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Best ski profile for mini-season
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

I'll be doing 7 weeks in the alps this season, and i'm looking for advice as to what ski profile to rent (and potentially buy at the end of the trip as its looking cheaper to buy than rent)

I'm a low-intermediate skier, about 7 weeks total to my name, never more than one week per season.

Do my best skiing on blues where you may think i was an upper intermediate, but once things get a bit bumpy/icy/steep, the confidence and technique slips a bit.

The aim of the 7 weeks is to massively improve my skiing. So far I have 21 hours of lessons booked with a highly rated (by Snowheads, thank you all) instructor. I would LOVE to be able to confidently carve, but also would really enjoy being able to add some flair here and there (little jumps off the piste corner, skiing switch, a little bit of off piste between pistes, etc etc).

If I could summarise it in one phrase, i would like to be able to "play with the mountain" more so than i do now.

With this in mind, any tips on what profile of ski i should be looking at?

Cheers!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

Hi @AlIre2024, .
So many questions.....
Firstly where will you be based? - there will be local snowHead 's with plenty of local knowledge.
Are you doing 7 weeks skiing or fitting it around a job?
Are your previous 7 weeks on snow or dry slope/snow dome?
I suspect that after 7 weeks you are actually mid intermediate- don;t worry that everything goes to poo on steep/icy/bumps as that is pretty much the same for everyone wink .
You seem to be going down the right road as far as instruction goes. Just remember that a ski that suits you at the start of this season is one that you will have gone way past by the end so I would take your instructors advice in the first instance and not be looking to buy until the end of season (maybe summer sales or end of season sell offs by the rental companies).
As far as your goals go I would say concentrate everything on improving your piste technique as everything else comes from that - little jumps from confidence on skis and balance, switch - experimentation and balance , off piste - balance, a little bit of teaching and then do it at every opportunity Toofy Grin.
Don't get too hung up on carving as a goal - it will come with the lessons and not too difficult with modern skis on easy terrain but not an end in itself.
Hope you have a great time.
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snow report
 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?

@AlIre2024, I see from some of your other posts that you are going to Les Arcs so I assume that you may be getting lessons from JP who is superb and gave me one of the biggest leaps in technique that I have ever had.
As far as equipment goes boots are the most important (and BTW expect to have to upgrade for the season following this one Toofy Grin ) and then skis (poles also - and I would recommend adjustable ones but that is a whole new, and potentially controversial thread) for which I would advise to start with a softish piste ski no more than 75 at the waist as technique is so much easier to learn than if using something wider.
Have fun Madeye-Smiley
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latest report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

@snowheid, You'd be a great detective!
Yes, Les Arc and lessons from JP.
I have my own boots.
Previous ski experience is all on real snow in the alps
The 7 weeks is purely skiing, no work (taking a sabbatical), so all going well, 46 days on the slopes

So what you're saying is, show up to my first lesson with a piste focused ski (e.g., side cut), and then go from there?

Cheers!
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snow report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@AlIre2024, Pretty much. Ask JP after your first lesson what he thinks you will do best with (he may know people at a rental shop and get a deal for you). You will probably want to upgrade your ski as you progress also or possibly swap out for wider for a powder day.
46 days is probably stretching it - you will need some rest days and there will be poor weather days also.
One tip about the lessons: as I recall JP does 3 hour slots which involves a lot of information exchange so make notes immediately after the lesson and make sure you take 3 key learning points from each one. If you get a chance video him when he is demonstrating exercises for you.
Oh, and start training NOW Toofy Grin (concentrate particularly on adductors and core).
Finally if you video yourself (JP will do it) at start and end of season and then post on here it would be a nice counterpoint to your initially enquiries Madeye-Smiley
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