 Poster: A snowHead
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I've been skiing since I was 8...considerably older now! Spent formative years at Glenshee and various resorts further afield, so can ski anything from powder to a mix of ice, rock and heather.
I always used to have my own skis, but last few years has been 1 wk a year if lucky, so didn't bother, just rented whatever demo shop recommended,some good, some bad. I got back into swing of it last year, and planning a few sojourns in upcoming season.
Having lurked on here for a while, I've managed to work out that you now need fat skis to go off piste. Luckily, I didn't know this in the days before fat skis, but to be fair, they do make life easier and I took the plunge in Vail last year and bought a pair of Punishers (I'm guessing they're semi-fat..., or skimmed...?). They were perfect for powder and for mush, and very happy with them. They also worked well at end of season trip to Les Arcs when there were the big snowfalls, but not so good at end of week when off-piste was too heavy and the bumps were getting bigger.
Luckily, thanks to my lurking, I realise that I am sadly quiver-less, and need something else, which will work in Scotland and on big bumps etc in Europe. So far, so good, but no idea if I need an all mountain ski, a big mountain ski, I'm guessing not a park ski, or whatever - we used to get DH, Slalom, GS or freestyle...
In the past I would have bought something like original Dynastar Verticals rather than a race slalom. On piste I'm happiest going straight down the moguls, and no plans to change my old-school knees together style, so what should I get for on-piste, big bumps and quick turns?
I'm 5'7", 70kg, think my punishers are 176, used to ski straight skis at 175-185, so any advice on a good bump ski length would be appreciated as well.
Finally, I have a pair of Technica conformable boots fitted in Meribel about 8/9 years ago. Has boot technology moved on enough to make it worth upgrading?
Basically, I'm getting back into it and looking for reasons to buy some more stuff. Plus ca change....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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footsoldier, I'm not joking with this review but I like my rather stiff SL race skis for pistes & bumps.
You may want something a little more forgiving so some fun things to try would be a detuned SL or GS ski (my old Rossi 9XOs were great in bumps - a detuned GS ski they were - I've heard that the Radicals which replaced them feel less demanding - I skied mine in a 174cm then a 160cm which made bumps errr, easy...). Stoeckli Laser SCs have a good rep although I'd go for the full on race ski there. Not as demanding as you might think. My recollection is also that Scotland is often hardpack (the old AA reports, "hard snow on a firm base" slip into mind).
Stoeckli Stormrider XXLs might also fit the bill and be a little more all round - meaning you don't need to take your quiver with you on your back.
For a full on bumps ski though the Head Mojo J.O. mogul model might be worth a try if you can find any...
Re boots - it's more likely that your old ones have packed down/gone mouldy/smell bad - all perfectly valid excuses for an upgrade.
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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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David Murdoch, thanks for reply. I did try Radicals a while ago, and din't think they were that sharp. I had a look at Stocklis and think I'll give the Laser SLs a go. If I remember, the other ones I'd been looking at last year were had been looking at Fischer RX4s or maybe the RX hotfires. The Stockli site suggests knocking 10-20cm off your height for length, so that would put me on about mid 160s - never skied anything that short, but easy sounds good! Cheers.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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footsoldier, they may just not have been sharp (the Radicals...). If Laser SLs, they're the "full on" race ski. I think they're quite a forgiving full on ski but hey, these days who knows. If they are the full bore ones, it's 165cms for blokes and 155cms for chicks.
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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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David Murdoch, There is the Laser SL and the Laser SL FIS, they are different skis.
Race rules have changed a bit recently to let 15 & 16 yo boys use 155cm SL skis and Masters racers use whatever they want. Some lighter male Masters racers are finding that female spec skis work better for them.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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RADICAL, RADICAL, RADICAL...........What a fantastic word.
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