 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm getting back into Skiing after a few years away and would like some help choosing SKi's.
I've been reading this site and like the input, but it is a little confusing whose last ski's were Dynamic VR27 190.
I thought I had it pegged when I got some Head i.M 70 Monster Railflex 170cm, which my local sport shop recommended. But my friend, living in Panorama, who is an expert level skiier, has no use for them or the saleman that recommended them.."no skiier in their right mind would rely on a chip to control flex..".
So I am still looking around!
Here is'd say some info on myself:
5'7" 175-180lbs
ski mostly in Ontario (East), but would like to make an occasional trip to Panorama or other more powder type destinations.
Ability: I'll get an assesment this weekend, but I'd say Intermediate to Advanced. I've skiied black diamond but remember having trouble with warm weather slush conditions and powder (my goal this year).
So I was thinking All-Mountain, maybe Player, not sure about Freeride.
I've been looking at:
Fischer RX8, K2 Axis X, K2 Apache Recon, Elan S12 Fusion, Volkl 724 Exp
I'm a little confused on which length is appropriate for me, as well. I get the impression it depends on the ski?
Can anyone help? Thanks! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bill, welcome to SnowHeads, beyond me I'm afraid, but our experts will no doubt have some good advice. My skis a pretty and flowery and the subject of much abuse on the Women' skis thread 
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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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Buy a snowboard . . . . listen to your darkside . . . . you know it's there . . . those voices in the night . . . just listen . . . you know we're right . . . skis are bad . . . boards are for the mountain . . .
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. listen to your darkside
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bill,
Hi there & welcome to snowHeads.
I'm also thinking of an all round type ski (50/50 on/off piste) but don't want to sacrifice my on piste performance too much. I don't want to cart two pairs of skis around but I don't want my off piste development hampered by on piste specialist skis.
The new bread of 'freeride' skis seem to be able to do most things pretty well. My research has led to a very similar list to test (mostly from feedback from the guys on snowHeads & the Epicski forum). I'm also the same weight & pretty close to you on ability.
I've been recommended to test the following when I'm away next week:
K2 Apache Recon in 167 & 174cm (I've tried the 174's on piste & found them a bit slow edge to edge but then it is 78mm underfoot compared to the 68mm of my current skis)
Atomic Metron B5 in 162cm (yes, you do ski it that short!).
Volkl 724 Exp in 177cm (170's fine for mainly on piste but it's the narrowest ski on the list so I'm told that the 177 will give a bit more floatation)
Rossignol Bandit B2 in 176cm (I've tried the 170 on piste & was disappointed as I found them a bit 'dead/damp')
The Metron appeals to me for it's on piste performance (11m turn radius!), as afterall you still have to get out & back from the off piste areas etc. However, it's 127/76/114 sidecut apparently makes it great for off piste too - although it's also quite a heavy ski so you need a 'no lift' style to avoid fatigue.
The Fischer RX8 is apparently an awesome on piste ski & seems to be winning all the various user tests etc but I'm told that it wouldn't give me any real benefit over my current Volkl 5 Stars for off piste use hence it's not on my list.
May I suggest that you post the same question on the Epicski forum as they're mainly US/Canada based contributors & they'll certainly know more about the conditions on your side of the pond. I don't know how to set up links but they're at www.epicski.com
Have fun testing.
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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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Hey! Thanks for the input! yeah I will try Boards one day but not today 
Did some shopping today and saw the Metron B5 and decided it's a great ski but too much of an adjustment from my Dynamic VR27.
Saw the Volkl Exp and it was pricey, but they had a good deal on the Ext, just a little softer flex..and I could use them out west and here in the East with a 74" waist.
Saw some Dynastar SuperCross 9 (last years but great price!).
Also saw the Atomic SX10 which sound great and look great, but they are pricey. The waist is only 63", so not much use for powder, but I'm having a change of heart on that. I figure I mostly ski East on groomed hills and when I do go out West, they also have mostly groomed hills and when they do getg powder, I can rent a good pwder ski for a few days.
Anyway, no decisions yet.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Bill, welcome to snowHeads!
Your skiing will need a major adjustment after skiing on those old VR17s if you want to get the most out of the new skis. (BTW, they aren't called "parabolic" any more!) You don't need to adjust your skiing, but if you don't, you really won't see most of the benefit.
A ski that you'll likely find quite fun and easy to ski with a style very similar to your old style is the Volkl AX3. This ski is a great carver, but the design lends itself to those of us who are moving up from old pencil skis...
I will tell you that, if you're willing to take on the technique changes, you'll find the b5 and RX8 delicious, I'm sure! The RX8 has received universally high marks (even from those of my friends who haven't really changed their technique). The b5 definitely requires the change, though! I'm just about to post a new review of the b5 here, so look for it if you're interested in my thinking about the ski now that I've been on it for a complete day.
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Thanks Steve!
I don't think I'm ready for the b5 and they're too expensive. If I take price into more consideration, the Dynastar SC9 at $349cdn look good. The Volkl 724 Ext at $699 are also attractive.
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The Atomic SX10 is a great on-piste ski, really nice and stiff for carving those turns when it's a little icy. As an all mountain ski I use Rossi Bandit B2s, and think that they're pretty good in all conditions, but can be difficult on ice. The ski that I'm really looking forward to trying this year is the K2 Apache Recon, I've heard great things but not had a chance to try some yet.
Size is more personal preference, I tend to use the up to your nose rule, it seems to work for me.
Having said all that I'm not an expert, so take my advice with a pinch of salt.
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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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Bill, gotcha... Have you looked at the AX3?
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Steve...I haven't seen the AX3 in my area (Toronto) and I didn't see them on the Volkl site.
