 Poster: A snowHead
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Every season we get the ski mags with reams of pages describing how this years skis etc. are the dog's danglers ... but how much better are they than the skis that were being lovingly tongue washed a couple of years ago?
Ignoring the servicing and maintenance issues involved in buying 2nd user skis (they can be addresed), Just how much real improvement is there year on year that the average competent skier will be able to access that makes buying new the best option?
Maybe the Bells can offer a small insight into this.
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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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There isn't a massive shift each year in ski design and manufacture. Often skis just have their graphics renewed and off they go again. There are certain years that there can be a paradigm shift, for instance, when skis similar to Zags or Metrons come out. They may have been made before but with modern techniques they become more popular and more ski brands will try and copy these designs or shifts. Spatulas are another good example of this, I'm not saying we'll see more anti-sidecut skis but at least two other manufacturers are now making these skis.
So year-on-year, no it's not worth changing your skis to keep up with the fashions.
Technology means that things will get cheaper, titanium may become more popular for it's strength vs weight advantage, but on snow many skiers may not be able to tell the difference between this and aluminium, for example.
Until ski manufacturers (or other scientists, NASA maybe) can invent a foam core that can hold it's properties for many years, skis will need to be replaced from time-to-time and probably before they've actually been skied out. It's sad to say that skis will not last forever, I know there are lots of old skis out there still running fine - this is mainly due to their fantastic construction. Modern wider skis have had to expand on the core building techniques, a wooden cored ski (my preferred core) will die before the rest of the ski dies, even if the ski is lightly skied. I would destroy many light skis in a winter season. For me a tough, well built ski with cap construction would last two seasons, tops. Afterward the cores are shot, the skis loose most of their camber and no longer rebound the way they used to.  Even if you're not an aggressive skier the wood is bent into an unnatural position and just having them in the loft means they are slowly dying.  And foam cores? Some skis you can feel them breaking with every turn.
I've bought 2nd user skis before. I know what to look for when squeezing a ski, if I can press a brand new original then even better as it will give you a good idea as to the condition of the ski. If you can see what, where, who etc the ski has been skied then no problem in buying it. Whether long term it's the better option or not, I'm not sure.
So, buying new might be best in terms of them lasting a winter or two longer, possibly. And them being this years colours.  I suggest it comes down to: condition of equipment Vs cost, if the ratio is right then yes ,buy away...
This does raise the question is a two weeker worth buying their own skis??? Again. Yes but make sure they fat   Not really. 
Hope this came close to answering the question. 
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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 does raise the question is a two weeker worth buying their own skis??? Again. Yes but make sure they fat
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parlor, Had I been thin, then I would still have bought them.
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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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Masque, 'the average competent skier' is rather disingenuous for it ignores
- varied goals among various skiers. GS racers would not see any real technology improvement in the new versatile all-mountain carvers or cross skis or park skis, and why should they?
- changing goals by the same skier. parlor knows what his goals are and they're fairly consistent year-to-year, fine, very good, skis may as well be a commodity at that stage. Nothing guarantees that consistency for an 'average competent'  and even a week of lessons can change all of it.
parlor rightly points out that technology itself doesn't change that fast. What does change is the industry perception of 'average competent skier's goals and their response to that perception.
The next logical question is: how fast can the industry correct a mis-perception?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Q. Was the old VW Golf a better car than today's VW Golf?
A. Yes 
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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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eEvans, are you sure you want to place a convertible for sale advert in a thread with this title?
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My Golf's edges have worn out. Can I replace them? Will Kwik-Fit be capable? I mean, you can't get better...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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comprex, No.... but many people seem attracted to reading it 'cos of the title
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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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Masque, which is what I was trying to say. There are certain older skis that I would love to own, regardless of age, Rossignol Axiom (o not u) certain Volkl Explosives & Volkl Snow Rangers. I'd ski them too, I don't just want to own them for the sake of owning them.
I have no trouble with 2nd (or even 3rd) user skis, even if they are quite old. As long as you can test (either in hand or on snow) first. I would never buy (OK maybe for the right price) a 2nd hand ski without having seen it and held it.
Goodness, that was much quicker than my first post.
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eEvans, i'm sure i came across one of those on ebay yesterday, stunning looking car for its age..........
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You know it makes sense.
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Dan, So is mine ... only gets driven to the VW garage and back. I must bring it back to the UK one day. No rust as it has been down here in SoF for about 18 years  but I don't really expect that I'll sell it.
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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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Tip for buying skis - spend a season testing the latest skis, find one pair you like then buy them at a discount when they bring out the new model / colour. Try fat, thin, long, short, stiff, soft, loads / little sidecut and everywhere inbetween.
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FAQ
