 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Here are 2 suggestions based on SCGB tests:
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Volkl Secret
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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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Atomic Vantage 90 has been my ski of choice for the last couple of seasons. Loads of rocker (don’t buy them too short) but will hold an edge on anything.
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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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If you ski one week a year I would hire. You could even try different skis, take note of what you like and don't like, enabling you to become more informed for a purchase if that becomes justifiable.
Ski's are expensive to service unless you do it yourself and to transport if you fly. If you drive and DIY service then maybe it's justifiable to buy.
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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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If you find a ski that you really like, cannot readily hire in resort, and are happy to pick up the transport and servicing costs, then buy. Otherwise hire.
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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 all for the responses. I have thought about hiring but have not found it cost-effective compared to a few years of use of skis bought in an end of season sale and shared ski carriage with my husband. Maybe I should look at hiring a lower level of ski. I am planning on 2-3 weeks per year going forwards if possible and do keep my skis for years at a time (current models are from 2012 iirc). I appreciate that there is something to be gained in flexibility vs pure cost, but there is also a benefit to familiarity with skis, I guess.
@telford_mike, I liked the look of those and have always got on well with atomics. They also come in a good range of sizes (I am very short).
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Kastle FX95, interesting if they are available in length you want.
Good longer term buy to mitigate cost, but cover so much in the way of terrain/snow conditions etc.
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Definitely consider the Nordica Santa Anas
Just read any review....
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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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| FoofyNoo wrote: |
Definitely consider the Nordica Santa Anas
Just read any review.... |
Should be cheaper after Xmas. 
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Elan Amphibio 16Ts2
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Choose about a good fifteen separate brand and respective model. Place the name of each on a small piece of paper. Place same in a large bowl, mix up thoroughly. Close eyes, reach hand into bowl, pick a single piece of paper. Open eyes, read. That IS the best ski, period.
ps: Do not go too wide. This wideness madness IS just that.
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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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1. On your next trip or two hire skis from the top price range but go back mid-week and ask to swap from ski X to ski Y, or a shorter/longer version of ski X. Make a note of what you've hired and how highly or not you rated them.
2. Pop along to one of the SH Okobertests and work you way through loads of different skis - it's a bit like arcsinice's 'paper in a bowl' idea but with skis. With hindsight of doing my first Oktobertest last year I'd recommend taking your current skis with you and skiing them first, so you're comparing against a known benchmark.
Having done one/both of those buy the ski you liked the best.
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You know it makes sense.
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| telford_mike wrote: |
| Atomic Vantage 90 has been my ski of choice for the last couple of seasons. Loads of rocker (don’t buy them too short) but will hold an edge on anything. |
I hired the vantage 83 in Austria last year and I was really impressed with them
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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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Recently got myself a pair of 2018 Salomon QST 92's. Loved them. Very easy to ski and gave me oodles of confidence on fast reds whilst still allowing me to play off the sides, under the lifts and in the trees. You can still pick up last years model for less than half price as well. Happy days!
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Poster: A snowHead
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My Volkl Kendos are pretty good.
If they aren't wide enough for the powder depth, I go back and get my board.
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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 did a few powder runs on my 203cms FIS SGs last year, they were pretty fine. Stable at speed too...
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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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@under a new name, beast!!!
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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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@under a new name,
I skied bumps on my 205 SG skis a couple of weeks ago.
Real old school
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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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@Bob, aye.
@Tignes addict, nice!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
Here are 2 suggestions based on SCGB tests:
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Volkl Secret |
Add to that:
Volkl Kanja, Yumi
Both are consider piste oriented all mountain skis.
I have the Kanja, for 2 1/2 year now. Have skied from near ice to a foot of powder. The ski works well. It’s me who’s inadequate.
I added Yumi to the list because, as capable as the Kanja, I found it hard on my knees when the snow is “firm”. A few discussions with various people suggest it’s still too wide. I’m on the short and skinny side. I just found I don’t need wide ski even in powder. And my knees are infinitely happier on narrower one when on piste.
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| abc wrote: |
| Old Fartbag wrote: |
Here are 2 suggestions based on SCGB tests:
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Volkl Secret |
Add to that:
Volkl Kanja, Yumi
Both are consider piste oriented all mountain skis.
