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May, 2025

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M5 Mantra too much for intermediate? Rustler 9?

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MikeLofgren
Posts: 14 - Karma: 34
5’9, 180 lbs, 30’s and avidly skiing east coast (NH and Vermont/Stowe). Like to ski groomers, bumps, play around off piste and in trees and take smearing, skidding quick turns. Love powder but east coast, so yeah. Tend to be aggressive.

Had Salomon QST 92, 169 cm . I found them to be really unstable at speed, skidding and chattering when carving at speed and/or on icy terrain. Really hate that. Fun in powder. Remounted w tech bindings.

so, I want a new ski that’s stable at speed, carves well, minimizes chatter, and can handle varied conditions/terrain (tight trees, powder, ice) well enough.

I was considering the Blizzard Rustler 9 172 cm, but worried it’s too similar to QST in terms of stability, chatter. Thoughts?

Volkl M5 Mantra 96mm at 170 cm sounds like a definite swing in the other direction of QST, but concerned it’s “expert only”

want a ski to grow into, but not feel lost on. Input welcome and appreciated
5 years ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5097 - Karma: 18,666
Read Blister, particularly their ski buyers guide

https://blisterreview.com/winter-buyers-guide

Also size up to at least 180cm at your size. There are a lot of skis in between the qst and the m5 mantra you may want to consider.
5 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7075 - Karma: 26,651
If you want more stability get longer skis like 180cm plus and learn to ski then with confidence
5 years ago
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MikeLofgren
Posts: 14 - Karma: 34
Thanks for the referral to the Blister Gear Review!

I'd lean towards to the 177...
5 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,429
M5 is a great ski, don’t be thrown off by its stats. I work at a ski shop and it’s probably our best selling ski, and just about every jerry on the east coast has bought one and told us they loved it. It’s not as stiff or as punishing as a lot of people make it out to be and it sounds like it would be a solid fit for what you’re looking for. The Rustler 9 is also a great ski that’s really easy, but you can push it hard and it rewards good technique. I think either one would be a great option!
5 years ago
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.nasty
Posts: 10598 - Karma: 11,396
animatorM5 is a great ski, don’t be thrown off by its stats. I work at a ski shop and it’s probably our best selling ski, and just about every jerry on the east coast has bought one and told us they loved it. It’s not as stiff or as punishing as a lot of people make it out to be and it sounds like it would be a solid fit for what you’re looking for. The Rustler 9 is also a great ski that’s really easy, but you can push it hard and it rewards good technique. I think either one would be a great option!


Keep in mind that Jerry's usually size way down from what you would. Anything will ski easy and they will love it if it's a guy that's 6' tall and skiing a 175cm~ haha
5 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,429
.nastyKeep in mind that Jerry's usually size way down from what you would. Anything will ski easy and they will love it if it's a guy that's 6' tall and skiing a 175cm~ haha

This is true!
5 years ago
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MikeLofgren
Posts: 14 - Karma: 34
If Jerry’s having fun, he’s probably winning even if he’s not maximizing the potential of the ski.


Pulled the trigger. Found 177 cm Mantra M5 for $400 and couldn’t pass up.

Side note, in my main sport of rock climbing, how tight one wears their shoes is a proxy cool guy measuring stick. DIN setting seems to be that in skiing. Is ski length a tough guy calling card? Have I so far missed this? Serious question.

thanks for your advice and resource sharing
5 years ago
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,605
m5 mantra is quite fun and should be good for intermediate wanting to charge.


I'm 6'2 and have skies from 170cm to 210cm.

DIN's you tend to care about more when you get older... in the not cranking them to the moon kinda way.



I think the m5 mantra is a ski that has a pretty wide audience, I have friends thats intermediate and like them, and a buddy that does mach 1 on them, I've skied them back to back with the mantra 102, and they are an easier to control baby brother.

**This post was edited on Apr 20th 2020 at 7:29:33pm
5 years ago
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,602
MikeLofgrenIf Jerry’s having fun, he’s probably winning even if he’s not maximizing the potential of the ski.


Pulled the trigger. Found 177 cm Mantra M5 for $400 and couldn’t pass up.

Side note, in my main sport of rock climbing, how tight one wears their shoes is a proxy cool guy measuring stick. DIN setting seems to be that in skiing. Is ski length a tough guy calling card? Have I so far missed this? Serious question.

thanks for your advice and resource sharing


Theres a meaningless saying of "long skis truck, short skis suck" but the "cool factor" is quite as strong as climbers eith their shoes. You guys go a bit nuts with that.
5 years ago
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,605
but... it takes like 10 meters of skiiing, or.. 2-3 meters of climbing to tell the general skil level of a person.. sooooo why do people bother? on apres ski nobody knows your skilength.



Here people tend to downsize like crazy because they think they suck, which is funny because in general people are better here than ... most forreign people we see for sure :p
5 years ago
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lukemostoller
Posts: 31 - Karma: 138
Take a look into the moment commanders and I think your problems will be solved
5 years ago
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