 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey there,
So, I'm looking to buy new skis for the upcoming season and I need your help choosing the right ones. I don't really care about the brand, but I don't want any FIS skis. I can handle all slopes, but I have trouble controlling my speed on black pistes. Every instructor I've talked to says I'm an "intermediate to advanced" skier. I like skis that are taller than 165cm, but they make my lower back sore after two days of skiing, and I can't ski on third until my back recovers. Short skis (less than 155cm) are no fun at all. I think the challenge is with stif ski tails, in my opinion.
Can you recommend a different type of ski for me?
"P.s. forget about the ski boots, as boot fitter did a magnificent work!!" So focus on skis please!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds lessons might be just as useful as new skis.
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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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Hey @swskier, can you explain this to me? I take a lesson at the beginning of the season for a week, maybe I can share your thought to my instructor, thanks!
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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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@Haljaberi, If a difference of around 10cm is causing you enough pain that you have to miss a day of skiing, then it sounds like there's some technique issues going on, and lessons would be more useful than new skis.
New skis is always good fun mind you 
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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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@swskier!Every time I book a holiday, I rent a pair of skis, that would be almost as 2 times the price of new skis if my calculations serve me right!!
Please don't even get me started on the rental company's lame excuse. They're like, "Oh, if you don't like them, just replace them with something different." Yeah, right! I'm not playing that game anymore. I'm done with rental skis!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Haljaberi, If you're UK based, it would be well worth trying to get along to one of the OktoberTests that Admin runs. There'll be a selection of brands there to try out.
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@swskier, unfortunately, this may not work for me as I don't live anywhere near UK or Europe!
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What do you weigh?
Do you suffer back issues outside of skiing?
Do you get fit before going skiing?
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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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@Old Fartbag, Hey, so I'm in my 40s and I picked up Alpine skiing about 2 years back. I work out 3-4 times a week, and I'm pretty fit with great endurance. I can ski all day, from 9 am to 4 pm, no problem. The thing is, I'm a bit overweight (77kg), but not obese. And I pretty much never miss a day on the mountain. I do have some back pain, but I haven't gotten it checked out yet, and it's not like a spine issue or anything, hope this help!
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Something doesn't stack up. I have some mild back issues but absolutely none when skiing. Quite the opposite.
And if you rent skis surely you've had different ones. Do they all give you gip?
How tall are you?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Layne, so I gotta tell you about these skis that give me the most back pain but are also the most stable I've ever used. They're called "Rossignol HERO ELITE ST TI skis" and I use the 167cm length. Dude, these skis make me feel like a boss even on icy conditions!
By the way, I'm 172cm tall.
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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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@Haljaberi, the Rossignol HERO ELITE ST TI is a good ski. The TI bit is I believe referring to the titanium in the ski. It's a fairly heavy ski, which is why you're finding them a good ski, they're giving you a decent amount of stability, which combined with a sharp edge really helps in those icy conditions.
I'm a fair bit heavier than you and only 178cm tall, and don't get any back issues when skiing, which makes me think that technique could be an issue here.
You say you've been skiing for 2 years now, how much skiing do you do per season?
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| Haljaberi wrote: |
| @Old Fartbag, Hey, so I'm in my 40s and I picked up Alpine skiing about 2 years back. I work out 3-4 times a week, and I'm pretty fit with great endurance. I can ski all day, from 9 am to 4 pm, no problem. The thing is, I'm a bit overweight (77kg), but not obese. And I pretty much never miss a day on the mountain. I do have some back pain, but I haven't gotten it checked out yet, and it's not like a spine issue or anything, hope this help! |
My thoughts would be:
- It's unlikely to be a fitness issue
- Get your back checked out....my personal first port of call would be a good Osteopath, but failing that a good Physio.
- If the above doesn't help, it may also be worth being referred to an Orthopedic surgeon and getting an MRI scan
- There may well be some technique issues - but that would normally affect the legs (especially the thighs), rather than the lower back.
FWIW. I had a similar issue that got worse and worse over the years - and eventually, I did what I should have done much sooner and seen a good Orthopedic Consultant. It turned out I had a herniated disc and ended up with back surgery.
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You know it makes sense.
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@swskier, I'm not an advanced to pro skier, but I'm definitely not a beginner either! I try to hit the slopes at least 20 days a year, and I always take a week or two off for a ski vacation. I love the Rossignol model that I mentioned on this post earlier because it has great edges that make me feel confident on any piste.
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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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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| Haljaberi wrote: |
| @Old Fartbag, Hey, so I'm in my 40s and I picked up Alpine skiing about 2 years back. I work out 3-4 times a week, and I'm pretty fit with great endurance. I can ski all day, from 9 am to 4 pm, no problem. The thing is, I'm a bit overweight (77kg), but not obese. And I pretty much never miss a day on the mountain. I do have some back pain, but I haven't gotten it checked out yet, and it's not like a spine issue or anything, hope this help! |
My thoughts would be:
- It's unlikely to be a fitness issue
- Get your back checked out....my personal first port of call would be a good Osteopath, but failing that a good Physio.
