 Poster: A snowHead
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I've had a quick pike in the local EB store tonight, what with the sale being on and all.
I cannot believe the width and length of some of the skis! You could take the bindings off in summer and surf on some of them!! So what is going on? Practically every pair of skis in there were huge, so have we all abandoned the piste or is there some secret British powder / big mountain resort I don't know about.
I literally struggled to find any piste / basic all mountain skis other than a pair or two of K2's - even then, some of then were getting quite fat.
I realise that a lot of manufacturers are trying to focus on skis for all purposes but most of what I'm seeing seems to be really specialist gear.
What's going on?! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Think you might have answered your own question, in the fact that all that is left for the sale is the fat stuff. Therefore all the piste ski's have been sold, so people, well me for one at least, do still ski on piste.
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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 think this is a strange Brit phenomenon. The ski shops in resort in Italy were nothing like this, just a nice range of basic and premium piste skis with a few more specialist skis at the far end.
Motorcycle shops are the same in the UK, sportsbikes take up the majority of the floorspace yet very few British motorcyclists actually race or even ride like a racer, they just want to look like one. Our friends in Europe ride far more street, adventure and cruiser style bikes than we do.
My conclusion is that Britain is populated by inflated-ego wannabes who buy gear to look good rather than to match their purpose.
Of course it could be that EB have sold out of their range of normal piste skis for this season and only have specialist equipment left?
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So what kind of ski could you recommend for pisting about with the family, and the odd bit of light piste side powder??
I've seen the K2 rangers but it seems k2 are getting a slagging for the topsheets
Think i might stick with the elans I've seen!!!!
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 23-03-10 20:51; edited 1 time in total
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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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there was a nice term floating around the ski test this year..."aspirational freeride" all these big wide skis which no one actually buys (except long term alaska residents) but shops feel they must stock to be "on trend" 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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shootingmike, I've abandoned The Piste a long time ago.
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queen bodecia, CEM, seems to me that the UK is just one big sad marketing victim.
It's about who you are and what you can do, not how much stuff you've been able to buy.
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shootingmike, I picked up some slalom skis in the sales. Just the ticket for bimbeling round the pistes.
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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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Mosha Marc, but you really ski the Chickstars, dontcha? 
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comprex, Ssssssshhhhhh!
I'm a persperational freerider!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
My conclusion is that Britain is populated by inflated-ego wannabes who buy gear to look good rather than to match their purpose.
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My conclusion is that the shift in the pound/euro exchange rate means that the French, Germans and Scandis are internet shopping for ski gear in the UK. Much like we all did with Ski Bilek and Sport Conrad a while back. I suspect this is influencing what EB etc are buying - they're one of the few places you can get Moment stuff in Europe and I don't believe that British skiers are the intended market for something like the Nighttrain. Normal service will likely resume if/when the pound recovers.
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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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shootingmike, do keep up: fat is the new long, off pi...I mean freeride is rad, piste is strictly for n00bs, dude
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comprex, just realised those piccies have evolved a little
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You know it makes sense.
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gorilla, my post was intended to be eversoslightly tongue in cheek and was more of a dig at motorcycle 'fashion'. If someone wants to ski on piste with fat powder skis or trick park skis, that's fine by me. Not everyone can afford a fresh set of skis for each discipline they participate in.
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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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| queen bodecia wrote: |
| My conclusion is that Britain is populated by inflated-ego wannabes who buy gear to look good rather than to match their purpose. |
Substitute Britain for Italy and I think you'll be closer to the truth!
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Poster: A snowHead
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How about because most UK people that will buy skis are likley to be advanced and therefore either on race or powder skiis...
And its easier to hire race skis specific to whatever particular style you re doing on that day...whereas powder/All mountain skis are alot more general....?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ddraver, how about because most UK people that buy skis are likely to be able to travel to 'merica or Canada where there is proper snow and where ski hire is ridiculous?
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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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comprex, most of us can't be bothered to visit the Colonies when we can ski perfect crust and divine ice in the Alps on our own skis at bargain Sterling prices whenever we like thanks 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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comprex, Haha I wish!
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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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| queen bodecia wrote: |
My conclusion is that Britain is populated by inflated-ego wannabes who buy gear to look good rather than to match their purpose. |
While I agree to a certain extent (see 3-week Non-Stoppers kitted out in a grands worth of Norrona Gore-tex whilst struggling down black runs) I think it's understandable.
People want the gear they see their idols shredding on in magazines and DVDs; these magazine and DVDs TEND to be American and as we know Americans generally ski fatter skis than Europeans. And it's not just skiing; I bodyboard in the Summer and the number of Aussie and American signature boards designed for macking 25ft Pipeline that people are on in crappy 2ft waves in UK never cease to make me chuckle!
