 Poster: A snowHead
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I thought I might buy my darling wife some skis for Christmas. I've been looking on various websites and have found that a new pair, that is going to be sufficiently better than the pair she has (Rossignol Attraxion 1), is just slightly out of reach if Santa is to visit the rest of the family!
So I started thinking about a second hand pair. But now I'm lost. I thought I had some back issues of ski mags I could look at but apparently, during a clear out, they inadvertently went in the bin. Ironic really as I now want them to buy a present for her. So I've had a look through eBay but I have no idea if they are suitable or not and online review are like puppies: ecstatic about everything. I've had a look on here but women's skis don't come up often.
So ... she is piste skier, perfectly capable of skiing reds but preferring to stay on blues most of the time. Very fit and into her distance running, but skis for fun. She is 5'4" and likes ski length to be around 150 to 155cm. She has been recovering from a loss of confidence (and a sudden realisation of mortality) which is quite common after having children and having to be a "grown up". She is back to the occasional red and I feel that if she had the right skis under her she'd feel more in control and enjoy her skiing a bit more.
Can anyone recommend anything? I'm looking at £150 budget-wise and can't really justify going over £200.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I can quite easily completely misjudge things completely on here so please take this post in the friendly spirit it's intended.
I think it's great that you want your wife to get back into it and enjoy her skiing a bit more but I can't help wondering if a new pair of skis is really going to be the solution. I would suspect a lack of confidence might well come from an accident (or even a near accident) that's left a niggling fear or mental block that's getting in the way. If this is the case then some new skis might be enough to break through it, but i suspect a better option might be some nice lessons from an encouraging instructor. It could also be that the the lack of confidence is leading to a loss of control by leaning back and that could also by sorted by an instructor.
Of course, you might have already tried this and be wanting to try something else.
I can't help but remember a woman who was in the same group lessons as me a couple of years ago. She skied beautifully. Lovely technique, posture, edge control, she made it all look so easy. The trouble was she just couldn't keep up with the group as she wouldn't ski with any speed and if we ever had to pass another slower group she sometimes ended up skiing off the piste and falling over. Again it was just a confidence thing (and just in skiing as she had a bright and positive personality) and I don't know if she ever overcame it as she left the group after a couple of days. Whatever her problem was I'm pretty sure a new set of skis wouldn't have fixed it and that's really why I thought I'd bring it up on here.
So good luck and I hope you get it sorted. I think it's a real shame when something gets in the way of something as wonderful as skiing.
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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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We went through a similar choice as you but took quite some time to find the skis we wanted second hand but are happy with the ones we eventually got.
But you may want to look at these. Rossignol sassy 7 xe plus xelium saphir 110 b93 bindings on sale at glasshouse for £165 at the moment, which the list in a 150cm size. Close in price but avoiding a search in short time before Christmas.
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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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Sorry that's glisshouse without spellcheck intervention.
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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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@olderscot, thanks for the advice. We did indeed go through that process until the wonderful people at www.tdcski.com put here back together. So she's skiing good again and I thought this might lift the experience.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@henzerani, I suspect anything in that budget is going to be rather questionable in provenance and poor value for money... Any time I've looked at eBay, other than for specialist race kit, it's looked pretty rubbish.
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@under a new name, I was kind of hoping that someone might be shedding a 2 or 3 year old ski (or two) and that with advice from snowHeads on here I could snap up. Otherwise, I agree with you. Perhaps I should do a "Wanted" on "Buy, Sell, Exchange".
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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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@henzerani, I know what you're saying about the width as it may seem you're stepping into an area you feel you have no need for (powder, off piste etc) but I feel generally that this type of ski viewed in that way is probably persuading people to give them a miss when they have in my opinion some very good attributes, particularly for confidence while developing their skill level.
I've had some interesting debates about characteristics of skis for beginners/improvers most specifically about the initiation of turning and how the aggression of the ski affects confidence/behaviour/advancement and where most with experience feel that there is a valid case for using skis with a softer initiation, there seems to be contrary advice when specifying skis for someone in this scale to use.
What I like about this type of ski is firstly that the initial instigation of turn is usually slightly dulled which has the effect of (either timid or aggressive technique) of taking the sting/overreaction out of that response which quickly builds conference and muscle memory so that you can get on and ride around on them without building up any fear of just plain and simple turning to go where you want to without thinking about technique. Secondly I think the sweetspot of a general purpose ski is in the 80/90mm range underfoot as it will allow good support while allowing shorter overall length, this also has the effect of reducing torque on the knees and overall gives a ski that is easier to control for a much broader skillset of skiers.
I know I've a view maybe flying against convention but I'm comfortable to try things for myself and see what it's really like. I think that description on gliss is quite candid rather than marketing licence, just depends if you feel you may like to take slightly offbeat path. I think they look pretty interesting. Hope you get something sorted for Christmas, it's nice if you get what you're after.
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They've got Elan Pure Magic on Sports-Direct website, 146 and 152cm for 120 quid. Intermediate ski with 78mm underfoot and were 800 dollars in the states at one point, so a decent light ski.
I was gonna get them for my missus, but she's getting something else instead. Non skiing related.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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There are 3 or 4 different skis with bindings under £200, something may suit.
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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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@henzerani, no skis or skiers are the same, how do you know she will get on with your choice? I got skis for my birthday (summer, so a much cheaper time to buy ski gear), but only after extensive testing of loads of different brands, shapes and sizes did I select the final pair myself. Some models that come highly rated I didn't get on with at all, everyone is different.
If I'd left someone else to do the choosing for me, who knows what I'd have ended up with 
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@Scarlet, I know. I was hoping to perhaps pique her interest. If I suggest new skis she'll suggest we get some for my daughter and she'll point out the shower's broken and the hundred other things that need that money!!
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You know it makes sense.
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@henzerani, she sounds sensible!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Rossi Attraxions are not bad. I wouldn't have thought they'd be seriously holding her back. Are they very old? If she'd really prefer a working shower, why override her wishes?
I have some elderly Attraxion 5 skis which are OK (but longer. Is your wife very light?)
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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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How about a 'voucher' for an upgrade to top level of ski hire on your next holiday? Get advice on here to find a shop with a good level of service and top range of skis, that will let you swap as often as she wants, and then she can have some fun trying out skis during the holiday.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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