 Poster: A snowHead
|
I'll confidently ski any groomed slope but I'm pretty inexperienced/crap at skiing off piste.
So I want some all round skis that will let get me skiing powder but will still carve well on pistes.
I'm about 5' 11 and just under 10 stone. (pretty lanky 18 year old).
My current short list goes something like this:
Scott Missions/Crusades/ Aztec Pro
Head monster IM82
K2 Recons
Salomon X Wing Tornado
Salomon Lords (<- I like to think I could justify buying these but maybe they're too 'big mountain' for me. Will they carve on groomed? )
Mantras ( same story at the lords ?? )
I plan to try these skis out at the xscape once I've got some boots but I want your opinins first.
So what do you think would best suit me and have you any other suggestions?
Thanks guys. x
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Got the Aztec Pros and they'd probably suit you pretty well since you're light (like me). Soft is the wrong word...more "springy". Surprisingly good in deep snow considering their relatively small waist and they carve short/med turns superbly. A real fun ski. A bit flappy on boilerplate or hardpack and not so good for long carved turns. Mission skis similarly but a tad stiffer.
The Heads have a very different feel to them: much smoother in general, particularly at speed but don't have the same pop to them. Great to ski nonetheless. Not tried the others. Hope that helps a tad 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
There's no such thing as too much ski, sadly the manufacturers won't make them like that. There IS not enough technique.
If you want a ski that will really allow you to progress your off-piste skiing, which is Europe is likely to be less than 50% powder skiing, get the Mantras. They destroy everything off-piste and rail like a freight train on piste.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Icelantic Pilgrim carves nicley and at 90mm unfoot provides plenty of float.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I wouldn't bother with the recons, lords & missions both beat them on & off piste IMV
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
if you're looking at K2s, you'd be better off with the Xplorer, Outlaw or even the Extreme twin tips.
take a look through this lot... http://www.fall-line.co.uk/search-gear.php?2
then try them out. from my own personal experience of moving off the piste in the last couple of ski holidays, you don't want anything under 80mm in the soft stuff off piste. Thankfully, there's now lots of skis that will still ski well on the groomers that are that wide, and wider.
You could maybe add the Atomic Nomad Crimson Ti to that list as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fergus, Lords are awsome best ski I have ever stood on. Super in all conditions and carves very nicley. K2 Recons are realy nice ski to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd echo shoogly look at the xplorer over the recon, the recons losing its way a bit. If I wasn't going twin this year I'd probably get the explorer to replace my crossfires. The Heads are meant to be well good, especially the 88
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Missions work for me. Mind you I am more that a tad heavier than Fergus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordhan, are your Lords quite a big longer than you would normally ski, as we were told that you need to ski it considerably longer because of the rocker, otherwise it's like skiing on blades ?
we are looking to buy All Mountain skis and for him we were considering:
Lords, Mission, Punisher, Explorers
And me:
Lady, Lotta Luvs, Missions, Punishers/ Sheela were bieng considered
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I think the rule of thumb for them is add Ten So if you are 166-168 buy the lords in 177. For such a wide ski responsive on piste and amazing off it.
Have to say they are lovley on and off piste and I think the lady is the same ski with diffrent colours. Mrs O tested the head great one last year and said it was brill to. She is struggling to decide between it and the lady
*** Edit**
But at the end of the day the best ski for you is the one you feel most comfortable on so get out there and test it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Missions work all over the mountain. They get my vote.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Well I'm even more keen to try out the lords and missions now!
| parlor wrote: |
| ...get the Mantras. They destroy everything off-piste and rail like a freight train on piste. |
They seem very 'full-on'. Pretty fat with a longer turn radius than the others on my list. -Not that this is a bad thing, I do like tanking out big wide turns; I'll just need to see how I get on with them I suppose as I'm fairly light.
I'll maybe look at the explorers over recons too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Fergus, remember, in deeper snow the bigger turn radius makes a more stable ski. You can still do shortish turns on them too - you just need to get em up on their edge a bit more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
When I was on Mantras I wasn't much over 10 stone, and 6 tall. Love the ski-thinking about getting a pair for the coming season...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Fergus, you don't need to buy new skis. Just learn to ski off piste. Tools, bad workmen, blame, etc.
If you don't ski off piset often enough to learn how to do it properly, you don't ski off piste enough to justify specialist skis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
I don't own a pair of skis. I't's never been worth buying them before I've stopped growing. ^^ Do you suggest I just buy a pair of piste skis and learn how to ski deeper snow on them?
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 5-11-08 18:01; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
buy what the hell pleases you and makes you grin from ear to ear.
just go try some different skis out and buy the ones you like best 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Hmmm...just pondering here...does the average skier, the skier at the mode of technique seen on an average snowy hill, have good enough technique to be recommended a Mantra? Of course I have no idea if Fergus is an ex-racer or veteran of many ski trips since knee high to a chamois etc - he's certainly listed an educated pick of skis imho - but are we right to just assume he'd be capable of skiing one of these skis as it's meant to be skied? 'Cos otherwise maybe we wouldn't really be doing him a favour?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
hmm ye,
Well I have been skiing since I was young - only about 2 weeks a year though so by no means a racer. I lke to think I have a good technique on groomed, but I guess I'll just have to try them out and see.
