First Skis for an Intermediate - Advice Please

need advice on which skis to buy will be my first pair although i would class my self an intermediate rider, i really want to do a bit of everything probably :70% on piste, 30% powder, maybe bit of park aswell.

Also nothing to expensive any thoughts??????

Cheery :mrgreen:

No ski does everything!

Be realistic. Be honest! If you are intermediate skier then you know what skiing you will do!

Try reading magazines about skis!

Listen to better skiers!

Then try some possible units!

Pavel

neil-d wrote:need advice on which skis to buy will be my first pair although i would class my self an intermediate rider, i really want to do a bit of everything probably :70% on piste, 30% powder, maybe bit of park aswell.

Also nothing to expensive any thoughts??????

Cheery :mrgreen:

Your first pair of skis? Get something cheap off ebay as you'll probably end up buying what turn out to be the wrong skis so you don't want to waste much money this time round.

Also, like Pav says, read up - do your homework, check out online reviews, go into Ellis Brigham or Snow and Rock or your local ski shop and ask.

There plenty in the all mountain one quiver market nowadays to choose from.

I don't intend to buy myself a pair of skis, but if I was going to I'd go to one of the decent hire shops on holiday, hire a pair of skis, and ask them to do a deal where at the end of the week I either bought the skis minus the hire cost or said 'no thank you' I don't want to buy them. And that way, if I didn't like them much to begin with I could swap them for another pair until I found some I liked.

I reckon you have to ski on them for several days in different conditions to be sure they really suit you.

Ally

AllyG wrote:

I reckon you have to ski on them for several days in different conditions to be sure they really suit you.

Ally

I disagree. I didn't and mine are perfect for me and what I want them to do. Research.

Nor me. Took advice from the store I purchased them from and they felt superb in the 1st week of usage 2 weeks ago.
See what they are like in 4 weeks when I go again. :lol:

guess it also depends on how much cash you have to burn, £500 upwards for afull set up is a little or allot to most people or to me 1 to 2 weeks skiing abroad! I've went down the eBay route before, but in my experience it seems quite difficult to pick a pair up for a reasonable price. I've seen 5 year old skis go for over £300 when I'd fancied a punt at less than half of that max.

For me it also depends how many weeks of the season you'd realistically ski as a pure cost equation a new pair of planks bought for only a week or two a season doesn't add up for me I'd rather rent or in your case maybe get more experience under your belt until you know for sure what sort of skiing you do.

I've demo'd skis at indoor slopes which is an ok way of tryig several pairs to get a basic feel but is hard to give a proper run due to the conditions etc.

Advice at ski shop,,,,,for first ski!
I am not questioning the competence of ski shop staff with this Pavel story, but only illustrating some issues!

Met just three weeks ago an women in the 30ish go skied with heart and great desire! After following her for two runs,,,I "happen" to go up with her in the chair lift! After small talk I discovered she was originally a teleskier for 5 years! Now she was trying these need modern skis!

She had bought some Volkl "womens" specials since ski shop recommended them!

After skiing with her for one hour,,she mentioned that she could not follow my tracks" Skis were "giving" out on her on tight SL type carving turns! I followed her down one fast SL type run!

I saw emediately the problem!

She was better than the skis! her level of competence. Her fitness. Her technique demanded more from the ski than the ski could give her!

It was a top level WOMENS ski,,,however it was too soft at tip. Too soft torsion wise thus every time she tried to set an aggressive SL carving dynamic turn,,,,tip would give in!!!!

Many stores sell women short! They think women = soft,,easy slow skiing type!

If you are a fit, alpha type women who loves the sport try some top level skis! I lent for 3 weeks a 155cm World Cup SL Fischer ski! She is flying! She is smiling! She is hot!!!!

So yes listen to sales persons but,,,,,,,,

Respectfully,
Pavel