 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Guys,
I posted this a week ago but thought i would update it with some new information with the hope of helping me make a decision 
So I'm looking for some advise on what ski's to buy!
I have been skiing about 3 times now and I'm a pretty good piste skier but I'm looking to get into some freestyle and possible have some fun in the board park but I'm not sure how easy i will take to it just yet as i know no one who does it that i can learn from or would be interested in learning it with me but here is my problem.
I have just bough the Nordica XBI CT+ from snow and rock which is just a piste ski. I have 28days in which i can return these for a full refund.
I had a look at some Semi Twins but wasn't sure if they were worth getting hold of. What would you recommend as an all round ski that would allow me to begin to get into freestyle skiing and learning some tricks to head into the board park.
The reason i want all round ski's is because i do no know anyone that does freestyle i end up going skiing with the family and therefore will be doing quite a lot of normal piste skiing and i have been told twin tips are normally like a noodle on piste.(As advised in snow and rock).
I will be learning to snowboard at some point and im not sure if its recommended i just use snowbarding as my freestyle stuff rather than having ski's to do it aswell but this will be in the future as i can currently snowboard.
I have been thinking about this for about 2 weeks now and have no idea if i should stay with my Nordica piste skis which look really cool or take them back and buy a set of twin tips......
Could anyone help me with this problem????
I go skiing in 2 weeks from today and have already cancelled my ski hire so i need to have a set of ski's to take with me but im just not sure which ones to go with.
Ski's and boots shown below:
Ski's: http://www.snowandrock.com/nordica-spitfire-xbi-ct-+-nordica-n-expert-2s-xbi-ct-binding-11/12/skis/ski-snowboard-outdoor-sports/fcp-product/20899
Boots: http://www.snowandrock.com/salomon-impact-120-cs/ski-boots/ski-snowboard-outdoor-sports/fcp-product/20302
And my stats incase there needed are as bewlow:
Height: 6ft
Weight: 10-11st
Ski Size: 170cm
Any help is much appreciate.
Critch
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just a quick point about the boots, im not sure the impact 120 cs boots are going to be the best suited for you as they are a very stiff boot...
Id personally recommend given your height, weight and ability getting the impact 100 cs boots and they are a slighty 'de-tuned' boot so to say and I think you would find these a lot easier to ski in, especially if you want to try out freestyle where you want a softer boot
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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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Hi Spiky1013,
I picked the 120CS as i told they were the best of both worlds pretty stiff for when i piste skiing and if i wanted to change them to be a little bit softer with a little more flex i can take out the screws at the back with the alankey to allow me to get that.
All this being what i have been told as i dont claim to know much about ski's or boots at this present moment in time
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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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It seems like you have twin tips on your mind and you want to get into freestyle one day and so i don't see the reason why you shouldnt just go for it and find some fun all mountain twin tips.
there are quite a lot out there that will be really good fun between 170 and 176 cm with about 84-86mm underfoot.
those nordicas look like they will be fast and grippy on piste but i would have thought you will get bored with them after a few more weeks skiing. They will also be pretty pants in powder and hopeless for jumping on.
There is no reason why a twin tip isnt going to grip and be fast on piste. I haven't had problems in the past so why not go for it, get some funky twins that will blast all around the mountain. You may have only been skiing a few weeks but this will allow you to grow into the skis and considering rental prices these days its a no brainer investing in skis.
not sure where you're based but i would go and check out some more independent ski shops rather than snow and rock. I couldn't see a twin tip on their site that looked that spectacular (plus theyre pretty expensive!)
if i was you i would look for a 175/176cm ski with an 85mm waist that isn't park specific. something that is stiff enough for all over the mountain.
i also agree with the above that says don't buy too stiff a ski boot!! 120 flex is mental unless youre really good. I had 115 flex on a pair of boots one season and they were horrible to use until i loosened them up by removing all the stiffening plastic inserts from inside the boot.
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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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1) Buy boots that fit from someone who knows what they are doing. Do not.... repeat do not... select what brand/model you want yourself on the basis of catalogues/websites/what they look like. Boot lasts and suitability for foot and leg shape varies. It doesnt matter if they are fluoro pink, It does matter that they fit properly.
2) If you really are going to want spend time in the park get twin tips...
3) How wide your skis are depends on whether you are going to go off-piste much as much as anything. Looking at around 85-90mm I guess if not spending much time off-piste.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| stoat of the dead wrote: |
| 1) Buy boots that fit from someone who knows what they are doing. Do not.... repeat do not... select what brand/model you want yourself on the basis of catalogues/websites/what they look like. Boot lasts and suitability for foot and leg shape varies. It doesnt matter if they are fluoro pink, It does matter that they fit properly. |
This, Nothing worse than ill fitting boots. Last pair i'd bought I ended up spending 150 quid less than expected because the boot fitter found the best fitting boot, not the boot I thought looked prettiest.