But as you mention that, would riding on a ski that is better than the skiiers ability not help to quickly improve the skiers ability?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fergus, no, imho generally holds it back. I quite regularly see a couple of skiers skiing on top of the range retail (off the shelf - not RD) slalom skis, whose technique is simply not yet at the level to get anything useful from their skis. They'll struggle to improve unless they get something more realistic. And yes, I have tried to gently and diplomatically drop a couple of hints in a friendly way. Maybe too subtly as they're still on them, but tbh I don't think it's my place to be any more explicit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On a separate point - is there any point in testing off-piste orientated skis in a fridge? Demo in resort surely...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
stoatsbrother,
Not really...but at least you can tell whether you like them under foot which might influence your wish list..but it probably shouldn't.
I have only skied mine in the Fridge so far..and they don't like short turns..!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How much off piste do you think you're going to be doing realistically
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I skied 30+ days last season on Head IM82s. It's a great all-round choice and hard to fault. At your weight, they're plenty wide enough to float in powder. I'm 85kg and don't have any problem skiing waist deep powder on these. Smooth and stable on piste too and can handle anything from chopped up powder to boilerplate.
Having said that, I'm tempted to buy a pair of Line Prophet 100s this season as a more off-piste oriented all mountain ski. But don't think I'd bother if I was under 10 stone. Line Prophet 90s could be a good option though for a do-it-all ski? Or how about Movement Sparks?
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Hi again.
I've been at the xscape today (really not a fan of the place), tested the Lords, Head Monster 82s and the Missions.
Really impressed by the Lords, they felt lighter and turnier than I had imagined. The Missions also felt great.
Didn't really think I'd get much from trying the mantras on a small indoor slope.
Sinceuktrailmonster, mentioned the prophets, I've been looking at them. They weren't available to demo though.
Y'know, I think I'll just 'bite the bullet' and buy something...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fergus, next time your up I'd try the Mantras! Just for a laugh..
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I was skiing like a mong today with reasonably sensible skis, It'd be a disaster.
I just can't get back into my skiing in an hour on a short, artificial slope 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Fergus, I don't see any point in testing all mountain skis in the Snowdome. I suppose you get a bit of an idea about weight and slow short turns, but I found it a bit like testing a Porsche up and down your driveway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
uktrailmonster lacking insurance on my old mans cars there is nothing like driving round the drive way
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Fergus,
If you're still growing, unlike an old fart like me, I suggest you don't buy skis yet if you are only using them for a week each year. If you're going out for a season that's different.
I suggest first get a very good fitting pair of boots they are the most important piece of hardware.
When you get to the resort pay for some off piste lessons and hire skis to suit the conditions. If the off piste is crud, skied out, or thin powder on hard packed you need a stiffer ski and narrower under foot ski than you would for light powder up to your thighs. Get advise from the ski school on what to hire. You're honest enough to say you're crap off piste, you will only get better with lessons. Wandering off the side of the piste occasionally your technique will improve very slowly if at all. Don't listen to all of the amateurs about the technique skiing off piste listen to a good instructor.
If you're determined to buy skis go for a 60/40% or 70/30% piste/off piste ski. They are of course all compromises.
I am not being negative but you'll waste your money otherwise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I have to echo comments above get some lessons, hire skis at least untill happy off piste. Then if you still want too by.
Remember that if sking in europe only a couple of times a year off piste will only account for 30%max unless really luckly so you need to concider this when choosing the right ski as no one ski fits all.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Fergus wrote: |
| I'll confidently ski any groomed slope but I'm pretty inexperienced/crap at skiing off piste.. |
So to make off piste easier; get fatter skis as well as lessons
| Fergus wrote: |
| So I want some all round skis that will let get me skiing powder but will still carve well on pistes. |
That there's yer problem. It's hard to have both. If you can ski pistes well, then forget about a ski that helps you do that and rely on your technique instead. Go as fat as you dare and pray it isn't too icey.
Remember, long fat skis are waaaaaay more gnarly in the lift queue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Got my boots. Salomon falcon CSs.
I think I've pretty much decided I'm buying. Maybe it's not worth it, but meh. And I'm not going to grow anything that will make a difference to the size of ski I'll want.
I'll definately take up your advice on extra lessons, it's been something I've been meaning to do. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fergus, buy the skis then you can go to Glencoe or Nevis without the hassle of hireing It'll save you time... aslo Glencoe tend not to piste there runs so off piste all day....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That's the plan. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stoeckli Stormriders XXL - damn good grip on hard pistes and wide enough to generate some float in the off-piste
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
