Poster: A snowHead
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I know the best answer is: Try some and see.....but this is not going to happen, as a) We won't be skiing this season and b) I can get them hugely reduced.
I am looking for insight from anybody familiar with the skis - but in particular from any Ladies out there skiing on them.
My Daughter:
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 9.5 Stone
Ability: Decent advanced skier
Speed: Likes to float about, but also likes to step on the gas, if necessary
Current Skis: K2 Burnin' Luv (They are full Camber, 163 to the tip and belong to Lady F)
Her History:
She learned to ski at about 4 - in fact she doesn't remember not being able to ski....But....She stopped having lessons at about 14 (she's now 28 ), though she had some great Instructors, like Simon Mc Combe in Val D'Isere. Her fundamentals are sound and she can get down nearly anything On Piste. She won't go near Off Piste and hates flat light.
She could be very good, but is not ambitious, as she is quite happy with her current skill level - which is a decent advanced skier.
What does she want from a ski?
Basically, she wants a Ski with 2 gears: She wants a ski with a narrow waist, tight Turning Radius and that is forgiving enough to allow her to take it easy and float about ie. Not one that requires constant attention at the helm, needing properly driven at all times....but....Also a ski that can be driven hard and fast, while feeling grippy, stable and without flapping at the front. While I have no doubt that the SZ 12 will give the latter, I don't know whether it is forgiving enough to provide the former.
The model I'm looking at is from 17/18, so the original construction and in a 158.
Any thoughts gratefully received.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Old Fartbag, I've got the Speedzone 14 Pro, which (IIRC) is the same ski but with a race plate and a different binding. My absolute favourite ski, really versatile, the one ski I've got absolute confidence in. Easy enough to pootle around, but great in performance turns too, even cope okay in powder (I've done more off piste on them than on my 'all mountain' skis!). Hell I've even taken them through GS gates - not well, but I don't think I can blame the skis for that;) Admittedly I'm taller and heavier than your daughter (and not female), but certainly found them everything you describe. The only minor issue I had was I initially found them a bit hooky (I suspect as much my fault as the skis), but fixed that with a little tuning advice from spyderjon and they have been superb since/.
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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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They're quite a handfull. I bought the Dynastar Intense 12, women's version for my ex girlfriend who'd skied over 40 years and was very good. Once she got used to them she loved them. She had the 166.
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@Tubaski, Thank you Sir.
One characteristic that I believe K2 and Dynastar share, is the comfortable, limousine-like ride...so I think Dynastar would be a good substitute.
She could look at the Ladies version (Intense 12), but they aren't as cheap.
I suppose the unanswerable question, is how much effort does one use to pootle about? She needs properly fitted boots, which was to happen this season and would also (greatly) help.
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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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Claude B wrote: |
They're quite a handfull. |
This is my worry...and is the Women's version more forgiving?
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@Old Fartbag, one girl's handfull is another's disappointment?
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Old Fartbag wrote: |
Claude B wrote: |
They're quite a handfull. |
This is my worry...and is the Women's version more forgiving? |
I don't think so, just the colour. But typically french she'd been skiing on ones she'd had 20 years. So it was a a big change. She found them quite tiring at first, had to drive them all the time.
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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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@Claude B, could it perhaps be possible that your ex-GF was still using the techniques of 20-40 years ago? and that with current technique they'd have been more of an instant "hit"?
@Old Fartbag, I'll just get my coat shall I?
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She did have a slightly old fashioned technique. Very good skier though.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Claude B wrote: |
Old Fartbag wrote: |
Claude B wrote: |
They're quite a handfull. |
This is my worry...and is the Women's version more forgiving? |
I don't think so, just the colour. But typically french she'd been skiing on ones she'd had 20 years. So it was a a big change. She found them quite tiring, had to drive them all the time. |
What had she been on? The Burnin' Luvs are from 2007 and she loves them, but they are getting a bit long in the tooth now (I worry about whether the Bindings are even indemnified).
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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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Some really old Rossignol piste skis which were literally 20 years old.
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under a new name wrote: |
@Old Fartbag, I'll just get my coat shall I? |
No need. I know what you're like. A good slap will do.
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You know it makes sense.
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Claude B wrote: |
Some really old Rossignol piste skis which were literally 20 years old. |
Thx
Were they straight skis? What length were they?
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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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No they were carving skis, about the same length I guess mid 160s.
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Poster: A snowHead
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She's a bit shorter but heavier. Aggressive fast, strong skier. Loves moguls.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Claude B wrote: |
No they were carving skis, about the same length I guess mid 160s. |
Thx - so reasonably "like with like".
Going from long straight skis, to short carving skis can take a while to get used to - as can going from a long Freeride ski with a GS type turning radius, to a short, narrow ski with a Slalom type radius....especially with old school technique.
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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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Claude B wrote: |
She's a bit shorter but heavier. Aggressive fast, strong skier. Loves moguls. |
She sounds much more Expert, than Advanced. I suspect she is considerably better than my Daughter.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Old Fartbag, The Dynastar Speedzone 12 is one of the best recreational skis I've ever skied.
If your daughter skis as well as you says she does, they'll be perfect for what you say she wants to do with them...
Although, for her height I would look at the next size up 166m.
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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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Not really, only the length. The old ones were pretty old technology and had become very soft through the years. She spent 5 weeks or so in Alpe d'huez every winter so they were well used.
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SaraJ wrote: |
@Old Fartbag, The Dynastar Speedzone 12 is one of the best recreational skis I've ever skied.
If your daughter skis as well as you says she does, they'll be perfect for what you say she wants to do with them...
Although, for her height I would look at the next size up 166m. |
Brilliant, thank you. I tried to describe her ability as accurately as possible.
It is 158, or nothing - but that gives a turn radius similar to what she has at the moment.....she likes an easy life, but is capable of turning up the wick.
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@Old Fartbag, I have the SZ12s, 166 length. I'm 5'9" and a smidge over 10 stone if I've done my metric to imperial maths right. I'd say I'm intermediate with a dose of advanced and I bought the skis to work on piste technique.
I'd echo @SaraJ's rating, they are great skis. I can pootle on them without any trouble, but the more effort I put in, the more I get back. I have not yet found a limit for them (though to be fair I've used them exclusively in Scandi land so I've not had a really long, wide piste to play on).
I would be erring towards the 158 if I was your daughter's size. Dynastar would put me on the 158s, and I am a little bigger; based on my experience so far, I think I would be happy on the 158s if that's what I'd bought.
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@mgrolf, More encouraging feedback - So thank you for that.
As a Ski Nut, I am always looking for ways to improve, so it's just a little frustrating that Miss Fartbag isn't interested in fulfilling her potential....but on the other hand, it means she is unlikely to overtake her old man (until he really is too old).
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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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Well, the deed is done - spurred on by getting them delivered before we drop out of the EU.
I probably won't find out how well they work out until 2022.
Thanks all for the feedback.
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