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I've just upgraded my boots and ditto the above comments - the boots I liked the look of were a 90 flex and at just about 9 stone wet through, I wouldn't have been able to move in them!! So I ended up spending less than I anticipated and the chap n Ellis Brigham was really helpful and found me a boot that fit really well and that I was happy with.
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I have my third set of boots. The first boots were way too big (very common mistake when buying boots, the conversion tables between "normal" and mondo sizes are just crap). The second pair was the right size but very much too wide. This third pair is ok. I bought all the three pairs in one year just because the first two were not actually skiable in the long run. So find a bootfitter and get it right the first time...
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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 use last years version of tyjose boots and they are super comfy....on me! As above, get somewhere and get fitted.
I tried those Spitfires on the Col du Hemel. Fast. Fun. Not one for the lazy skier, and nowhere near a park or free style ski. A great all day piste charger, though.
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Scott Pinishers (86mm) or Volkl Bridges (95mm) will both be fine for a bit of park, off pist and generally pisting around with the family if that's what you are looking for. They are both directional twin tips but will be much better for general all mountain use than a pure park ski. As you are at the three weeks stage the Scott's will be the more forgiving of the two. Just take the back bolts out of your 120 Salomon boots to get the flex down to about 100 and enjoy your trip.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Snow_Dog, Good sugestion. The Punishers, in particular, will not be a problem to you on piste.
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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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Critch
If this is going to be your fourth week of skiing you will still benefit from lessons, whether that's group or private. If you're not still having lessons now you're just storing up bad habits and poor technique that will stick with you and limit your skiing for years to come. So..... it's worth having piste skis with you for the lessons.
If you want to mess about in the park/pipe you can always hire some specific skis for a couple of afternoons.
I don't want to sound like a boring old fart but if you nail your basic technique it will serve you much better on the piste, park and off-piste in years to come.
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For the amount you seem to be thinking of spending, I'd go with "The One" skis from Whitedot,
http://www.whitedotfreeride.com/skis1.php
Twin Tips and should be up for pretty much whatever you throw at them!
As for boots I totally agree with the above comments, find a shop that actually knows what they're talking about. Shop I got ours from when we first asked said "You'll need about an hour to narrow down all the possibilities, test (walking around in) and heat moulding to your feet." Do not choose boots because they go with your outfit!
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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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Don't wear your boots walking around the house, ski boots aren't made for walking in, if you do they will definitely feel tight. The only way to know how they truly feel is to ski them, even for a couple of hours in a fridge. If you do t have custom foot beds I them make sure you get some. They will drastically improve the fit, remember dont go to drastic on any boot alterations until you have skied them. Its very easy to create space in boots but very hard to reverse this process. I would be inclined to take the screws out of the cuff, a 120 boot on someone yoour height and weight will be hard to flex, and will feel pretty solid in the park.
As for skis I would agree with what's already been said, return your skis and replace them with an all mountain twin tip. It will let you enjoy so much more of the mountain and you will never feel restricted.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Swop the skis for some Scott Punishers 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Was option (3) supposed to be 'return the piste skis and rent'? If not, pencil that in as number (4) 
At the risk of repeating what I suggested last time, seems like you're not really sure what you want to do, and not really sure what sort of skis you like. Seems like it isn't worth spending big bucks until you've tried some more things out.
Consider also that your piste skis are probably always going to be useful, whereas more specialised bits of kit may not.
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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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My advice would be to try before you buy. Next time you are in resort, rent as many pairs as possible and then buy the ones you like. If you are thinking of buying, a lot of ski shops let you try before you buy for free or a reduced rate.
Most pure park skis are very soft but not all twins are soft.
My current do it all ski is a pair of volkl karmas. Nice stiff twin that is great on piste and I can still run them in the park.
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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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Have a look at these - http://www.snowtraxstore.co.uk/k2-sight-marker-squire-schizo-binding-2012
Will do more or less everything, and by the time you've worn them out, you'll know exactly what you want from your next pair.
The Schizo binding is pretty handy, you can move it forward to centre your skis for park stuff, or move it back to keep your tips up in powder.
Just waxed a pair for my friend - they look awesome, which is clearly the most important part
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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 don't mean to be negative but I don't see why, that at the level you say you are at that you would need more than one pair of ski's?
Seems like throwing a lot of money about purely because you can.
I use a pair of "all mountain" ski's(k2 apache xplorers) which i bought with a view to occasionally going off piste, being quite frankly huge i would do nothing but sink on piste ski's in thick snow. However i've never felt my piste ability impeded by them in the slightest.
Just buy a pair of all mountain ski's, they are at the end of the day ALL MOUNTAIN, you don't need to be lugging two pairs of ski's all over the place just yet.
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FAQ
