ski and boot advice please...

Hey guy's, I've been a keen snowboarder for the last couple of years, however all my friends ski and i have found that the resorts in the Pyrenees and the Alps are far more ski friendly. I am booked up to go to the alps at the end of January. I have 2 full days of ski lessons planned over here to get me up to a reasonable standard before i hit the slopes.
I'm pretty sure I'll be buying my own boots so i have nice warm comfy feet, do you think it's worth buying ski's? I know I'll be sticking with the skiing although I will be keeping my snowboard gear for some fun at some point in the future.
My friends have been skiing for about 12-13 years so have alot of experience with buying kit. I'm guessing i do the same as i did with boards and buy something above my level?
For this reason i have been looking at a pair of last years atomic nomad whiteouts in my size of-course. I plan on doing mainly on-piste but some off piste too!

Any advice welcome.

Thanks-Hugh

Buying skis and bindings is dependant upon the amount of time you will be skiing. If only skiing one or two weeks a year, IMHO, buying is a complete waste of money.

Hire the latest skis at c.70-£100 pw, serviced for you free, and changed or serviced during the week, or pay £500-£700 for the equivalent and hit a rock on day one or two, have people ski over the tails in the first queue,and have to pay to have them service and pay to transport them.

I've owned numerous pairs in the past, but as one or two weeks a season skier, buying just doesn't stack up.

Boots on the other hand are an essential to own.

I'd agree with Dorset Boy, with one reservation. That is the quality of skis you're able to hire. Many hire shops will palm you off with some poorly serviced inferior skis, especially if you've booked with a TO, and it's late in the season. At least with your own skis, if they're not in good nick, you've only got yourself to blame.
Boots are a definite though. Buy them in resort, may cost more, but can usually get to hire a new pair on the basis that you'll buy if you like them. They'll take real good care of you on this basis, and will adjust/tweak to your exact needs during the holiday.

hymac580 wrote:I'd agree with Dorset Boy, with one reservation. That is the quality of skis you're able to hire.

I always wonder about that, here in what's probably the best freeride ski terrain in the known universe the choice of rental skis in the village is awful, I've got better stuff I'm not using in the cave.

ise, gap in the market :?:

I intend buying a pair of boots at some point but as a novice do I not need to wait until I'm relatively experienced?

What I mean is I'm assuming I'm not making a choice based on the colour of the boot but rather the standard of the skier - in which case should I be waiting until I have a few weeks under my belt or is it not that important?

Thanks

It all depends where you go of course. As previously stated if you go a hire shop away from the main lifts you will pay less, and will usually have a choice of at least 3 sometimes 4 grades. It is possible as you mentioned to get skis designed for beyond your ability and although good quality they will hinder your performance. Bit like a novice golfer using 'blades'.
If you use a TO hire facility and your not happy, be a pest and complain and get them changed. We usually try and make a point of finding a place where the locals get their gear serviced. Every resort is different.

Scarlet Fez wrote:We usually try and make a point of finding a place where the locals get their gear serviced. Every resort is different.

:lol: You'll find locals generally service their own kit, it would get expensive otherwise ) And when they buy stuff it's usually down in the valley where it's cheaper.