Any Ski Experts On Here?
Discussion
Evening,
I have just booked my January Ski trip and am once again contemplating buying my own skis. I ski at least one week a year, I have my own boots and wonder if skis are a good idea. I am doing mostly on piste but started doing a bit of off piste last year (mostly just the bits between various runs).
Basically I want to know if having your own skis is good because you get used to them and can progress better and more quickly?
If the general opinion is that owning your own skis is a good idea. Where on earth do you start with choosing them. I checked out reviews on the net and almost every pair you look at have five people saying that they are great and another five saying they are awful.
Cheers,
Ed.
I have just booked my January Ski trip and am once again contemplating buying my own skis. I ski at least one week a year, I have my own boots and wonder if skis are a good idea. I am doing mostly on piste but started doing a bit of off piste last year (mostly just the bits between various runs).
Basically I want to know if having your own skis is good because you get used to them and can progress better and more quickly?
If the general opinion is that owning your own skis is a good idea. Where on earth do you start with choosing them. I checked out reviews on the net and almost every pair you look at have five people saying that they are great and another five saying they are awful.
Cheers,
Ed.
Personally I like owning my own skis but you do have the pain of transporting them (i.e. seeing if they will turn up at the other end of the flight)
Scott and Völkl make some great skis IMO, so I would look at the Völkl Mantra (pretty stiff ski), Scott Mission, Scott Punisher (a bit like a twin tip Mission), Scott Crusade etc.
Scott and Völkl make some great skis IMO, so I would look at the Völkl Mantra (pretty stiff ski), Scott Mission, Scott Punisher (a bit like a twin tip Mission), Scott Crusade etc.
Ed,
I've always had my own skis since I learnt, as it offers consistency and a familiar feel each time you return to them.
I wouldn't buy any skis without trying them first. I would wait until you are in resort, and try a few pairs before you buy. A lot of stores will rent you the latest demos and refund the cost when you buy. Use the reviews as a guide, and a starting point. The skis I thought I'd like were the models I was had the least confidence/feel in.
Have a good trip....
I've always had my own skis since I learnt, as it offers consistency and a familiar feel each time you return to them.
I wouldn't buy any skis without trying them first. I would wait until you are in resort, and try a few pairs before you buy. A lot of stores will rent you the latest demos and refund the cost when you buy. Use the reviews as a guide, and a starting point. The skis I thought I'd like were the models I was had the least confidence/feel in.
Have a good trip....
Edited by Dominic H on Friday 31st July 11:40
DJC said:
The current trend is for shortening skis.
not now... they've gone back to longer ones..For the OP I honestly wouldn't bother... you ski for 1 week a year... you have 51 weeks to forget the "feel" plus it's so much hassle to transport them (and getting worse) then there's the servicing which you "should" do before you pack them away.... and as the discussion on length shows trends change so frequently any skis you buy will be out of date/fashion before you get your moneys worth.
Also a "piste" ski is very different from an "off piste" ski which again is different from a "black country" ski..... and then if you just look at a "piste ski" you need to consider what the conditions are like to decide a) which piste ski is best and b) which wax to use.
My recommendation would be to always find "the best" hire shop in resort and rent top end skis if you're that worried..
That said... if you have a confidence issue then having your own skis "can" help as it's one thing less to worry about.
(For reference I've got 5 pairs in my cave for me but Mrs M pops into the shop and grabs a pair whenever she goes skiing)
Ed FM said:
Thanks for the reply, I have found the punisher for under £300 and they seem to have great reviews. I'm 5'10 and around twelve and a half stone. Do you think the 172's would be long enough for me. The next size up is 182.
Cheers,
Ed.
Really the 182 because they ski short, however if you are intermediate level I think you will find the 172 easier to ski and plenty stable enough.Cheers,
Ed.
The trend has gone back to long skis?
How on earth can they justify moving between short and long skis so quickly? I thought with the new technologies and construction techniques, it meant the more control of the long skis and the same ability to carve as old school short skis could now be combined with a modern shorter ski. Why would they now go back to long skis?
Confused.com!
How on earth can they justify moving between short and long skis so quickly? I thought with the new technologies and construction techniques, it meant the more control of the long skis and the same ability to carve as old school short skis could now be combined with a modern shorter ski. Why would they now go back to long skis?
Confused.com!
If it was me I would not buy skis for only one week a year. Ski technology develops quick these days, so you will find that after perhaps only 2-3 seasons, you would want to start trying something new.
I am lucky enough to live in Switzerland now, so now of course it makes perfect sense to have my own and then change them once every other season....
Having said all that, there is obviously a lot of joy in having your own skis.
I am lucky enough to live in Switzerland now, so now of course it makes perfect sense to have my own and then change them once every other season....
Having said all that, there is obviously a lot of joy in having your own skis.
DJC said:
The trend has gone back to long skis?
How on earth can they justify moving between short and long skis so quickly? I thought with the new technologies and construction techniques, it meant the more control of the long skis and the same ability to carve as old school short skis could now be combined with a modern shorter ski. Why would they now go back to long skis?