I have the Kanja, for 2 1/2 year now. Have skied from near ice to a foot of powder. The ski works well. It’s me who’s inadequate.
I added Yumi to the list because, as capable as the Kanja, I found it hard on my knees when the snow is “firm”. A few discussions with various people suggest it’s still too wide. I’m on the short and skinny side. I just found I don’t need wide ski even in powder. And my knees are infinitely happier on narrower one when on piste. |
I would probably be considered short and skinny in most quarters and a similarly built friend has also recommended the Yumi, so that’s good to know.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Rosie Ski, on the testing, two years ago we tested about 7 skis, all a bit similar to replace our 2010 Mantras. While all would have done the job had they been the only available, we both ended up settling on different skis.
You really do need to test whatever you can.
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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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I tried the Blizzard Black Pearls last year when I was looking for an upgrade from my K2 superstitious that I had out -skied after getting much better. I HATED them. I have also talked to some other women who have tried them out and also hated them! I couldn't turn very easily, they weren't very responsive, and were pretty terrible off piste! So, I took them back to the ski hire, and swapped them for some Nordica Doberman XLS (or similar) and had an absolute blast on the piste!! Next trip, I demo some Black Crows Ova Birdie (they don't make this model except as a touring ski now), loved them +++++ on and off piste, and as it was the last week of season, bought them from the ski hire. My husband has bought some Black Crows Captis, which he LOVES. They do this in a ladies version. There are no bad reviews of this ski. I think, Black Crows don't make a bad ski actually! They are all very playful, light, turn easily, and are really nice to ski.
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| under a new name wrote: |
@Rosie Ski, on the testing, two years ago we tested about 7 skis, all a bit similar to replace our 2010 Mantras. While all would have done the job had they been the only available, we both ended up settling on different skis.
You really do need to test whatever you can. |
This!
Just about any ski fitting a certain dimension will "work". But personal preference is what makes one "better" than the rest. You can't decide on that till you skied them.
On paper, I shouldn't like Volkl skis. They're supposed to be stiff and needs lots of input. So it was on the last of my demo list. But it turns out I like them more than the rest. Now I'm putting Volkl skis on the top of my demo list. I can list the characteristic of why I like them. But really I don't know if it's true. Only that I like the way they dance on the snow. Or put another way, I don't really know where I put myself on the spectrum of skiers. One woman's stiff is soft for me, or vice versa.
I always buy at the end of the season, some of the skis I never tried. My feeling is if I buy them cheap enough, I can always sell them if I really dislike them. Though in practice, I know I can make them work regardless.
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You know it makes sense.
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My local shop in France was suggesting Volkswagen M5 Mantra when I was think Black Crow Orbs . . . . Any thoughts ?
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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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Has anyone heard of an Atomic Redster MR?
Not a spelling mistake. The MR was recommended by a ski shop recently for this purpose. The "MR" version doesn't google to anything interesting and the shop said it is like the S7 but the S7 turns tighter and costs more. The MR was €600 while the S7 was €900. Obviously a lot less if you buy mail order that that is always true for resort pricing. The shop (in Slovenia) said the MR was made for a particular chain of ski shops and is not sold mail order. The MR is also sold in Japan.
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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’ve just bought myself a pair of Volkl Kenjas- I got the 2017 model online so they were a bargain- apparently the actual ski hasn’t changed over last few seasons- just the colour.
I rented them in Canada a few years ago- loved them. They were great in powder and really grippy on pisted runs. I was concerned that 90mm underfoot would be too wide for on piste but found them much grippier than my K2 Superfrees.
I was also considering Blizzard Black Pearls but reviews that compared them to Kenjas said that Kenjas grip better.
I’d Gone back to renting the last few years but was getting fed up of not getting skis I wanted in Europe so prefer my own even if less economical.
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FAQ
). I’m a very technical skier and focussed initially on speed/racing in my youth 
but now much more recreational. I will have a bash at any conditions/gradient, haven’t tried touring but will ski trees/bowls etc in bounds in Canadian resorts.
