Advice for a lurker

A snowHead

I have been lurking for a while trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff to work out which skis should suit me

I am 100 kgs, 183 cm and reasonably fit and active (3 hours sport a week)

I have skied for a total of 3 weeks and have been told I am a 'natural' (I am a very good ice skater which seems a similar skill in many ways)
I will safely descend any groomed run including moguls at a reasonable (middle of the group) pace

I have been trying to improve at every opportunity and would like to spend more time off piste without losing the ability to continue to ski with my friends on piste and in the bumps

I don't own any skis currently

I cannot work out from various conflicting opinions what skis I should be aiming for. I have been to Ellis Brigham for advice but just ended up more confused

skis that I think may suit are K2 apache recons, Scott aztec pros, rossignol bandits, head monster im82, fischer watea and Volkl ac30

I only have this as a composite of friends who skis advice, various threads here and the salesman at ellis brigham

I would appreciate some help as all these skis seem to be conflicting from what I read

A snowHead

spannershy, Stop lurking, we're a mainly friendly bunch here. You should try to demo some skis at a local slope if possible. What's your location ?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I'm in doncaster

I don't know much about what I'm doing so i can't really offer any useful comment I guess my only use here is to post questions which have probably already been answered before

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spannershy, test them. If you can't feel any difference, it doesn't matter what you buy, buy the cheapest. If you can tell the difference, buy the ones you like.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

spannershy, PM me I may be able to help you out with some skis that you will like.

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spannershy, looks like a pretty good list. AC30's are quite stiff but then you are probably pretty strong if you're 100kg's and fit. As mentioned above best bet is to try some out. There are few bad skis out there but a big variation in how they ski.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

spannershy, unfortunately EB's had a ski test day at Castleford yesterday

After all it is free

bobinch, AC30s quite stiff? not convinced...

So just my luck I have missed the test day!!

I can't get the IM to work mysss! I know i'm useless!
I tried clicking your name but it just puts your name in bold at the bottom of the screen

Will all the skis on my list be suitable for the piste then? as some reviews state that some of the skis may be too stiff for piste and bumps

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spannershy, To send a PM click on send/read messages under the Snowheads banner.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

cheers geepee,

snow reports

under a new name, i admit that last time I skied AC30's was a few years back before AC40's and AC50's appeared but I recall them being stiffer and grippier than K2 Recons for example.

spannershy, I've skied Watea 78's recently and thought they would make great all mountain skis. A mate got Head IM82's last year and really likes them. He has them mounted with Dynafit bindings and uses them for touring as well as on piste. Personally I didn't like K2 Recons when I tried them a few years back but they're a well liked all mountain ski and have probably improved. Never skied the Aztecs and the only bandits I skied was 10 years ago so would not be relevant. One I would add to your list is the Dynastar Sultan. Possibly also a Movement Spark. I am 20kg lighter than you at a similar height so you may find some of these skis soft. I would find a shop with a good range on your next ski holiday and test out a few. You will probably use them for a few years so even if it costs you a bit more it will be worth it to make sure you get something you like.

I'm on my first skiing trip this year on boxing day and I want to demo and hopefully buy then

I have heard that you can have the cost of the demo days written off the eventual cost of the skis but I have no idea how to do this

I have searched for rental shops in morillon (where we're going over xmas/new year) to pre apply but it isn't clear how it works

have you undertaken this process before?

interestingly the reason I have IM82's on my list is because a friend who is a very experienced skier put them and the bandits as his choice.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Oh and spannershy, I love my AC30s, but as the others have said, if you have the chance, try some stuff before you buy it.

A snowHead

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

spannershy, The rental thing is normally very straightforward. You pay to hire a pair of skis, you say you want to buy a pair, they deduct the cost of the hire from the ticket price of the skis. Simples wink

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bobinch, ok, - I haven't skied them they just appear rather in the middle of the Volkl range. No matter what, anyway, stiffness is IMO, rather a meaningless description.

spannershy, the skill set is not interchangeable. (or, rather, it feels like it is, but it isn't) ((unless ice skating is completely unlike roller blading, which it might be)). The skill set is quite similar however, just the techniques are different, in the detail.

