 Poster: A snowHead
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Can anyone point me to somewhere on the internet I can read a whole load about what the various features of skis give you??! I've been looking to replace mine and my daughter's skis for several months now, but I'm finding the choice bewildering, and when I go into specialist shops to discuss my requirements, they only seem interested in flogging me what they want rid of, regardless of whether it would be suitable.
What I'm particularly interested in is the features that make a ski good for UK recreational on piste skiing, so ability to cope with very variable conditions, and definitely enhanced performance in crud and icy conditions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Industry Secret - SHHH!They're just waxy planks, they're all the same - everything else is just windowdressing. 
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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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| Quote: |
and definitely enhanced performance in crud and icy conditions.
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my very tenuous grasp of ski performance suggests that the best ski in icy conditions is NOT the same as the best ski in crud. Better informed people will be along to help, but meanwhile, maybe you could indicate what level of skier you are, what kind of thing you like, your stats (height/weight) and what you've been skiing on up to now.
When you say "UK skiing" do you mean skiing in the UK? There are a number of Snowheads who are very experienced skiers in Scotland who will no doubt be able to help.
But you probably need a quiver. 
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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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This book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Mountain-Skier-Way-Expert-Skiing/dp/007140841X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399373542&sr=1-8&tag=amz07b-21 is mainly about skiing technique rather than skis but I found it very informative on skis too. It's a good read and well worth the money.
My tuppence worth - a bit of rocker at the tip seems to help batter through the crud, as does having a wider tip (shovel). You don't need a wide ski for piste skiing but if we're talking scottish pistes then some days the piste can be very soft so a bit of width helps keep you on top. For fast skiing on icy you'll want a stiff ski to really hold an edge, but that's probably harder work in other conditions.
Don't know where you are in Scotland but for an honest opinion on what skis might suit you and your daughter best I'd recommend Banks of Perth. It's a small shop but they all ski Glenshee/Aviemore on a regular basis and know what works best. My wife and I got new boots there at the start of the season and they did a good job for us.
I've also had good advice from Blues in the past - I bought my current skis there (Fischer Watea 88 ) and although Fischer don't seem to have as many fans on here as some of the more exotic brands I think they're excellent skis. Now that the season is over you might want to wait for one of their demo days at Braehead to give a few different skis a try. Ellis Brigham also have a fleet of demo skis and it's really surprising the differences you feel when skiing different skis back to back.
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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.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for your replies - I will check out those links.
| pam w wrote: |
maybe you could indicate what level of skier you are, what kind of thing you like, your stats (height/weight) and what you've been skiing on up to now.
When you say "UK skiing" do you mean skiing in the UK?
But you probably need a quiver. |
I'm 5'4" and 10st7, she's 5'4" and 12st7, we're both around advanced intermediate and we ski at Glenshee, which certainly can be changeable, even on the same day! And as for a quiver  Is that what I get when I am standing at the top of a steep run, and suddenly realise that the wind has blown away all the powder to leave sheer ice? 
I have been to Banks, but maybe I didn't explain clearly enough what I wanted, or maybe it was because my budget was limited, but I felt that the main objective was to shift the end of season sale stock. My daughter was offered some 153cm ladies skis, which I felt were too short given her weight, but maybe I was wrong? I had it in my mind that she would need around 160cms in ladies, or shorter if they were more rigid, unisex? In an ideal world, she would love twin tips. For me, I'm happy going frontwards and mostly staying in contact with the snow!
I'm looking at what's coming up second hand just now, and there are some interesting ones, but it's still baffling, even with user reviews online.
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Tomrabbit, tbh it is baffling. Having said that if you are looking for "recreational on piste skiing" skis you should be able to easily rule a lot of stuff out. Additionally the way to go is try before you buy. The staff in the shops given the time of the year and your remit will think they are doing you a favour trundling out end of line season stuff. Their guess is as good as yours as to what will suit (ruling out the specific stuff as mentioned above). Length isn't an exact science, I wouldn't get too hung up on that within reason.
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Some of the brands (K2, Volkl, Line) used to do demo days at Glenshee, EB certainly did one at Glencoe this year. I would recommend a demo day. You might not end up buying the exact ski you demo but it will give you an idea whether you mostly get on well with skis from a certain brand, whether you like really stiff skis or not, short or longer turn radius and how what sort of width underfoot and length you prefer. FWIW when I skied in Scotland I skied a 90ish mm ski as my everyday ski. I hate ice so would avid days when I knew it was going to only be ice and much prefer the slushy end of season days, fatter skis are more fun in slush than out and out piste skis, again IMO. I demoed the Volkl Kendo at Glenshee and always thought it would be a really good allround Scottish ski, I skied Volkl Karmas and Bridges for a while in Scotland as well and liked them both. You can probbaly pick either of these skis up fairly cheaply on Ebay, Ebay.de is always worth a look as well.
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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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I know Glasgow is a bit of a way for you but good old Admin set up a ski demo day indoors up there and maybe will again this year. It is amazing how when you try 5 different brads of ski that are all the same stats how much difference there is. Try before you buy...
Mind I think he was a bit disappointed vis turn out so maybe Scotland will be off the tour this year. PM him for a clearer understanding.
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The skicanadamag website is quite a handy resource...they have lots of ski reviews and a handy "ski finder" gizmo which may point you in the right direction..
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Tomrabbit, is this your forum name or your real name? I only ask as I used to work with someone with your name.
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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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Tomrabbit, one of my skiing friends is the same height and weight as your daughter. She hires her skis and on various holidays has had everything from 143 twin tips to men's 160 piste skis. She seems to be able to ski them all pretty much equally well. The really short ones were good in moguls but very slow when trying to schuss through the flat bits on some pistes. The skis she was happiest on were Atomic Cloud 9 in either 149 or 156 (can't remember). My wife is also the same height as your daughter but slightly lighter. She skis Salomon BBR Skylites that are 150 long. They're very easy to use skis but as they've got a bit of rocker on the tip she probably could have gone to about 155 length quite happily. 5'4" is 162cm and on a modern piste ski not many people would want to go above head height. Ellis Brigham guide says chin high to eye-level, so the 153cm length your daughter was offered is pretty much bang on - I think anywhere between 150 and 160 would be fine.
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Thanks all for your replies. This is such a great forum! (no hammerite, Tomrabbit is not my real name!) I would gladly travel to Glasgow to go to a ski demo day, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for one. I was planning to go to the demo day scheduled at Glenshee this season, but sadly it was cancelled due to bad weather.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Tomrabbit wrote: |
| Thanks all for your replies. This is such a great forum! (no hammerite, Tomrabbit is not my real name!) I would gladly travel to Glasgow to go to a ski demo day, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for one. I was planning to go to the demo day scheduled at Glenshee this season, but sadly it was cancelled due to bad weather. |
If you go into EB in Braehaed then simply pop your credit card behind the counter and they let you try lot of skis at snow factor..
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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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Perty, thanks for the suggestion of looking at the skicanadamag website. It had loads of good information, and I had never come across it before. One particularly useful article http://skicanadamag.com/2011/01/01/gear/ski-geometry for anyone who has the same difficulty as me getting to grips with all the techy stuff. I think it is especially confusing because technology changes so rapidly, and as that article was written in 2011, it may already be different, but the explanations are good. And Valkyrie, I have ordered that book you suggested!
Still very undecided, particularly on whether to go for women specific or unisex. I still don't get how a shorter female specific ski can work well for a heavy woman with an aggressive skiing style, so I think we will definitely be heading over to Braehead before next season to try out. Do EB have a good selection to try?
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Poster: A snowHead
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EB have about 30 skis to try. Give them a phone to check.
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