glide

Truly phenomenal. They have some of the best bases in the business. Especially mid-winter and in powder.

Uneven Terrain

It’s really quick in and out of bumpy terrain, but it can slam through it, too, without getting too bucky.

Final Thoughts

So the 156 is more my size this 154 is practically the same ride but only a little smaller. It’s a very solid one-board quiver for those who love to make really smooth turns on groomers but also have a very competent floater in powder.