 Poster: A snowHead
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As most will know I'm out here (Serre Chevalier) for the season with my Mrs, and luckily being out here for that long we do "score" fresh snow as often as possible.
Last year I succumbed and bought a slightly fatter ski (107) twin tip rocker-ed ski and I reckon my skiing definitely took a major leap forward, if that was at all possible after all the years I've been on planks.
Whether it was the twintip, rocker or width I do not know but I was charging far more (ripping) and skiing like a dude (well so I think).
Following on from my TwinTip purchase, prior to the start of the season I bought my mates Blizzard Bonafides as my touring all mountain ski and they too ski so well compared to my dear old Scott Missions.
Before Christmas mate who I bought the Bonafides from came out with his OH and they both had new fat rockered skis, he is a superb skier and I think could ski on anything, his OH however was skiing the powder so much better with her new skis, and my OH noticed this.
So the quest started.
Anyway OH has written a good article about the quest and makes for some good and interesting reading here
OH has been skiing on these the past week and her skiing yesterday was the best I've ever seen, could almost use the word "ripping".
More pics here
When I go over to La Grave my Bonafides are almost the narrowest ski, think I'll have to go fatter as well!
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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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Just got my OH some salomon shoguns, she'll try these in next day or two. Note that these are "man" skis - though the girlie version (geshia) is the same other than more girl orientated colours. Weathercam, are you on gotama's by any chance, the spec sounds about right. I've got gotama's end of last season. Fantastically versatile ski, surprisingly good piste ski but excel in soft snow, I've not really had decent powder to try them in yet but the odd teaser snow I've skied tells me tells they'll ski big gs floaty turns, which my old "fats" (90mm, no rocker) didn't with my mass on them.
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I'd have thought the easy answer is DPS (assuming price no object), more mainstream Rossi should have a Something7 that would suit. Beyond that customise according to degrees of aggression, ability and attitude.
& as for demoing she is of course right on in not testing them on the perfect pow day. The mark of a pow ski you love should be how "liveable with" it is on (non boilerplate) hardpack and particularly heavy crud.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| fatbob wrote: |
& as for demoing she is of course right on in not testing them on the perfect pow day. The mark of a pow ski you love should be how "liveable with" it is on (non boilerplate) hardpack and particularly heavy crud. |
People on forums like here often say they don't see the need for a fatter ski as they don't ski powder that often but any proper powder day I've skied has been tons of fun with whatever ski I've been on, the days I struggle are when the snow is really heavy and thick and find a bit of width and rocker is really helpful then
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my Mrs hates heavy skis as well.... got some Armada tstWs for her in the end of season sales last year, shes not used them yet!!
I do think a rockered ski is going to help in cruddy and deeper snow compared to her non rockered skis she had previously...
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kitenski, If rocker is too big and soft it can be problematic in heavier snow due to too much deflection.
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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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You have to be really careful on the order you get the words of this post: because you could be looking for a "Fat Woman's powder ski"!?
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| kitenski wrote: |
| my Mrs hates heavy skis as well.... got some Armada tstWs for her..... |
But then you put a real heavy binding on 'em 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I skied the VJJs at one the MK ski tests and I really liked them - would love to give them a go on a mountain. And they have the rudest name, too. Even better than my (now ex) Burnin' Luvs 
The point about skis for your proportions rather than whether you have dangly genitals or not is a very good one. Not so sure about not letting your other half choose skis for you, mind... Mr P got me some Kneissl black stars and I am rather in love with them. Crap in pow though.
Ms P.
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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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Weathercam, any reason for the new boots or is it purely binding compatibility? These days it seems that if you want a lower flex boot and tour then there is no particular reason to not just use a touring boot. Particularly a more alpine oriented one like the Quest.
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You know it makes sense.
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meh, we started off looking at some Garmont Lusters (Garmont are now no longer Scott bought them) that are a downhill orientated (four buckle) boot and were at a bonkers price, unfortunately they were not compatible with the bindings on the Armadas.
