 Poster: A snowHead
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Being fairly new to the sport I'm finding the ski market very bewildering. It seems to me that the types of ski are put into specific catergories but very few seem to do a bit of everything.
Is there any reason that I cant find a general purpose ski that will be a 'Jack of all trades but master of none' & it advertised as such?
I understand that different enviroments require skis to float differently (& that is probably the answer to my question) but I dont want to spend hundreds on a ski that I cant use for the small amount of time I go off piste for example.
A benefit for a all round use ski would also be that being sold in larger production runs would bring down production costs hopefully passed to the customer as I still struggling with some of the prices being charged for skis.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are lots of skis that are designed and marketed as 'All Mountain', which is effectively what you're describing.
As you'd expect though, they are all about compromise at different points along the scale. One might lean more towards piste performance, holding an edge well but be more twitchy and unforgiving off-piste while another might be a little phatter and forgiving but tougher to get a grip when the piste gets more solid. What you choose depends on the balance you're looking to strike. eg. Do you need a ski to 'help' you when off-piste? Or do you spend so little time off=piste that you would prefer to focus upon on-piste performance?
I used to ride piste skis and fail really badly every time I went off-piste. Then I discovered 'specialist' phat skis. Suddenly my attitude was, "It doesn't matter how bad they are on-piste, why would I want to be on-piste?". Then, an instructor told me to bring something more 'responsive' to a lesson and I discovered the feedback (and excitement) that a slalom ski gives you. Now I have to have 2 pairs of skis because the compromise is too much to bear! 
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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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On the other hand, "all mountain" skis really do do a decent job of being the best of both worlds. I've been using the Salomon Lord for a few years and love it. Get it tuned properly and you have decent edge grip as well as a fattish base.
The other advice is: if you're skiing one week a year, just rent. Choose the top end rental skis, and remember that €100 a week means you'll rent for 5-10 years before you've paid for a decent pair of skis and bindings + 5 years of ski carriage. Rent from a family-run place which is not in the most convenient location (which may be near your accommodation anyway if you're saving pennies) and you'll get better service and better skis.
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shakeywith the debate about rent vs buy is almost as legendary as helmet vs beanie. Similarly there is loads on here about try before you buy etc. However, if you know what you want (how you get there is up to you) then there is no way to beat the value of buying last year's ski at a sale price when stores are clearing their stock for the new season's kit. You've probably missed the window for this year (as most places heavily discount around July/August) so I suggest you spend the year reading, researching and renting until you find the one or two that you like the look/feel of best then wait until next summer and buy them at half the price of this year.
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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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| shakeywith wrote: |
A benefit for a all round use ski would also be that being sold in larger production runs would bring down production costs hopefully passed to the customer as I still struggling with some of the prices being charged for skis. |
Dream on with this! The market is so fragmented and there's so little margin in hardgoods that there is little chance. Just buy a ski from 1 or 2 years back at 50% or more off RRP. Anything described as all mountain should work all around (without excelling in any particular area) but probably would suit most casual skiers.
Don't forget that the concept of a quiver is really for the benefit of those who live in and/or drive to local ski areas therefore can pick their ski of choice according to prevailing conditions.
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shakeywith, You might find something that would suit your needs and budget on the skiwear4less website. I've just bought my first pair of skis (Elan) from there and although I've only skied them inside I'm really pleased with them.
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I think you should rent a variety of skis to determine what feels right and also what size works best for you.
I ended up getting a pair of 2009 K2 Apache Recons for £190 from eBay earlier this year.
The key things I was looking for were wooden core, 74 to 80mm underfoot and 175 to 180 length.
I think these specs are pretty much "General Purpose Ski" for an intermediate.
The nice thing about owning your own skis is you know that they will perform consistently.
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As Iski says skiwear4less are a good source of cheap kit, and if the Tamworth shop is anything to go by know their stuff and if you have have a chat with them about what you want will honestly tell you the best choice or equally honestly tell you if they don't have anything to suit you.
For my go anywheres I've gone with some Storm Rage skis, 09/10 model, which the chap who owns the company assures me are only different from the 10/11s by the topsheet graphics, new and still in the shrink wrap £130 from ebay, another £90 and Storm (they are only about 20min down the road from me) fitted some nice Vist bindings and good to go! Only skied them inside so far and while no they aren't quite as good a carver as my out and out piste skis they are perfectly good enough for that and won't do the submarine act the piste skis do when it gets soft and a bit deep!
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