Testing the 2025 Volkl M7 Mantra and Secret 96 at Stowe Mountain Resort with SkiEssentials.com

A lot of people have been asking about the 2025 VÖLKL M7 Mantra and Secret 96! We'll have them ready to ship in about a month, and we'll have an in-depth review before then!
#GearForSkiersBySkiers

[@scottgillespie3733]

Whoever is the orange at the start i love the way u ski it looks so playful and fun

[@SkiEssentials]

Kristi's a pro. Collegiate ski racer and has an illustrious career in ski testing and modeling. Lovely human as well!

[@sgoldie3235]

Man, you guys are cranking out some super sweet turns in these last couple shorts! My kinda turning right there!

[@joachimb8231]

I'm 'driving' the Deacon 84. So what's the major difference to the M7 and how big is the difference to the Kendo88?

[@SkiEssentials]

There's more power and stability in both M7 and the Kendo 88 vs. the Deacon 84. The Deacon is a bit sharper and more precise, especially in short carved turns, but if you want to stand on a ski and really lean on it, the Kendo and Mantra will hold up to that use with more strength.

[@joachimb8231]

@@SkiEssentials Thank you so much mate! Very useful! The point is I'm standing with 197cm and 120kg on that ski and sometimes having the feeling that a bit more 'area' underneath my boots could be useful. The Deacon is in 177 and I guess I will try the Kendo in 184. I tried the Maverick88 in 184 but found it to soft and less precise, especially after 8 years on Nordica Fire Arrow.

[@MrGbot2000]

Jeff, have you ever experimented with shorter poles? I think you might like them. It looks like your shoulders are getting a little hitched and you dont have a super consistent home position for them

[@SkiEssentials]

Jeff uses very short poles. He's just very flexible and capable of making dramatic angles--I think that's what's causing your perception. If he were to use shorter poles, it would look comical.

[@patrickpurcell3671]

All the models are Mantras. They should have kept the Kendo brand name.

[@SkiEssentials]

I do think the Kendo was a great name for the ski--it implied that it was more sword-like, sharp, and precise. It'll take us a minute to get used to saying Mantra 88.