Metron 9 or alternatives?

Hello,

I'm a 24-year old girl from the Netherlands, doubting about which ski to buy. Last winter I skied the Atomic SL9 (160cm), which was okay but sometimes a bit too unforgiving for me. I also tried the Metron 9 (164cm), which was way more stable, but very speedy (in a good way).

Right now I'm wondering what would be 'the best buy' for me: the Metron 9, maybe the female version (balanze metron), or even another brand (maybe Elan Magfire, but which number???, maybe other brands?). I'm also wondering what length I should be skiing?
I hoped you experts could help me in this big snowstorm in my head .
My length is 177cm (I believe it's 5'10") and I weigh about 67 kilo's (which is 148 lbs). I'm a female, I guess an intermediate skier (I ski blue and red runs controlled and pretty fast, black runs remain a challenge but fun), who likes to ski fast, prefers shorter turns over longer and likes to be in control, and wants to progress over the next few years.

Thanks for all considerations and advice!

Ilse,

You are so lucky since there are many greats skis waiting for you.

Based on your information let us start with the easy answers.

I would select a ski in the 160-165 range. A little background information if you do not mind. You mentionned two skis that I know very well, SL9 and Metrons.

These two skis have very different "personalities" and it is revealing to know your impressions. The SL9 is a de-tuned racing slalom ski which is a "precision" ski, not allowing too much errors. This type of ski is not good for you now!

The metron series are not well understood by most skiers so let us look into what this ski does! It is a "wider" ski ( not a fat ski for powder) and its best place to ski is soft groomed slopes with long easy turns! It feels a little more heavy than most skis due to its plate and wider core. I have the B5 model and is very very stable IN SOFT SNOW!! However in hard ice type snow you do not get grip you get with the SLs. I doubt that you want to ski on ice and steep runs!!!!

You must decide! If you ski in well groomed runs with good base ( at least 5-10 cm. of soft base), then the metron series would be great. Since it is wider than "other' skis you can even go to 155 cm since the running surface of the ski is equal to a SL 9 165 cm.

There are many excellent skis on the market and due to poor skiing season you will find great deals! Yes,, I would get a "women specific" ski due to soft tip and "forgiving" flex pattern. There are many of these and all are great. Just get best price! Typically such a ski sell for about $250 CND and about $200 US in North America! I can get a demo model used a few times for $150, so that should give you an idea what reasonable prices are!

Hope this helps you!

Dear pavelski,

Thanks for your advice and especially the effort you've made! However, I still have some questions/remarks (and since you really know a lot about it, I'll grab the opportunity!):

About the snowconditions: It's hard to predict the snowquality in Europe (especially when you only ski one week a year), one year it may be hard and icy, one year I may experience superpowder. With that in mind it's hard to find one ski that can do it all. What I like in the Metron is that it is amazing in fresh snow and well groomed pistes, and also has a relatively short radius. But I can't guarantee I won't be skiing on ice again.

The weight of the Metron wasn't a problem for me, while the newest SL9 (the red ones) are heavier than the earlier SL9's and even heavier than the M:9's I tried. The ones I tried were from season 2005/2006, and a friend of mine bought the 2006/2007 M:9's right there, and between those there also was a weight difference (the newer were lighter).

The length of the Metron I skied was 164, but I hear now that it might be better for me to ski the 157 because of my length (177cm) and weight (67 kilo's) and because of the Metron-index-calculator. I was wondering, won't the 157 be unstable/shaky at higher speeds, or give me any other discomfort?
About the female-ski's: I doubt it will be my thing, because I always skied unisex ski's, and I'm not a superslender tiny and light girl, but a normal built, quite tall girl.

The good deals in America won't work for me, I'm from the Netherlands in Europe, but I found an offer for a new M:9 for 279,-- euro's, which would be about US 370 dollars, seems a pretty good deal right?
Are there any other brands and models I should consider before buying anything?
Hope you don't mind me talking and asking this much, but a close ski-encyclopedia is very useful, thanks again!

I use the M9s for fun carving. They seem fine on ice for me. They have taken quite a beating (maybe 120 hours of hard carving) , but the foam core is giving me no problems. I can't comment on thier powder performance as I usually snowboard in those conditions. If you go for metrons, try to get the new lighter Neox bindings, unless your getting a good deal. I have the 157s and I'm about 160 lbs. From my limited powder experience on them, you might want the 164s for that, but the 157s would be great for everything else.

As for speed, like any small radius sidecut ski, they only feel stable when on edge. You eventually don't even think about keeping them slightly on edge when going fast in a straightish line, it just happens.

Trencher