 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey all - first post here so please be gentle.
I started skiing in July last year, in Tamworth and have been going back since then, pretty much once a month. Although I think I’m progressing well, I would class myself as a high beginner (or even a low intermediate if there’s such thing). Long story short I’m looking to purchase my own skis, not just for consistence but just returned from a trip to Garmisch and thought the rental prices were high and would easily cover the ski cost in a few trips.
My focus is groomers only at the moment and would like to learn how to carv, so would be looking for a ski that would help me get there. Plan is to continue going to Tamworth probably once a month and have a maximum of three weeks per year in the mountains during winter season.
Just to mention some examples I came across and fit in budget: Rossignol Forza 40 and Salomon Stance 80 - although I am very open to other suggestions.
I’m 187cm and weigh 80kgs - I’d be very interested to hear your view on what size skis would work best too.
P.S - I’ve already done the sensible thing and bought boots as a first upgrade.
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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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Welcome on board @B36LBX,
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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 had a go on the Stance 80's back in December and I was very impressed.
They were very light and lively.
I was using them on a day when there was about 9" of new snow on the piste and they gave me a lot of confidence in the bits off the side of the piste.
I'd like to try the Forza's as well, and I may get a chance next week.
I nearly always rent skis.
I'm in the Hemmel Snow Centre at least twice a month, I use their skis at 160cm.
But I too was thinking of getting a 2nd hand pair just for the indoors.
I'm also 80kg and 5' 10"
I'm got a lot of candles on my cake though at 74
I've got a my own skis .. but would only use them if I was going on a long trip where renting would not suite.
I'm finding that I enjoy driving easier skis nowadays. I used to go for Rossi Hero Multi Turn or Head Magnum.
But my current favourite (for the mountain) would be Kastle DX73 in about 163cm.
For using indoors I think you should go down a size from what you'd use on the mountain.
I was looking for something like Atomic Redster X7 in 160ish as they could be available 2nd hand for a reasonable price.
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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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@frejul, I didn't realise the the Stance 80 had a rocker, it didnt cross my mind went I rented them.
I would normaly not go for a rocker ski, perhaps not the best then if you are still working in the Fridge on your style and drills.
But I just wanted to grab something that was a bit wider than what I had been using the day before.
They were great at only 80mm.
I did take them back to the rental shop to try something else after about an hour.
This time I took out Kastle MX88, I did not like these at all, they were way above my pay grade, they felt like
the railway lines I used to use in 1993 (Volkl S9). I took them back to the rental shop after 20 minutes and took the lovely Stance's back out for rest of the day.
So what will I be trying next week?
The rental shop have the Forza 40's,
Stance 84,
Elan Primetime 55,
Dynastar Speed Race,
There is a chance to try a couple of types of Head Supershapes as well.
This is great .. "Fantasi Ski Choice", I can write all sorts of ski porn here.
Just to point out I am not an expert.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Tamworth isnt the best place to learn how to carve. It is a bit flat, slow and narrow, especially if lessons are on. You can do it there but Id suggest going to chill factore or even travel over to a snowworld and ski early in the morning in the summer. It is slightly steeper and much wider. Start with long radius turns lifting inside heel all the way through turn and then once you nail that staying on edge try some javelin turns to get more angulation and weight over outside ski, they don't need to be perfect. Then ski normally and introduce a little bit of pressure on inside ski and progressively shorten your turns until you are carving short turns side to side. This is how I learnt to do it at landgraaf under supervision of a level 3 sia instructor and a race coach. You want something with a decent amount of side cut. Any of the head supershapes will do nicely for someone 80kg, I used something a bit stiffer but im heavier. Yiu wont have the confidence to do it on something too soft.
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| Glosterwolf wrote: |
| Tamworth isnt the best place to learn how to carve. It is a bit flat, slow and narrow, especially if lessons are on. You can do it there but Id suggest going to chill factore or even travel over to a snowworld and ski early in the morning in the summer. It is slightly steeper and much wider. Start with long radius turns lifting inside heel all the way through turn and then once you nail that staying on edge try some javelin turns to get more angulation and weight over outside ski, they don't need to be perfect. Then ski normally and introduce a little bit of pressure on inside ski and progressively shorten your turns until you are carving short turns side to side. This is how I learnt to do it at landgraaf under supervision of a level 3 sia instructor and a race coach. You want something with a decent amount of side cut. Any of the head supershapes will do nicely for someone 80kg, I used something a bit stiffer but im heavier. Yiu wont have the confidence to do it on something too soft. |
Thanks for this - really good advice. Unfortunately even Tamworth is a 4+ hour round trip from me, I also skied in the Snowcentre once and I found it steeper and wider too, however it can get a lot busier.
The Forza's were recommended to me by one of the guys in Elis Bringham while I had some boot adjustment done, he said some these didn't have metal in and that will make it easier to progress, are these what you would class too soft?
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@B36LBX, I have had a look at a review of them, might be ok but personally id go for something with a free flex/race plate binding and buy secondhand if that is the only way you can afford it.
The forza is an intermediate ski and you wont really be an intermediate piste skier anymore once you can carve properly so you will then be looking at trying to sell on a used recreational ski and getting half of what you paid. Im not really very well placed to comment on it because I went from a plastic beginners ski to an advanced ski, all I can say is that I coped fine with the advanced ski. I bought a secondhand but hardly used rossignol hero elite st ti r22 for £270, think they are about £900 new.
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Getting skis that give confidence at the level you currently are, while also giving headroom, is tricky. IMV. As skiing is all about confidence, getting skis that are inappropriate for your level "can" remove confidence and actually set you back.
It is for this reason I advocate renting until you figure out what works and what brands you like....because, if what they give you doesn't work, you just exchange them for something different.
If you decide to buy your own, I would advise doing so, after you have been able to get an idea what works for you.
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