Doesn't the Morillon website list some shops?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Shops are listed but if you check there sites it isn't clear which skis they have and whether they will demo skis and later deduct the price or not

never used rollerblades but i can't imagine you can slide rollerblades like you can skates and skis

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under a new name, when I tried them the AC30's was more carving oriented than the K2 Recon or Legend 8k. More turny and yes, stiffer.

Not sure what terminology you prefer but when describing the difference between skiing Legend 8k's and Mythics for example I can't think of a better word than stiffer?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

On your list, either the Bandits, the Watea 78's or the Monster 82's will be great all-rounders, capable and fun both off and on piste, but not astounding at either. Also look at the Dynastar Sultan 80 and 85 - probably the 85 for your size/weight. Salomon Tornados would probably fir the bill too, maybe the Lords as well for a slightly more off piste focus.

spannershy, you can. (Slide roller blades). My understanding is that the tecnique on 'blades is very similar to that on ice skates. And has a few crucial differences from skiing.

bobinch, it's really the problem that skis can feel "stiffer" but aren't really. More to do with torsional rigidity, or any number of other characteristics. Which makes "perceived stiffness" rather less than helpful.

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clarky999, Thank you for the advice its definitely helping me narrow down my options - i notice the apache recons are not on the list is this just an omission based on the number of skis i listed or do you think they may not be for me?

I think its fair to say the advice is pointing towards selecting a few skis and trying them when I get to Morillon to see if I can find a pair that suits me

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spannershy, Always speak to staff at the shop and if doing so remotely get an email affirmation that they have all the skis you want to test and then will knock off any hire cost if you end up buying. I went to Footworks in Cham and ended up buying a ski that I'd never even heard of... it was just so fantastic when I skiied it.

snow reports

Tbh the only k2 ski I'm familiar with is the Obsethed. They recons in a similar mould to the Wateas, but I'd be put off as they're American wink

The others are all skis I've either had experience with myself, or from mates who's opinions I trust. I don't really know anything about the recons.

For what it's worth, I use the Sultan 85 for my all mountain ski (following on from the Legend 8000 last season). So far I've only used it in a snowdome (bring on Austria this weekend!!), but so far it seems like a great improvement to an already great ski.

I would buy boots and stick with renting skis. With your background you will continue to progress quickly and outgrow most skis that you buy now.

You know it makes sense.

Not if you buy a good ski to start with... None of the skis I've mentioned would be 'outgrown,' although at some point you're likely to want to specialise in one direction (ie big mountain, race, touring...), and buy a second ski for those purposes - continuing to use the all mountian one for everyhting else. With that build he's not going to get on with any floppy beginner ski anyway.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I am going to Xscape this weekend to take my girlfriends daughter to ski lessons so I am thinking of asking EB if I can demo the watea, apache recons and the dynastars

so hopefully I will learn something allthough I'm not sure how much it is possible to learn at castleford given the width, incline and snow conditions

A snowHead

While I'm there this weekend should I be aiming for 175cm or 185cm or somewhere in between?

I understand that it matters which skis I choose as to which length I choose but as a guide from what I read the taller/heavier you are the longer your skis should be?

A snowHead

Yeah that's it - although sometimes what sort of turn shape you like comes into it, and also the type of skiing - ie add c10cms for offpiste etc. At your height (183cms) I imagine you probably want something around 180, certainly wouldn't go much below 175.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

spannershy, I demo'd some Apache Crossfire's from EB at Castleford a couple of years ago but wasn't as impressed with them as I expected to be but it could have been because they needed more room than an indoor slope can provide. It's best to ring the shop beforehand and make sure they have all the ones you want to try available for you when you go. Not sure how you would demo several pairs other than to keep nipping back to the shop, which may be a bit of a pain as you would probably need to keep taking your ski boots off. I had to leave my credit card as a deposit but that may have changed now. They were very helpful with providing the skis for the demo but didn't seem particularly knowledgeable about the ski but I suppose it depends if the sales assistant you speak to has actually been on them or not.

