Ladies Ski Advice - Help Needed!

Hi all,

I am looking to buy my first pair of ski's and wanted your advice on what to go for and any good recommendations on where to buy.

I am a 5ft 3inch female and I weigh 7.5stone (so small and light), I have intermediate ski ability with the view to really improve this season. I have actually only skied for 3 x weeks but am comfortable on reds and in the park. I am looking for something all-round that I can really improve with. My budget is around £300 - £400 (with bindings).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Lucy :D

anyone?? :):):):)

OK Lucy - I wonder if the question you posed is just too big?
This may help you narrow down your choice - http://www.snowandrock.com/ski-ski-buying-guide/content/fcp-content but, of course, it all depends on YOUR assesment of your ability, style, preference and needs.
I stopped owning skies many years ago - only skiing a week or so a year I couldn't see the point anymore as skis change so much.
I hire good skis in resort and spend some time talking to the people in the shop and asking what they recommend for the present conditions. This works for me and I have only once been back and swapped.
Salomon X wing this year, great at start of the week but could have done with something a bit stiffer in the tip later in the week. Daftest was a couple of years ago - K2, the laugh is they were ladies racing skis !!! And absolutely brilliant for the hard and icy conditions for me as a good skier but a bit old and unfit.
My point is that I trust the shop to believe me and understand the conditions - but each to their own.
If you are certain you want your own then all I can say is do not be tempted by a cheap deal unless you know the skis are right for you.
Skiing with a mate who had paid £250 for skis and bindings - I persuaded him to hire for a day and he was amazed how much better the hire skis were than his, and how much his skiing improved!!

as OldAndy says - hire may be cheaper in the long run

In France Ive hired off Ski Republic (a lot of people deride them but Ive been happy) for 42 euros for a week with their 2 for 1 offer

I probably couldnt get them serviced for that much less transport them if I owned a set.

That said I ski once a year, twice at most and live in the North east so no access to cheeky weekends and/or the snow train

Love the X-Wing range personally but I'm rather taller and considerably heavier than you (bows graciously to the lady)

As you are quite light in weight, and you want your own skis, I would suggest looking at the Movement women's range, for lightweight skis with wood cores. If you have the opportunity, always test a ski before buying.
Another option would be the K2 women's range, but try and find a flat ski and choose a binding to suit, and avoid a rail binding system, they weigh a ton.

Time to do plenty of reading, make a shortlist, and head into a resort shop or a snowdome, and see what they can offer. Do not be fobbed off with the "these are nice skis for ladies" :evil: These will almost always ski like they are made from Spaghetti.

thank you all so much for your comments - very useful!

oldandy - I totally agree with what your saying about skis changing so frequently, I suppose I really need to have a good think about whether I would get the usage vs. the cost - especially given I am looking to improve a lot and don't want to 'outgrow' a pair....

With that said, I am off to the snow dome in Hemel on sunday to demo a few pairs (K2's are looking favourable) and I shall report back on how I get on!

thanks again for your advice

Lucy :)