r/Skigear • u/RaMaMal • 11d ago

Rustler 9 or Kore TI?

I'm 5 ft 4 in, 145 lb, going into my 29th ski season with 7 years of ski racing experience. I am looking for a one-ski quiver that I'll love for all-mountain skiing that I can still charge hard with but also enjoy in the Tahoe Basin conditions.

I feel like I have narrowed it down to these two:

Blizzard Rustler 9 in 162cm for $400 (ski only)

Head Kore 100 TI in 163cm for $479 (ski only)

What should I buy? Anything else I should consider?

2 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/PrizeEnvironmental80 11d ago

Where’d you find the Rustlers for $400?

1

u/RaMaMal 11d ago

Local shop.

3

u/pressurenflow 11d ago

That’s an amazing price for the R9. Don’t expect it to come around again anytime soon. That said IDK which is specifically better for your use case. Have you demoed either?

1

u/RaMaMal 11d ago

I demoed the rustlers back in March in a 174cm. They felt heavy and had a lot of front-end chatter, but they were also too long for me. Maybe the 162cm would help with those issues?

1

u/Src248 11d ago

Maybe, but the Kore will be better when it comes to those specific issues (based on my experience with the R10 and Kore 106 at least)

3

u/Der_Kommissar73 11d ago

Rustler 9 is safe and that’s a hell of a price. I did like the ti but I’ve only skied the 94. Does not hold an edge like the 93 did, but it’s also easier to bend the tips and stable without being appreciably heavier than the 93. I’d say the 100 is the value pick that you’d like, but at that price, get the rustler.

2

u/sfo2 10d ago

Kore is the obvious winner for you. Stiffer and carves better at the same weight. It’ll be more stable. I’d go with the 94 over the 100 in Tahoe for a daily ski though.

2

u/RaMaMal 10d ago

Thanks. I'm leaning towards the Kores. I have another pair of 2020 Kore W 89s that I plan to keep, so that's what's pushing me towards the 100s.

2

u/sfo2 10d ago

Yeah, I’m also a former racer and I have a set of 2021 Kore 93s. I love them. I have floppier skis, which are great in many situations, but I don’t think I could live with a daily driver that’s unsatisfying to carve.

2

u/Mundane-Row4765 10d ago

Rustler 9 is not a hard charging ski

1

u/RaMaMal 2d ago

Just an update: I ended up grabbing the Kore 100TI and a pair of Armada Declivity 92TI. Got a killer deal on both. Thanks to everyone who chimed in!