I read some reviews that were good, but they are pretty hard to find. I saw some on Ebay, however, with prices ranging from 300 to 900US. Looks like you can get them w or wo Motion.
I'm still thinking the Dynastar Skicross 9 ($349) might just do for a few yrs and would ease me into the new curved skis whiile I Demo others.
What do you think of them?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Kramer..thanks for the input. I liked the SX10, w/o skiing it, of course, so I haven't ruled it out, except for it's price. I've heard good things about the K2 Apache Recon, but haven't seen them in stores. With a 78" waist, they should be great for powder and are said to be good carvers, as well. Not sure how they do that, maybe the sidecut. Anyway, the new for 2005, are a little pricey, so I think I'll wait.
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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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Bill, the AX3 was last year's ski. It's very nice, and would suit your return wonderfully, I think. The EXP replaced it this year. There are a bunch on eBay, and they are running less than US$400 with bindings. eBay.ca shows them in the C$450 range. This is a great deal for a really high-end ski.
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spyderjon,
Let us know what you think of the skis you demo...
The 3 I am most interested in from your list are the Recon, B5 and the 724exp.
I am of the opinion that 75 is the widest you want for an all round ski. Anything wider will
be a bit slow in the turn and I wouldn't find that much fun.
Bill,
Have you seen anything about the Dynastar legends, 4800 and 6200. This are supposed to replace the Intuitiv 74, - benchmark all mountain ski- and are equally at home on and off-piste. Not bad in ice either, they say....
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You know it makes sense.
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I just picked up some Volkl 724 EXP's and have only had a chance to ski for a couple hours on them in new snow on ice. They were great for hanging on the ice and very easy through everything.
I am just getting back to the skiing after starting a family. My old skis were Olin Mark IIIS 200cm for bumps and all mountain. The EXP's are awesome. I think you will find that compared to the old days any of these shaped skis will be a piece of cake to use.
So far I highly recommend the EXP's. I went with 184cm length that I am very happy with.
I am 210lbs and 6'
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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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It's been raining out here, so I haven't had a chance to ski or Demo, as yet.
I did see some Volkl 724 AX3s on ebay.ca but they were 177cm and I thought they might be a bit too long for my 5'7" 175lbs. I'm thnking 170cm.
What do you think?
I'm still considering the Dynastar SC9, which with bindings would cost about the same $C480.
The rain doesn't turn to snow until Thurs, so I'll see if I can do some Demos then.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Bill, I deleted your duplicate posts...
My rule is to go as short as you can without compromise. I don't remember the sizes offered for the AX3, but it seems that there was a 173? That's what I'd suggest.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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hi bill, sorry to interrupt your thread, but i noticed in this forum that nordica ski's are hardly mentioned.
they get really good reviews but hardly anyone say much about them, is there any particular reasons?
i like the SUV, any comments?
have anyone tried them?
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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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JT,
No skis tested in Courchevel last week I'm afraid. Just not enough snow for off piste & the piste were often a bit thin & stoney. Did too much damage to my own 5 Stars to risk trashing the demo skis.
Had a chat on a lift with a Metron B5 user who raved about them. Man those tips are wide - made my 5 stars look really skinny.
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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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Went to Ellis Brigham at Castleford today to demo whatever they had. I tried the B2's in 176cm and the 724 EXP's in 170cm. I didn't really want to demo the B2 and would have prefered the k2 Recon, but the lad in the shop was insistant that I gave them a go.
My existing skis are Bandit X in 184cm. The indoor snow domes aren't really a great place to get up much speed so I was trying for really controlled shortish carved turns, as I would on a slope much steeper than the 15* they have there. Also I haven't been away yet this season so the technique is still a bit rusty.
I tried the B2's for the first half an hour and was pleasantly suprised. Very easy turn initiation, and very easy to hold the ski on its edge through the turn. As they're wider than the X's I was expecting them to be slower into the turn, but if anything they could be a bit faster - presume that's the shorter length helping.
Took them back in to the shop and asked for the Volkls, but yer man was very keen to put me on some Salomons. I persisted and got out on the 724's.
I'd really come to try this ski, so I was expecting great things. Up the tow I noticed that it was much easier to move the skis around using foot pressure, much more so than the B2's or the X's. But things started going downhill when I did. I skied them on the first run just as I had the B2's (I thought) and they were sliding all over the place. Couldn't get good edge hold, and when I got the edges in the let go as soon as they hit slightly firmer snow - and lets face it the conditions on indoor domes slopes don't vary too much.
For the remaining half hour I tried increased edge pressure, more angulation, as much speed as I could muster on the short slope, everything I could think of - but I didn't like them.
Back in the shop I asked if the skis were tuned differently (they weren't), checked the edges (they were OK) so just concluded - they weren't for me.
I'll try to get back soon to try the K2 recons, but they've sold out of Monsters and don't stock Dynastar this year.
However, driving home I stopped in a shop who usually has Dynastar. He hasn't got any in this year but has several Intuitiv 74's in and will give 30% off. Can these take Salomon bindings, or do you have to buy Look?
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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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marc gledhill, put Looks on the Dynastars. Why would you want Salomons? 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ssh, I was going to transfer my old bindings onto the new ski.
No point in being too extravagant
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ssh, and sorry. They don't carry Fisher at all, they have Atomic's but not the B5.
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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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Has anyone tried K2 Apache crossfires?
I've heard they are the business on groomed, and in powder as long as you don't go too short.
I've not skied them myself, nearly bid for a pair of 174's on ebay, the guy using them was 6'2" and 14 stone, so not too good for him off piste.
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FAQ
