 Poster: A snowHead
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I rented a pair of these last season (also tried B2s and Volkl somethings) and found them responsive and "easy", so musch so that I came back to them for the last 2 days of the holiday. I am an intermediate skier, mainly on-piste, 83kg 177cm tall.
I believe that these are designed to be slalom skis (?) and suspect that is why I found them to be so reponsive.
If I were to buy some skis (my first!) for this season, should I go with what I know (and like) or are there better suggestions?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What length were the skis that you hired? and what would you be using your future skis for? If you're going to venture off-piste a slalom ski aint much good. Have a look at this months Fall-line gear guide to help come up with a short-list. If I was you I'd probably get some knid of skiercross/carver ski like a Volkl Supersport fischer rx8 atomic sx etc if I was doing 90% groomers.
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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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I skied on 158cm (a gradual shortening from the "peak" of 192 cm in early 90s!)
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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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Nick L, They are great skis !  I have an older pair which I enjoy a lot (on plastic).
How much do you ski each year ? If it's a couple of weeks or less, you may be better of hiring.
If you do want to buy, then you may be better buying something a little less specialised - like the B2. Slalom skis are great on hard snow, but rather harder than other skis in softer stuff.
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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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I have only ever skied one week per year (tho hopefully 2 this year if I make it to the EOSB) 
I really didn't like the B2s (I skied on rental B2s last year too) as I found them more difficult to turn (which is probably my fault not theirs) and rather heavy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nick L, For two weeks a year, it's not worth having you own skis. It's cheaper to hire - and you can then change the ski you are using to suit the snow, and what you are doing with it.
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Nick L - I tried the 9 Tis last season and found them brilliant. But I have to agree with ski - you're almost certainly better off renting by the time you take ski carriage and servicing into account.
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ski, that is the attitude that I have always taken up until now. I hav not stinted on spending money on boots however.
What has changed my thoughts is the improvement that occurred in my wife's skiing last season when I bought her her own skis - they transformed her from hesitant and slow and gave her a lot of confidence - because they had good edges, light bindings (and were a fetching red colour  )
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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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Nick L, Attitude, is, attitude. If you believe that buying your own skis will transform your skiing - then it very likely will. If you believe that and you don't buy them, well that's why you're skiing "badly" and why you really should have bought the ones you really liked.
I can easily believe and understand your wife's "transformation" - even if the skis weren't (and I assume they are/were) in better shape, better, better cared for, better all round, etc.
If that means that you can handle the probable economic disadvantage, cool! I generally like the Rossi race and near-race skis. I think the 9X is a much more all round ski than it gets credit for. The "Oversize/Radical" line up for this season is even more shaped which I think will improve things. So, it would get my vote.
But, if you're going to bemoan the fact that you've only done three weeks on them and already something else is better...? Find good rental shops and rent what you want making sure it's in the condition you want.
I'm lucky, my usual shop stocks my favourite kit and keeps it in impeccable shape. Went 7 years of 3-week or so a year skiing without buying any skis. For me, at that time that was economically and emotionally sensible.
I'm back to owning my own skis though...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What is interesting about this discussion is that my attitude (over the course of 20+ years of skiing 1 week or less per year) is echoed by ski, David Murdoch and PhillipStanton, that hiring skis is the better option - because of economy, but also presumably because of keeping up with improving technology.
I have also taken the attitude that the equation is different with boots and bought my first set before my first holiday (I knew I was going to be hooked!)
I think that the reasons I had thought about buying this year (after 20+ yrs of hiring) are:
1. I hope to increase my volume of skiing now that I am about to start shedding dependent children 
2. I had found a ski I really liked, and
3. (Much less important!) My wife had really improved by skiing on a ski she liked.
I agree with David that certainly the 9S which I tried is quite an all-round ski (I used it in soft powdery pistes, icey pistes, slushy pistes and some fairly shallow off-piste powder (I am not a powder-hound)) and found it responsive to my style of skiing
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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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Good for you Nick L 
If they suit your style and you're not going to stray too far off-piste then go for it! I hugely enjoyed skiing on the pair I tried - the only reason I gave them back was that I was beginning to scare myself with how fast I was going!
It might be worth having a look at Scott Aztec Pros, which is what I ski on. I didn't like the B2s or B3s when I tried them, but "clicked" with the Aztecs from the first turn. They don't have as much edge hold as the Rossi 9s and aren't as fast edge to edge, but they take and absorb terrain like you wouldn't believe.
Think motorbike vs BMW 7 series.
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PhillipStanton[/b[b]], Think once, Think twice, Think BIKE! 
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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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SMALLZOOKEEPER, are Lockwoods selling either the 9S or 9X? My son lives in Leamington (Warwick student) so could conveniently buy them there when visiting him.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes I knew that I could do that but was feeling lazy and thought that you would just know!
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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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The answer would seem to be "no"
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