Good first skis for my girlfriend?

A snowHead

Hi everyone. I'm looking for a first pair of skis for my girlfriend but I'm at a bit of a loss.

She's had about four weeks on snow and been using rentals up until this point. She's comfortable on blue slopes and is getting more confident on reds. She's not carving yet but is parallel in her skiing and has, to my eyes, pretty reasonable technique for her experience level. The beginner/ intermediate designation seems a little vague but if I had to say then she's leaning more towards intermediate. In terms of her style of skiing, she's not especially aggressive or focussed on speed, she's also quite petite and light. She spends 99% of her time on piste.

I'd like to get her something that won't over-face her and be too physically demanding but equally something that will allow her to progress that she won't get bored of in a year or two. Something that will allow her to ski confidently in a mix of piste conditions and not beat her up too much if she gets a bit out of shape in her technique.

I was considering the Atomic Cloud C8 but that's mainly because I like the top sheet and I've always skied Atomic rather than through any deep understanding of what the skis are actually like. I know she used a pair of Elan Primetimes the last time we went and said she enjoyed them.

If any female skiers here have any recommendations that would be great .

Edit: I should say; yes, she's getting her own boots as well.

A snowHead

Sticking with rentals will be best at that stage IMO. Having own skis just means more hassle of carriage and sounds like she's not at a level where she's either going to benefit from having her own, plus will hopefully progress and outgrown them quite quickly.

Boots would be good though

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

There can be merit in owning skis even as a beginner/intermediate occasional skiing if someone else you always go on holiday with also takes skis, therefore the lugging and waiting around for skis is already happening.

I can't comment on what ones but I do think there can be some pros to it for some people.

Could always try and get her the skids she has most enjoyed using to date. A second hand pair might be the best way to start off.

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Many advanced/expert skiers rent as well, and increasingly so.
Keep in mind that you need to have your ski's serviced once a holiday-week. At approx. 50 euro for full service... which is included in your rental ski's.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

FWIW. I too am of the view that it is a little early in her skiing progression to buy skis. The reason for this would be:

1. It is probably going to be cost neutral, by the time you pay transport (if flying) and servicing.
2. Either you get skis for her current level, which she is likely to "grow out of" as she improves; or you get skis to cover where she will be - but that runs the risk of them being too hard for her level and holding her back. You don't want to remove confidence.
3. She doesn't have enough experience to know what characteristics she likes in a ski...or even if she wants something more All Mountain orientated in a few years.
4. If you get it wrong, you can't throw them back and ask for something else.
5. It is very hard to pick a ski for someone else, especially if you haven't seen them ski

So...

- I would put the money towards Private Lessons with a recommended Instructor (ask on here).
- While hiring, experiment with different Brands, Sidecuts, Widths and even Lengths.
- After a while, once a picture has been built up, then you are in a much better position to get the right ski.

I have owned my own skis for more years than I care to remember, so I am certainly not against it per se....but these days, there are so many different variants, that it is tricky. Experience and knowledge greatly helps.

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@PrinceJohn, Get the lightest you can as you may find yourself carrying them.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

How about splitting the difference?

Stick with hiring but:
1. Go for top price skis.
2. Go back to the shop after a couple of days and ask to swap to a different pair (something they should be happy to do with/the reason I said to go for top price skis).
3. Go back after another couple of days and see if you can swap again.

That way she's had experience of 3 different pairs of skis aimed at the same market back-to-back and in similar conditions/at a similar experience level. She might come out of it in love with one pair or at least knowing what she did/didn't like about each pair, and that puts you in a much better position when looking at which skis to buy her.

After all it is free

As a woman I'm a little allergic to this "get my wife/girlfriend a pair of skis" thing. Someone who has skied for 4 weeks is just as capable as doing some research as someone who has skied for 40 years. If she's interested in the "feel" of different skis, and in what makes the difference - length, radius, width etc etc etc she can look into it, and perhaps ask an instructor who has seen her ski (and read reviews, ask on snowheads, etc etc etc.

If she's not a bit interested in all that (and many people who have skied for years aren't, and just take what the hire shop gives them, and make them work well) then renting makes sense. But no reason why not to ask the guy in the shop and, as suggested, swapping around.

In other words, I'm suggesting that her own attitude and interest should drive the process.

On the whole (controversial definition coming up) women are less gear-geeky than men. If she's like me, the quality of instruction will be infinitely more important - and a much bigger influence on her enjoyment - than the quality of the ski. So maybe spend money on that, if you'd like to treat her to something nice?

@Origen, or perhaps ask the lady in the shop.

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@Ski lots, yes, absolutely. Good point, well made.

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I’m female, but quite advanced. I wouldn’t ’recommend’ any specific skis for skiers at the level of the OP’s girlfriend. Chances are, she would happily ski any 2x4 and wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

IMV, internet “research” to buy skis only works for relatively experienced skiers who already know what characteristics they like. For novice skiers, you might as well throw a dart in the dark.

Go ahead and use those “ski chooser” formulas from the manufacturer to make a short list. Stick with a “women ski” that’s for her level. Hunt for one that’s on sale.

