 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
I'm a long time lurker on this forum and enjoy reading the threads. My question is about what would suit me for skiing in my seventies. I am 105kg and 5'11" so a bit of a fat guy. I turned 70 last year and what with covid and late start to the Scottish season never got more than a day in. I usually ski at Glenshee and have a 1 week Alpine holiday, 2 if finances allow and never go off piste these days.
For the past 6 years i have been skiing on Atomic Nomad TI at 184cm, I am a lifelong skier and say I was a intermediate to advanced. I am quite fit for my age and cycle alot but lately this year my left knee is playing up and to continue skiing i may need to use a brace. I would like to come down say 10cm so looking for recommendations of ski about 170/175 that can take my weight and keep me skiing on the piste
Thanks in advance for any recommendations
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi Crofty and welcome to the fun.
If staying On Piste, I would look at a Piste Ski...and at your weight, you would be better on something around 175. You might get away with 170, if on something a little stiffer.
I think the ski I would recommend would be the Head Magnum (Where you may get away with the 170).....and maybe also the Speed Zone 10 Ti in a 175
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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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Just rent. You've probably not got long left 
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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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I'm 67 and in recent years, I've swapped to more comfortable boots and shorter skis. I've also started to do more and more snowshoeing, which is great exercise and much steadier stresses on the body than skiing. I tend to buy 1 or a few days skipass, and snowshoe on those grotty days when the weather is poor, it's snowing too hard to be any fun, or Weekends when The Nutters are out in force. So it might be worth hiring some racquettes on a poor weather day and try giving them a go, to see if you like them. One upside for me is that I can get away from the crowds quite quickly, while still being quite near to the resort.
It made me realise how often we used to go out in unrewarding weather or crowded conditions, just because we'd bought a period pass and wanted 'to get our money's worth'.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 8-12-20 17:00; edited 2 times in total
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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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OF Thanks for the Head Magnum recommendation, i will check them out.
Don,t sugar coat it Frosty, what will I rent ??? 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| Just rent. You've probably not got long left |
You're Whitegold and I claim my £5!
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@crofty, Welcome to snowHeads!
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Lose 70lbs / 30kg.
Will prolong your life and knees longer than any change of kit.
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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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@Whitegold tends to be a bit blunt but actually, he's not wrong about the huge burden which overweight puts on the knees!
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| Whitegold wrote: |
Lose 70lbs / 30kg.
Will prolong your life and knees longer than any change of kit. |
I take it your not in Diplomacy Whitegold. On the treadmill as we speak  got advice on the skis ?
Thanks for welcome Hurtle
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@crofty, welcome to SH’s. No idea about piste skis so can’t comment but you seem to have had a big SH welcome above - some sensible advice will be along soon I’m sure!
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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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@crofty,
I'm shorter and lighter, have the Atomic Nomad Ti as my "cr@ppy snow" (non-power) touring ski. Suspect the deacons are a lot more forgiving (easier on the knee) than the magnums. (skied the Magnums but not the deacons). This seasons Kendo is softer than last season so may suit you better.
Maybe a cruiser would suit
https://www.proskilab.com/c/ski-reviews-2020-men-s-cruisers
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You know it makes sense.
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@crofty, welcome. My helpful hint is that the treadmill is of little or no use to solve your real challenge, which is the weight. What you stick in your mouth is responsible for about 80/90% of your body composition. The amount of exercise and period of exercise time required to help you shift the necessary 3 stones +, without significant dietary changes, is way beyond considerable.
As for your knees; search the site for Ski Mojo threads. I have a few older or severely injured Chamonix ski chums who couldn't operate without 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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@crofty, welcome to snowHeads 
Certainly seems a reasonable ask to me, for which I'd say head toward something like this https://www.skibartlett.com/ski-equipment-c1/skis-c3/all-mountain-skis-c29/scott-slight-93-ski-p12856 as with dropping the length and lifting the waist width a small amount (thought your existing are narrower than this) they should give you support for stated attributes, along with requested shorter combination.
The edge geometry on these is particularly subtle in my view with fairly gentle and consistent tip engagement while specifically avoiding "terrier" like characteristics that bring the turning torque up very fast as in a more pure piste slalom oriented type ski.
The rockered tips will mean you'll be skiing more like a 165cm ski on flat piste snow with elevated tips in reserve to lift you on more choppy terrain.
They'd give you more of a relaxed ride to let you get on and enjoy the skiing.
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Poster: A snowHead
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DB / PeakyB / HammondR/ ski3 Thanks for all the helpful advice and the links to other threads. Quite a bit of good reading there.
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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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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 your knee is going, then maybe look at a ski mojo over new skis... unless budget is not an issue and you can get both
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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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@crofty, Not being a Physio, I'm not sure which type of ski will be more comfortable for your knee....as in a longer, or shorter radius/type and length of Rocker
- Going shorter is a good idea.
- Going wider "can" put more pressure on the knees, will have a longer turn radius and take longer to go from edge to edge.
