 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
I'm an advanced intermediat skiier - I ski some expert slopes depending on conditions. I generally ski single diamonds out West but less so back East due to the ice. I'm very much not good enough to race, but I do very much like speed. I'm mostly on-piste with a little bit of guided backcountry when I can. In the past, I had trouble, even with women's skis, in that I wasn't quite heavy enough to get the ski to Flex when I wanted it to. I'm 5' tall and fluctuate between 102-107 lbs. - pretty liliputian! I'm in moderately good shape but super athletic. I don't get to ski as much as I'd like so I've been demo'ing or renting, but I'm now ready to get a new pair. Last year I demoed some Rossy Experience 78 Carbons - it was just for a day with fairly icy/crappy conditions at Stowe. I felt like they had decent speed and I had pretty good control. But I'm seeing some very mediocre reviews here about intermediates outgrowing them or a lot of chatter in certain conditions (but also for people way larger than me), and I've not tried them on powder. Any thoughts re: these skis for smaller people, or great models for small people?
The advice here is great so I thank you all in advance re: your experiences.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ignore reviews, Rossignol don’t make rubbish skis. If you like them, buy them! If in doubt, test, test, test and test some more. You are unique, no one can (or should) tell you what’s best for you.
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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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Get on the mailing lists or social media of your preferred or local resorts to find out about any ski tests they may be holding. There are often some early season, though they continue through the winter.
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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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Thank you both for the very helpful comments! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ajoh13, being in the USA you get a lot more demo days than happen this side of the pond, as someone suggested above get on a mailing list with the companies or a retailer you like and fins out when demo days are happening, this will give you the opportunity to try several skis back to back with some guidance of what to try from the brand tech reps and the shop staff
there are no really bad skis out there, only ones that don't suit your skiing and biomechanics
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Thanks - that's a great point. It had not occured to me to reach out the the brand reps so I could schedule around those!
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@ajoh13, If you want skis for East Coast ice then maybe consider race skis. A pair of junior SL skis could work for you and would be cheaper than adult skis, have no idea whether they would be available at demo days.
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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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Hi ajoh13. I am 152 cm tall, 110lbs, skied 40 years. I ski in New Zealand which has similar east coast icy conditions with occasional powder. I wanted "All mountain/Frontside" so got Rossignol Experience 88, 153cm long - wanting to do more ungroomed/off piste. These have done me well. Can turn them in the bumps and can manoeuvre in powder to 10-20 cm deep, mid shin deep.
If you are more on piste, then go demo a Rossi Exp 84.
All the best.
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Also, if you are getting "chatter", you need to look at your technique too! I recommend a high performance lesson.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Freerider, interesting you suggest junior race skis for us short women. I am after a good slalom ski to get cranking carving turns with pencil thin tracks on new corduroy, but have noticed the high performance slalom skis are too long for me. I am 152cm tall, 110lbs, pretty strong so looking at Rossignol Hero Athlete SL 150cm - this is junior race ski ( nonFIS). Can't demo them but looking at buying second hand. Friend pointed out that they may be "too soft", being made specifically for Under 16 yr old racer ( Heros are unisex skis, I think I am lighter and less strong than a 14 year old teenage boy). Would you comment on this?
Thanks
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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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@ajoh13, people originally skied on wooden skis with no wax. This is a good reminder that it is not about the tools you use, unless you are competing at a very high level, it is about what suits you.
If you want a pair of skis which will last you a long time, and just work, just follow the rules and get a good brand. Trying to be too technical, will over power you with red herrings and misinformation.
Find a shop that sells skis, go in and they will sell you what you need. Try not to DIY if you are a first time buyer, you will end up with a cheap pair which will not suit you. (these are really for people who do not want a long term relationship with their skis)
People on here might have multiple pairs of skis, because they just do not know what they want and they think the problem is with the skis.
You are small and light and will float on powder without any skis!
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@Bigtipper, "people originally skied on wooden skis with no wax"
yeah, and there were prescribed blood loss volumes for e.g. consumption, hysteria and goitre.
Doesn't indicate good ideas 
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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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| ajoh13 wrote: |
| I generally ski single diamonds out West but less so back East due to the ice. . |
Given the US context, suggest you get yourself over to the SkiDivas site & ask over there. The women there discuss ski choice at great length & do excellent writeups of their (often self organized) demo days. There are a number of instructors in the group, so it's generally a good crowd for drawing out what you really need.
Fwiw, I'm a little larger at 5'1" and 120lbs and love my Volkl Yumis for all conditions at Whistler, where I am mostly a on-piste skier, but I handle my occasional forays into bowls & trees just fine with them. They're generally much loved by the petite crew among the Divas. I notices Volkl is offereing them in an 80mm waist as well as the traditional 84mm this year.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Atomic Maven 86 (2024 model) at 147cm.
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