Let me know what you think of the Watea's as I was looking at the Watea 78 amongst other skis.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

hey,

I'm pretty much the same height and weight as you but a pretty experianced and aggressive skier and have had the pleasure of testing alot of the skis on the market!

I thought I would give my thoughts on some of the skis, one thing I would say is consider how much you are wanting to ski off piste, if you are wanting to ski as much as you can off piste and want a ski that is more aimed towards the freeride. so things like scott missions, line phopet flites etc.

As all mountain skis I would say the AC30 is one of my favorites (BUT) it is incredibly stiff and unforgiving, however the AC20 (if you like your volkl's that is) the AC20 is alot more forgiving but still holds a strong edge and is also a little lighter!

I may get shot down for this, but in this category of ski I really think the Salomon Torando (standard not ti) is hard to beat! great on the piste enough waist width to cope with the soft stuff full wood core to give good re-bound out the turns and long ski life, light weight.......the list continues! if there is anything you would like to know give us a shout!

Dan

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dansmith, From what everyone has said so far everyones opinion is valid given the fact that everybody wants something different

I haven't tried any skis, other than hire skis, so I may well like salomon tornados. I'm in no rush to buy - I'm a tight yorkshireman - and I want to buy a pair of skis once and enjoy them for as long as possible, after getting the very best price of course. If I haven't bought any before skiing trip 1 this year then I'll hire and demo in resort.
I appreciate all the advice especially on length and ski choice

I guess my next thread will be on how to develop my off piste skills as that area is the one I am looking to improve next.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Length is a funny one, personally if i'm skiing something in the all mountain category I wouldn't ski anything above a 180 (I'm 6'2 and about 105kg) my thought on this is that the skis are still mainly aimed towards the piste so they are still pretty stiff, and if your looking at this type of ski then you are mainly looking to excel on piste and be able to get on off! If you ski them long they can be very tyring and hard work down narrower paths etc.

Freeride skis how ever, ski them long they tend to be quite soft tip and tail so turn easily!! the longer the better cos the more float you get off piste, my main ski for this is an old scott punisher (even tho its seen better days) and its a 191! I wish they made it longer cos I would have it! I can chuck it down anything and it works so well! This year I may have to replace and I'm thinking the atomic snoop is going to be a good shout Happy

After all it is free

Over the course of the weekend I have tried the fischer watea 78 and 84 on the snow at castleford Xscape I preferred the 78 as it was easier to turn but it wasn't my favourite ski

I also tried dynastar sultan 85s but they seemed cumbersome and probably not for me

I borrowed a friends head monster im82s and liked them, they did what I wanted and seemed to fit the bill but they were shortest skis at 172 and probably not best suited to me at that length and without longer versions to try I am unsure about these

K2 apache Recons again borrowed were very similar to all the rental skis I have ever used and fitted me right away definitely one to think about

Rossignol Bandits SC80 borrowed from another friend 185 long were very similar to the recons to ski, a quick search on the ever popular auction site fleabay revealed theses are available second hand at £245 + postage(from france) which seems reasonable. These may be the skis for me

Throughout the weekend my skiing got less rusty which may have altered the results for me which I am a little concerned about as I am about the fact that its not like skiing on a real mountain.

I will have a think about what I want as the over £200 saving from new skis is tempting - I know it goes against all advice so far but nevertheless money is an issue

spannershy, thanks for the info on the Watea 78's. Was there anything specific didn't like about them or were they just OK ?

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pokemon, I found they turned a little well but I felt they weren't balanced as nicely (if that is even a valid comment) as the K2's or the rossi's

I just preferred the more 'punter' skis which I guess says more about me and my abilities than it does the skis

also the wateas were the second skis i tested and I haven't skied at all for 8 months so I may have been rusty

hope this helps

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