- If the above doesn't help, it may also be worth being referred to an Orthopedic surgeon and getting an MRI scan
- There may well be some technique issues - but that would normally affect the legs (especially the thighs), rather than the lower back.
FWIW. I had a similar issue that got worse and worse over the years - and eventually, I did what I should have done much sooner and seen a good Orthopedic Consultant. It turned out I had a herniated disc and ended up with back surgery. |
You know what's interesting? I did all the checks before, and it's more of a muscle-related thing. After the third day of skiing, the spa therapist could clearly see the difference in my back muscles. There could be a couple of reasons for this: either muscle tenderness or a problem with my skiing technique. But that doesn't really answer the main question. I want to make sure I'm using the right skis so I can enjoy myself and keep improving my skiing skills.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Haljaberi wrote: |
| I want to make sure I'm using the right skis so I can enjoy myself and keep improving my skiing skills. |
Nobody can really answer that question.
The ski you say "give me the most back pain but are also the most stable I've ever used" are top end piste skis so no surprise you like them in some ways - specially given you say you are fit with good endurance.
They will give you most back pain perhaps because you are skiing hard and long days - and they are stiff, "need driving" skis - as opposed to more easy going but less stable skis.
Personally I would be surprised if it's technique. I think you have a problem that skiing full on and long days just makes it flair up. But I am neither a medic or ski instructor.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Haljaberi wrote: |
You know what's interesting? I did all the checks before, and it's more of a muscle-related thing. After the third day of skiing, the spa therapist could clearly see the difference in my back muscles. There could be a couple of reasons for this: either muscle tenderness or a problem with my skiing technique. But that doesn't really answer the main question. I want to make sure I'm using the right skis so I can enjoy myself and keep improving my skiing skills. |
If the only person you have seen is a spa therapist, then that isn't the same as any of the people I mentioned above.
Muscles can tighten up if you are out of alignment around the lower back and hip area....also if you have a problem brewing like I had, that will cause the muscles to tighten to protect the injured area. I have direct experience of this happening, which is why I mentioned it.
A Spa Therapist is likely to be some sort of masseur - Sports Masseur if you're lucky. They will help free you out, but may not get to any underlying cause. IME. An Osteopath is best for checking alignment and treating a potentially chronic problem. A Physio is great for an acute injury that is recently done and likely to be "fixed" with the correct treatment.
IMV. The above needs to be ruled out before getting skis (in the hope they will sort the problem).
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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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@Haljaberi, it's not the skis ... rally it's not. It's something you're doing.
@swskier, the "Ti" refers to a "titanal" layer, which (as I learned on here) is "merely" aluminium ... cunning marketing eh?
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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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@under a new name, didn't know that, interesting to know. Despite not being titanium, those skis will still be a bit heavier than an intermediate hire ski.
Which is why I feel like technique could be coming in to play here, heavier skis, potentially causing some unusual movements and then leading to the back pain.
Impossible to say though via a forum!
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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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Pick a football team "brand", find the dimensions you want, Length, Width, Radius. Spend as much as you can, to get the long term physical characteristics you enjoy, good quality, consistent wood, with some metals for dampening. End of story. The rest is hype, and biased marketing. Most of what you read is just "bender" fluid nonsense. Avoid Chinese manufacturing at all costs, currently the skis made there are utter dogshit, not to say that will always be the case, however true to date.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@swskier, Skis aren't made of Titanium, you can't afford it and it serves little purpose, they are Titanal.
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@CH2O, thanks good to know 
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The weight of skis with "Titanal" in them will be heavier, but a combination of other greater factors. Better quality of slower growing wood, density, full sidewall construction, greater amounts of flexible epoxies. It's not the Titanal that weighs alot, just the construction complete that complements the need for it. Ti written on a ski is for sure an indication that the ski is of a "heavier" construction than the lightest, but is not the absolute reason why. CA (carbon" versions of the same ski/lay-up) are mostly coupled with a different wood core, and a different mix of epoxies, in an attept to use the same dimensions at a lower weight for a different final application of use. It is IMO that a full wood core, with Titanal layer, coupled with these epoxies that offer the purest, most consistant and long term performance that everyone should use. However if you're looking for a lighter weight ski that needs some help dragging up hill occasionally, or indeed often, these materials are those that we tweek.
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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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| CH2O wrote: |
| Pick a football team "brand", find the dimensions you want, Length, Width, Radius. Spend as much as you can, to get the long term physical characteristics you enjoy, good quality, consistent wood, with some metals for dampening. End of story. The rest is hype, and biased marketing. Most of what you read is just "bender" fluid nonsense. Avoid Chinese manufacturing at all costs, currently the skis made there are utter dogshit, not to say that will always be the case, however true to date. |
Well, its clear for me that strength my core muscles and enhance my technique are the main ingredients for successful ski season!
As for skis selection, it should be come at later stages. And I'll continue to enjoy my Rossignol 2022 for now.
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