 Poster: A snowHead
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Everyone that I've met who can ski well, can ski well whatever equipment they're using. Testing is very subjective as well, so why bother bothering about what equipment you have?
Go to the resort, try it out, if you like it, then buy it. I'm not convinced that if you try loads of sets of skis that you're going to do any better than just picking the first set that you like the feel of. Same with boots, as long as they fit, I wouldn't really worry about what make and level they are. In fact I would go so far as to say that for most recreational skiers, as long as they fit comfortably, then you may as well match them to your ski suit as to your ability. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Kramer, some common sense there. We all get too hung up about what kit we're using although I must admit to a few ingrained prejudices which have built up over the years. I do disagree with you about boots though, I agree it shouldn't matter what make they are but I know that there some boots which I will never get on with, Salomon and Nordica to name but 2. I've only ever had 4 pairs of boots in 5 decades of skiing and I'm convinced that good boots should last 10 years before they need changing. Personally I hate buying new boots and believe that it will take me at least 5 years to break them in. However, my son, when he was instructing could destroy a pair of boots in a season.
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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?
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Fair point Kramer and i can totally see what you're saying-it doesn't really make that much difference what ski you are on if you are good enough...
But i would say that when people are buying skis, they are spending hundreds of pounds on them-therefore, they are going to be quite keen to get the skis which they enjoy the most and feel most comfortable on-if you're going to do it, you may as well do it properly, in my opinion anyway..
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Chris_5000, I'm not saying don't test the equipment first, but that if you're a recreational skier, spending hours and hours testing and returning to the shop to swap between many sets of skis is probably a waste of time which could be better spent using and getting to know your new skis.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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David@traxvax, as you live in resort, I would probably class you as well above the average recreational skier, and so you probably would feel the benefit of the correct level of boot more than an average Joe.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I can be very picky in my choices of ski and it shouldn't be a hinderance to what I want to do. So I don't agree that you shouldn't bother, but upto a point. I am likely to trawl through shops until I find the skis that I have in mind and I'll have a fair idea of what it should do. I tried plenty over the years and am relatively upto date at the moment. But I agree you can
disappear up your own bum with it. For example, you are unlikely to notice the edge tune unless the shop 'sell' it to you and you then like the ski and package and are then convinced it is a good thing. For that kind of thing - unless you're a racer - just set the edges a bit more IMO.
I take the point that there is an awful lot of bull* talked about kit tho'
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I'm not too fussy about skis (spent most of last season on a very beat up pair of ex-rental 1080s), although I did find it interesting to try several different slalom and GS skis when I did a week's GS training in Tignes. Over the summer I bought a pair of GS skis based on what I what I liked in Tignes, and bought a pair of B5s in an end of season sale to replace my 1080s (I hope I notice the differentce between the two  ).
I'm much more fussy about boots, mainly because I've spent far too long skiing with painful feet. I've therefore spent a lot of time chossing, adjusting, tweaking, customising, etc, etc to get things 'just so'. Still not there yet, but my current boots are the best setup I've ever had.
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Kramer, Unfortunately Kramer I don't live in La Rosiere full time but I would say that I probably spend more time on skis than the average. In fact what has happened over the years for me, is that as I've slowed up I've downgraded my boots. I used to ski in full on race boots with custom foaming, no more, comfort takes precidence over performance. As far as skis are concerned I really don't care as long as they're Dynastar, we've got just about every Dynastar model from 155cms slalom skis up to 185cms Bigs and provided I don't spend too much time off-piste with the slalom skis and too much time on-piste with the Bigs I can't be bothered. Although for all round use my old Dynastar 74s take some beating (IMHO).
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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.
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Because until I can convince Mrs P that we need to holiday in Argentina there are 7 months of my year with NO skiing?
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True, a good skier will ski well on any ski. But the skis still feel very different to that skier, and make a particular situation harder or easier.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| beanie1 wrote: |
| True, a good skier will ski well on any ski. But the skis still feel very different to that skier, and make a particular situation harder or easier. |
Maybe so, but I'm not sure that most skiers are good enough to be able to notice some of the subtler differences between skis, and that the ones who can, could easily modify their style to take advantage of it.
Even the pros who "design" their own name skis, I'm not sure that it's anything other than a bit of marketing.
In fact, the only place that I think that it probably really matters what ski you're using is at the top level, where you're talking of differences of a fraction of a percent being important.
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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.
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Kramer,
I think you're right to a certain degree...but put a lower end intermediate on a stiff race ski, and they will certainly know something's up, even if they're not sure what.
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Kramer, subtler differences perhaps not. Greater differences why not? And who's to say they don't exist?
In a rough analogy, inexperienced tasters know that they like one wine or another, and experienced ones may not wish to modify their preferences.
Isn't catering to and satisfying wishes a prime object of any pleasure activity?
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You know it makes sense.
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beanie1, a fair point. But as long as you try a ski and you're happy with it, I don't see much point in going further than that.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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comprex, yes it is, but I do think that to get too hung up on the differences between types of skis maybe missing the point of skiing somewhat.
I am being a little provocative.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Kramer, of course you are.
If you're happy with one label from one vineyard, then by all means stay with it.
Are you trying to phrase this as a self-knowledge problem?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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Kramer, My view is buy equipment you like at the right price use it abuse it and wear it out, then buy more. I don't buy stuff just because there is a nice new design or colour of virtually the same product. I buy the best I can afford at the time and then live with it until it will function no more in the way it was supposed to. I also don't care what brand function and cost far more important.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| Kramer, some common sense there. We all get too hung up about what kit we're using although I must admit to a few ingrained prejudices which have built up over the years. I do disagree with you about boots though, I agree it shouldn't matter what make they are but I know that there some boots which I will never get on with, Salomon and Nordica to name but 2. I've only ever had 4 pairs of boots in 5 decades of skiing and I'm convinced that good boots should last 10 years before they need changing. Personally I hate buying new boots and believe that it will take me at least 5 years to break them in. However, my son, when he was instructing could destroy a pair of boots in a season. |
This doesn't make sense to me sorry. There are 7 last shapes at Nordica and 6 at Salomon, excluding plug shells. You should never 'Wholesale' right off a brand. Every three to five years the moulds are revised, maybe since you last bad expierence things have improved or worsened. It's not really fair to slam the door shut like that. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It does make a difference but you should buy what for what you want to do. I bought a pair of big fat skis last season that I didn't really need thinking I'd use them occasionally. Having skied them the first day in a few cm dust on groomed I couldn't see it worth my while ever taking any other skis away with me. Now they may not make sense for GS carvers but I'd say they're a great SUV ski. I don't think I'd consider an allround ski less than 90mm waist now although I have been blown away by specialist short radius mogul skis when I've demoed them or 160cm slalom skis.
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