Last season I moved from a lower flex touring boot to a stiffer one and felt my skiing was a lot better across all conditions. On my non touring skis I also use a downhill boot but that's also to do with binding compatability.
The Quests on my OH seem to be very loose around the shin, and when she tried on the Lusters she noticed how much stiffer they were, we then moved on to look at a downhill boot for the Armadas, which I thought would be more economic rather than switching bindings to match the Lusters, so she'll use the Quest for touring and the Atomics for the Armadas.
It's all a mission to get her to move out of the back seat and charge 
Obviously we are in the fortunate position where we are not limited to a one ski one boot quiver.
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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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Line Pandora
Volkl Kiku
Or if you really charge Kastle BMX 118
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm trying to get my OH to get a ski a bit fatter than her Volkl Auras, which I think are basically a female Mantra.
I'm finding the fresh really good on the Katanas which feel like a fatter version of my Mantras.
She is light(53kg), only skis offpiste, technically very nice, likes the stiffness of the Aura even though she isn't a particularly aggressive skier.
Not wedded to Volkl but seem to like their skiis .
Any suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jonathan Bell, The Kiku would be the obvious suggestion if she likes her Auras, the Blizzard Dakota also might be a good choice although it is getting discontinued from next year so if she fancies that get one fast, it is the female version of the Cochise. The Kiku and Dakota are both stiffer skis but she might prefer something a bit softer for a powder ski, one of the new Rossis, the VJJs, Line Pandora. Although you say she is light the Aura is stiffer than a lot of men's skis I have tried so I wouldn't be worried about sticking to a women's ski, for instance the Shiro or The One both come in shorter lengths? You'll find reviews of some of these on Blister Gear and theSkiDiva.com
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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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Jonathan Bell, my gf loves her Kikus.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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lynseyf, clarky999, Weathercam,
Thanks, just had awesome day at a Grand Montet but OH found it harder than need be on her Auras.
Mind you snow was mid thigh
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| Jonathan Bell wrote: |
I'm trying to get my OH to get a ski a bit fatter than her Volkl Auras, which I think are basically a female Mantra.
I'm finding the fresh really good on the Katanas which feel like a fatter version of my Mantras.
She is light(53kg), only skis offpiste, technically very nice, likes the stiffness of the Aura even though she isn't a particularly aggressive skier.
Not wedded to Volkl but seem to like their skiis .
Any suggestions? |
I tried to get my wife , 54kg, 154 cm onto some Volkl Auras from Scott Luna (84 cm underfoot). Too stiff. - also too stiff for an similiar stats 30 year experience lady instructor who is a friend of ours. She did, however, really like the new Rossignol Saffron 7 in 158 which is c 99-98 underfoot, softer, lower swing weight, same honeycomb tip as the other new Rossignol 7 series. (I also saw some male skiers rave about the Rossi Soul 7 recently as well).
I think the lesson I learnt was that lighter ladies may not necessarily go "like for like" in underfoot width as their partners, but knock back 1 or 2 levels in the range!
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I'm a lady with a similar stature to your wife who just skis off piste now. I also have a pair of auras that I used to get into it then upgraded to something morspecific. I changed to some kikus which i love and if like in the picture she likes riding big open faces these give an amazing feeling underfoot, proper freeride feeling. I have also bought the 115 underfoot Salomon rockette. I bought these as I'm doing more trees, steeps and narrow and love them for their manoeuvreability. I would recommend either for the uses given. I may consider selling my kikus, with marker barons and black diamond skins, great condition if you are interested. Gemmakbrett@gmail.com
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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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The Auras are really stiff, I find them hard work off piste if there's more then a few "s of snow, they are nice in light powder but then what ski isn't nice in powder. This is why I'm not sure the whole women specific ski thing is that helpful. The Auras are a stiff ski, a lot of guys that find the Mantra a bit too much (or are maybe skiing the Mantra just now) would probably enjoy the Aura. There are also plenty of women who ski and enjoy the Mantra.
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gemmabrett,
Thanks for the offer , we've got a short list if skiis for her to try out, the challenge will be to find some demo/ rentals.
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FAQ
