 Poster: A snowHead
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After spending 12 seasons skiing in Austria and Australia non-stop, I had top model Salomon Boots and several pairs of top model ski's. This was over 10 years ago, and since I've settled down with wife and 2 kids.
I've just visited a top shop and the ski's are totally different !! Short and fat, what is going on? Do I take my old ski's with me when I go to the 3 valleys in March? Or hire a pair of these new things?
HELP
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Do you want to drive a car that's 10 years old if the technology has improved beyond recogntion and you can afford to upgrade. That's really the key question. don't know how skis will have stood upto 10 years drying in any event. After getting used to it it does make a big difference - I started skiing again 4 years ago after 3/4 years off (and not with the same experience that you have) and it made a big difference to me.
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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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I would hire some new skis and book in to one of the ski schools for a refresher course. There are some recommendations in the Bend ze Knees section. Have fun.
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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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gobalot, welcome to snowheads
the advice givenso far is good, rent a pair or the modern skis and take a private lesson (you probably only need 2 -3 hours to get back into the swing of things and give yo a few things to think about.dan100, has sumed it up, your car probably now has power steering, abs etc etc
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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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WOW, fantastically quick answers, CHEERS ALL.
I have booked (gold) hire skis for the week (£60), I just know that when I ask for 203cm they'll just laugh and say "We don't make those anymore". I presume my old and very comfortable boots will still fit the bindings!!! Salomon SX92 HPC Equippe (I think).
I actually spent 12 years as a ski guide (!) for English tour operators, and 4 years instructing - mostly in OZ. So I was planning to teach my young kids myself (aged 5 and 3.5), and not go wild skiing - gone are those days.
I used to set my bindings to 14, I only know this 'cos it's written on the stickers next to the bindings after loosening them for the last summer break!!! The modern bindings don't appear to go this high or is that just shop/selling bindings?
My car is 10 years old! Ford Escort Estate...
CHEERS Mark
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I hate to say it but upgrading your boots would help alot.........
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gobalot,
look for skis around eye level or so, you might want a bit longer if you are skiing hard or off piste. Boots well i would start again with them as well, technology has changed and your feet probably have changed a bit over the years, if they asre comfortable it may be worth a try as you are predominanly teaching the kids, but if the soles are well worn then the rental shop may not fit them to the skis....i wopuld get the kids in ski scholl for a few days and enjoy the freedom. whatever way you do it enjoy
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THis started out as a cheap holiday with the young family...
Are all the ski's now short and fat? I can understand they will be easier to turn and floaty in the deep, but how can they be as fast and stable as longer ski's?
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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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My short skis (slalom or "all-mountain") are stiffer than my old long skis, and if I can rememeber correctly are much more stable at speed. I guess ski technology has improved with new composite materials and better construction/design processes.
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As Rob says the maerials used mean they are quick and stable. some skis are more stable ie the race skis than the freeride skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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btw Mark I went from sx92 boots and Salomon Force9 skis circa 203cm.
Expect a drastic drop in size from your hire skis, I now ski a 160cm slalom ski and a 171cm all mountain ski 
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Going to one of the satelite villages that's connected via ski lift into the 3 valleys, place called La Tania. Supposedly ideal for young families, lift in the resort is free and quick lifts into the main ski area.
Party of 6 going, but 3 young kids, so tobogganing, snowmen and snow balls expected, rather than wild skiing! DAMN....
The Force9 ski was the latest technology when I left/retired from real living!!!
Thanks for all the help, such fast responce was not anticipated, shouldn't you lot be out skiing or something?
CHEERS Mark
PS Anyone know if it's worth taking our paragliders to La Tania? Once again only had one hours air time in 3 years (400 hours BC -Before Children).
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You know it makes sense.
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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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gobalot I went back to skiing 4 years ago after a 25 year break and was gobsmacked by how the carver skis worked compared with the old planks. You would be advised to book a couple of one one lessons after which you will be flying!
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Poster: A snowHead
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gobalot, AFAIK, the big difference is in the materials used. In the good old days, when men were men, sheep were etc and people had to learn to ski properly the limitations on the materials meant that you needed longer skis. Probably not as long as people who weren't racing used, but there was that "longest skis in the cable car thing".
Modern manufacturing allow skis to be shorter and to handle more concentrated forces. This means they can be shorter and can have much more of a sidecut - meaning much easier turn initiation. It also means the manufacturers can control properties much more finely - which means it's pretty hard to find a "bad" ski.
Funnily enough, IMHO, the ease of turn initiation has simply moved people problem's elsewhere (turn completion, etc.)
You will be able to use your old technique on the new skis, it will just be really inefficient on groomed snow. Mybe a lesson for yourself ain't a bad idea (just an hour or so...).
Stability per se isn't an issue, but the comparatively extreme sidecut means many skis don't really like straight lines.
admin, just to be pedantic, "old" skis did have a sidecut, just not such a pronounced one. And you didn't need to "twist" if you could carve them... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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gobalot, The Force 9 was a good ski in it's day - so were the SX92 .............. but those days are gone - sorry!!!
All good advice, you've booked the skis, book the boots too and then the private lessons. You'll come back happier and able to teach your kids next time! 
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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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gobalot, However you measure the length of your skis, be sure to measure your smile at the end of the day, at least there, there has been no change, big grins wins. 
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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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and the mountains are still as beautiful as ever. Hopefully the 3 Valleys will be receiving plenty of the snow falling this weekend. You may well be able to ski down to La Tania on good snow. Rest assured that there are still diehard Frenchmen stooging round the Alps on long straight skis in long straight one piece suits of many colours. Perhaps not too many of them in the Courchevel Valley though - maybe they leave that to the Brits. They still seem to be enjoying themselves..... and they are not all ancient. Had a 19 year old French visitor to our apartment last year. He skied on huge long ancient borrowed skis, in ancient borrowed rear entry ski boots. He skied very well, if you like that feet-glued-together bum wiggling wedeln style which looks so old fashioned these days. He had major problems on moguls made by shorter skis though! And my son, carving down the slopes at huge speed on 180 cm skis (still too big, really) had more fun because although they got to the bottom about the same time my son had covered more distance in the same time, doing big fat curves. Have you seen the Olympics? Even those guys aren't on long skis these days. And make sure the kids skis are only chest high (tip given to me by easiski)
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