- The Head Magnums are light, very easy to turn and have a big performance range, being happy to take it easy, right up to high performance and big edge angles.....but it is more Short/Medium turn orientated.
- Scott Skis are playful, forgiving and easy to use. I ski Scott "The Ski" in a 180, which has a 92mm waist and I really like them...but I'm only 65kg - so I don't know if getting a shorter length would work at 105kg. I have skied the Magnums (in a 170), which "for me" (without a dodgy knee), are preferable as a Piste only ski. Both skis are easy to use, with the Scotts being harder work in Short Turns but a little more forgiving. The Slight also comes in an 83 waist, which "might" be easier on the knee.
- The Deacons are an interesting choice, as Volkl makes good skis. I haven't been on them, or indeed any Volkl since they stopped making Straight Skis, but they may well be more forgiving than the Magnums.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 7-12-20 21:56; edited 3 times in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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For typical Scottish piste conditions I'd recommend the Head Titans over the Magnums. The Titans are a bit wider (80mm waist) and I found them very easy to ski on variable snow. They're available in 170 and 177, I think 177 would be fine for your weight.
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Echo.
My thoughts are that at your (our) age, and at this point, if you were only going to go for say
1 day per year at Glenshee, plus
1 week per year in the Alps:
Then
(a) rental of skis would probably be the best bet (provided you know to ask for when you rent), &
(b) defo lose weight/ get fitter, as your whole life will improve, never mind the skiing bit. Worked for me.
If things were to improve on the weight/fitness/days skiing front - or even to get worse, heaven forbid - you’d then be leaving your options open.
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Thank you for all the comments, I think I have a handle on the makes to look for, Scott/Head etc. Also lots of reading to do with some great links on ski/boot weights as well.
First though I am going to have a session with a Physio before I replace my existing gear and find out how good or bad my knee is. Depending on these results I will have an idea how to move forward, thanks again
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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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crofty, back at the start of this thread i did start writing a post about your weight, but then deleted thinking it was a bit unfriendly.
Probably a mistake.
Whitegold is quite correct: the best thing you can do with your health, and benefit your skiing, is to reduce your weight.
If you put your data into the NHS BMI Calculator you are in the Obese category (BMI 32.4).
And - aware i might start a Diet Advice War - unfortunately just upping your exercise on a treadmill will not help: you will just up your calory intake to compensate for any extra exercise.
So, you need to also reduce input. Start with removing (and stopping buying) crisps, biscuits, chocolate, cake, sweets. No more puddings, chips, stodge. No more second helpings.
And aim to go to bed every night feeling a bit hungry.
Tough to start with, but the feeling will sooon disappear, and by then you will be admiring your reduced belly size and finding you need to tighten up your belt to stop trousers falling down.
Give it a try: it's worked for me. Down 6kg since start of Lockdown.
(You will note no mention of booze: you gotta have something to keep you going - I still enjoy a drink or two, but try to keep to 21 units/week)
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Hi Jon, of course you are right. I was kidding about the treadmill btw. long story just to assure everyone that i realise my weight is a huge factor.
I have fluctuated between 15 to 17 stone for over 20 years,depending on my eating/drinking and excercise or lack of it. So i have been obese for a long time.
My weight hasn't really interfered with my active lifestyle cycling/canoeing/skiing/hillwalking untill now because my good health and strength got me through it all. However everything comes to an end and i realize that to continue my lifestyle I will have to make changes, whether that will be possible remains to be seen, I will know more when I see the physio next week. I will explain my aspirations 10 ish days a year at Glenshee with a week in the Alps with short days skiing mostly blues maybe the odd red. If he says after examining my knee that unless i lose 20/30 kg it will not be possible even with a brace of sorts then I will sell up and concentrate on other things.
I have had a great skiing life. First visiting Glenshee in 1965, one and often 2 alpine holidays every year since my thirties. Working at Glenshee and getting in as much as 70 days skiing during some great seasons, ski mountaineering in the Scottish hills and abroad including the Haute route.
So hopefully with a good prognosis, a bit of weight loss and shorter skis i can get a few more years. Thanks everyone for your input and remember one day you'll be here too
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@crofty,
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First though I am going to have a session with a Physio before I replace my existing gear
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That’s an excellent idea. I’ve had problems with both knees. A very good sports specialist physio managed to resolve the problem with one of them.
He was also able to diagnose the specific problem with the other. That needed scans, then a surgical procedure, to buy me a few years until the knee needs replacing completely.
If you can get personal recommendations for sports specialist physios in your part of the world that would be ideal. Time and money well spent.
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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 used to get terrible trouble with my knees. I changed my diet ( cut out sugar) went from 95kg to 75kg, and now I don't have problems with my knees.
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| Quote: |
remember one day you'll be here too
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Don't worry, @crofty, many of us are already in our seventies and nursing our knees along. Including me. There are a good few elderly skiers on Snowheads.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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FAQ