Confused.com!
Yep big arguements with my friendly shop keeper... I'm 5'8" and he was trying to get me to have some 188s ........ much much debate.... so I had a pair of 165s for a week, a pair of 176s for a week and then a pair of 188s for a week of the same ski....... we argued and argued and then argued some more and against his better judgement I kept the 176s............. after a month I swapped them for the 188s........... the longer skis gave better stability at high speeds, you need to work a lot harder for short sharp tight turns true and yes they do require more technique to control... How on earth can they justify moving between short and long skis so quickly? I thought with the new technologies and construction techniques, it meant the more control of the long skis and the same ability to carve as old school short skis could now be combined with a modern shorter ski. Why would they now go back to long skis?
Confused.com!
WHere abouts are you... there's a few very good boot fitters in the UK; Leamington Spa & Bicester... depending where you're going skiing there might be a good boot fitter but you're unlikely to know which shop is the good one... for example none of us (Ex pats) buy boots in our village we all drive an hour to get to a good one (Footworks in Chamonix)
Blimey Marcellus, Im 6ft and my skiis are 185s! I thought they were awesome when I bought them, totally transformed my skiing. I cant image going on bigger ones to be honest.
And there is a decent ski boot mob in Leamington Spa? Who and where, tis only 20mins down the road from me and I need new boots.
And there is a decent ski boot mob in Leamington Spa? Who and where, tis only 20mins down the road from me and I need new boots.
Ed FM said:
Evening,
I have just booked my January Ski trip and am once again contemplating buying my own skis. I ski at least one week a year, I have my own boots and wonder if skis are a good idea. I am doing mostly on piste but started doing a bit of off piste last year (mostly just the bits between various runs).
Basically I want to know if having your own skis is good because you get used to them and can progress better and more quickly?
If the general opinion is that owning your own skis is a good idea. Where on earth do you start with choosing them. I checked out reviews on the net and almost every pair you look at have five people saying that they are great and another five saying they are awful.
Cheers,
Ed.
How many days a year do you ski? You mention 'at least one week a year' so are we looking at sometimes one week total, sometimes 2 weeks or sometimes more?I have just booked my January Ski trip and am once again contemplating buying my own skis. I ski at least one week a year, I have my own boots and wonder if skis are a good idea. I am doing mostly on piste but started doing a bit of off piste last year (mostly just the bits between various runs).
Basically I want to know if having your own skis is good because you get used to them and can progress better and more quickly?
If the general opinion is that owning your own skis is a good idea. Where on earth do you start with choosing them. I checked out reviews on the net and almost every pair you look at have five people saying that they are great and another five saying they are awful.
Cheers,
Ed.
IMHO rule of thumb is that if you are UK based and flying for each trip and staying in different places then unless you are doing a minimum of 20-30 days on snow each winter then balancing the joys of owning your own skis vs the faff factor of transporting servicing etc is probably not really worth it.
Not all hire shops are created equal. There are some very good hire shops around the resorts with well-serviced up to date kit. Myself, who is a bit of a self-confessed ski junkie will sometimes use a hire ski if conditions are such that they have something better than my own! If you do your research before going, go to the right hire shop then you will get good quality skis and enjoy your turns. Go to the wrong one, get some old worn out crap and its not so fun.
If however, you want to have your own set without the hire shop sticker on them, then fair enough. Before recommending a ski a lot more info is required about your level (both now and future aspirations) and whether you are a piste skier, off piste, tourer, bit everything or whatever type skier.
If you do get your own skis consider that you will 'have' to ski them even if conditions are not right for that ski. Might be annoying?
I'd be wary of the comment recommending Volkl Mantra's from a standing start of not knowing more about the skier in question. As amazing as they are, they certainly don't suit everyone!(and thats not meant to sound patronising, i know some very very good skiers who aren't a fan and others who love them - they require a powerful ski style and if you are looking for short-turn finess then look elswhere).
Also a bit wary of this 'back to long ski's' discussion going on here. Its true that a given skier who bought skis in 05 or 06 and was replacing them with a current model would might have something a little longer. Like 3-5cms perhaps in some skis but certainly not across the board. I would say this represents a small advancement in tech that allows an easier manipulation of a slightly longer (read more stable ski) rather than in any way a return to the straight sticks of old.
Boots, as mentioned above are key. A well fitted boot is the start to a whole new skiing career. There are good boot fitters in the UK, i don't know who, but others will. The boys in Footworks in Chamonix are friends of mine and Steve and John in particular are excellent. Jules and Damo across in Sanglanrds are also superb (Damo did my most recent fitting).
Where's your trip in January going to?
Ed FM said:
Thanks for the reply, I have found the punisher for under £300 and they seem to have great reviews. I'm 5'10 and around twelve and a half stone. Do you think the 172's would be long enough for me. The next size up is 182.
Cheers,
Ed.
Again without knowing your level tough to say but to be honest as unhelpful as this is, you are probably right smack bang between the two lengths and it would be difficult to call!Cheers,
Ed.
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