Reverse is kind of true too. I was amazed at the number of comments my Rossi 9Ss drew out here in lift lines on harder days; they're still only a de-tuned race ski but it's just not that easy to get that kind of gear out here unless you go to a race specialist. Generally, if you want anything piste orientated and sub 85mm underfoot from your average ski shop it'll be as light as a feather and as noodly as an alcoholic's nob.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Makes you wonder how many people are using (or trying to use) skis that they don't have sufficient ability to use properly because the shop didn't have anything else.....
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shootingmike, I think it's a fashion statement.
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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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I was they would ski on piste, everywhere gets tracked out far to quick these days 
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| CEM wrote: |
| there was a nice term floating around the ski test this year..."aspirational freeride" all these big wide skis which no one actually buys (except long term alaska residents) but shops feel they must stock to be "on trend" |
Think I must have "Reverse Aspirational freeride", I had been thinking for a while that my old ski's which came level with my eyes were a little too long a tad too stiff for my style of skiing. This was confirmed when I was riding a cable car in Tignes earlier this year on a Friday afternoon, when all the local's had come out to play. I thought why are all these guys, who ski every week of the year on shorter ski's than me a 2-3 week a year skier.
So on the last day I tested some Elan speedwave waveflex 14 and I loved them but at nearly €700 I resisted to purchase, thinking I could buy cheaper in the UK, this particular model I cannot. I then saw some K2 Apache MSL which someone had a job lot of on Ebay, I bid on some and got them for £255 and thought what the hell if I don't like them I will put them back on Ebay. Took these on a trip earlier this month and instantly got to grips with them, they are only 160 and come to my chin and can be best described IMO as 100% piste ski's but seeing as I do 98% of my skiing on piste what's the problem.
They do everything I want them to do, I can handle the bumps better with them, I don't get tired as quickly, at the speed I go at they do not chatter and I feel my skiing looks much more flowing.
No they don't look at all Macho, just a little Bling, but I don't care, they work for Me. End of.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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A powder day.
My daughter looking down from the chair as we went over a piste:
"So Dad, today Pistes are basically for people who can't ski"
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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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I ski easily approaching 100% on-piste. Yet these days ski a ski which is often regarded as too wide to be a 100% on-piste weapon by some. Vive le difference!!
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You know it makes sense.
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rungsp, She should be more grateful, the little tinker....if it weren't for piste skiers, the chances are she would not be on a chair lift....
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm 100% on piste skier too. I don't have the skills, fitness, equipment, insurance or inclination for off-piste.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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queen bodecia, if you had the inclination, the other obstacles would disappear...
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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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queen bodecia,
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I'm 100% on piste skier too. I don't have the skills, fitness, equipment, insurance or inclination for off-piste.
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You miss out on a huge amount of the enjoyment of skiing by sticking to the piste.
Some of the trip reports give a somewhat one sided view of what off piste skiing is about. I ski farily extensively off piste, but soem of the picture on  would frighten the life out of me if stuck in thos situations.
The reality is often much more prosaic, the skiing is frequently easier than much piste sking and particularly if you are prepared to walk even a small amount you can get into an unpisted unmechanised bit of the country that gives far more enjoyment thatn any piste.
The equipment need be no different you are renting anyway, the fitness will depend on how far you want to push it. A feww skills in route finding and navigation are necessary if going by yourself but groups are readily available through most ski schools. The skiing skills necessary will vary according to the terrain you go on but need be no more than any piste skier of a few years has attained.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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under a new name, T Bar, sorry didn't want to open up this debate. I can see why people enjoy skiing off piste but it's not for me. I'm one of these that likes a nice groomed surface, doesn't want to walk any further than is absolutely necessary in ski boots and doesn't want to push any boundaries, I'm happy where I am and don't feel that I'm missing out.
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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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Good for you.
But on the other hand, if the rest of us
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| inflated-ego wannabes who buy gear to look good rather than to match their purpose. |
want to have a stack of skis that they'll never use properly; then please just be happy for us.
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I definitely have more skis than I need and at least 2 pairs are definitely more specialised than I will ever really need but they look good hanging on the wall. I think it is only right that after giving up my golf membership I am allowed an extra pair or 2 
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I have more skis than I have shoes 
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rob@rar, you'd only need one pair to do that. I know what you taffs are like
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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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rob@rar, can we have both those figures for clarification? 
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Folks please, read my follow-up post. I was only messing.
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| gorilla, my post was intended to be eversoslightly tongue in cheek and was more of a dig at motorcycle 'fashion'. If someone wants to ski on piste with fat powder skis or trick park skis, that's fine by me. Not everyone can afford a fresh set of skis for each discipline they participate in. |
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FAQ