Just make sure she likes the color rolling eyes

@Origen, I completely understand that view; but calling on my own very personal experience, Lady F and Miss Fartbagette simply will not do a deep dive into brands / ski characteristics / effects of camber, sidecut, profile and construction etc

If I try to go into into it, their eyes roll and then glaze over. However, I will hear all about it if the skis are not suitable - so I would rather do the research and then let them choose from a few options I think would be suitable (given I know what they like and how they ski). Ideally, skis are tried in resort...but sometimes, that isn't always possible. They both like K2 which isn't always available. Sometimes a great deal comes up and I will take a punt....which so far has worked out.

You know it makes sense.

Apologies I asked microsoft copilot to rewrite this in a more flowerey style. I also tried it as Ernest Hemingway but it was terrrible. I suspect Microsoft don't like hemingway either,

<edit> now in the style of PG Woodhouse

I say, when it comes to skis and the purchasing thereof, I’m something of a curious specimen. While the rest of the populace seems to delight in poring over reviews, interrogating friends, and generally making a bally fuss, I prefer a more direct approach—one might even say delightfully old-fashioned.

Take my last pair, for instance. I strolled into the shop, exchanged pleasantries with the assistant (a chap of the male persuasion, moustache and all), and after a brief chinwag about my skiing habits—steep slopes, occasional flailing, heroic recoveries—he produced a pair he deemed suitable. I took them out for a morning’s gallivanting and, dash it all, they were perfect. Turned like a dream, stopped on a sixpence, and didn’t once try to assassinate me. I returned, paid the man, and left with my dignity and new skis intact.

A couple of years prior, I’d promised the wife a new pair for Christmas. Her old Xwings were looking rather like a pair of exhausted governesses—faithful, but ready for retirement. Same shop, same assistant, same procedure. She tested the skis, pronounced them splendid, and we bought them. No fuss, no bother, no spreadsheets.

To my mind, that’s how ski-buying ought to be. A decent establishment, a knowledgeable assistant, and a bit of trust. None of this modern palaver. You go in, you talk, you ski, you buy. Simple, elegant, and entirely free of digital tomfoolery.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

I'll chip in with a recommendation - Head Absolute Joy. I bought my own skis (nervous intermediate) because I like the idea of not going to a rental shop on arrival, because I ski at Hemel sometimes and to just cut out the possibility of being given some I don't get on with. I also prefer mine a little shorter than shops I've visited in resorts recommend. I can't tell you if they're the best but I hired some a couple of years ago and really liked them so bought the same. I'm female, average height, quite light. Since then another friend (very petite) has bought the same and is very happy.

Definitely agree that boots are the most important thing, particularly if she has narrow feet/ankles.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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I bought my first skis after around 6 weeks of skiing. One of the main drivers was that I wasn't always getting what I needed from hire shops.

I've got relatively small feet and got boots fitted after a couple of weeks. I am however, reasonably heavy, and found that some shops struggled to find suitable skis where the bindings would go small enough for my boots.

My views on renting were further reinforced at the PSB a few years ago when @Suxx2bme rented from Mountain Story, with the intention of trying different skis each day with a view to buying. She didn't seem to fall in love with any of the skis and was particularly unimpressed with some beginner noodles she was given, so we swapped for a run. I had a hilarious run down from Palafour on slow, short, springy beginner skis. It turned out that the shop just didn't have suitable skis for a powerful skier with small feet.

I did, however, choose my own skis when I bought them, partially based on having enjoyed skiing on a hire pair that I'd been lucky enough to have and also that they were an awesome colour and matched my outfit Toofy Grin

I should say that I never found having skis any hassle when flying to resort. They're slightly irritating occasionally when going by train, but not so much that I'd go back to hiring.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Salmon stance 80 w was getting praise from a few of the ladies on one of sue dermodys trips I went on last year, she was using them herself but a couple of other ladies also had them and liked them.

After all it is free

This is not a recommendation but some insight into levels and skis/boots.

I would agree that she is beginner but aiming towards early-intermediate. This is a crucial time where bad habits can occur. The main bad habit is getting in the back seat and not getting enough pressure on the front of the boot. This can be caused by a few things but a major contributing factor is boots that are too stiff. So I would concentrate on getting boots fitted but say she is a beginner and not an intermediate. The reason is, she will probably be more upright than forward and if the boot is too stiff it wont flex enough to get her used to getting pressure on the front of the boot. That will affect her body position in the future.

Expect to be changing the boots (4-6 trips) as she progresses so perhaps a pair from the sale would suffice, as long as the boot fitter is happy.

Regarding skis. I have no view on rent of buy but make sure whatever you choose that the ski is flexible. You need to create the banana shape so the whole ski is in contact with the slope, rather than something that is a bit stiff and she is not putting enough pressure on the ski to create the shape to make the smooth turn.

I wouldn'y worry about carving because as the slopes get steeper it can get a wee bit fast and she would be better to have lessons that concentrate on balance and short turns. That way she will be able to ski anything without loosing confidence.

Help!!

Good first skis for my girlfriend?

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