Is the HEAD iSupershape Titan Ski appropriate for a woman?

We're skiing in a couple of weeks time in Meribel and I have pre-ordered my rental skis and am trying to choose which ski to go with

In February this year I skied on the HEAD Chip skis and absolutely LOVED them! A seriously fun, fast and aggressive ski. I've just been to Zermatt and skied on the Nordica Spitfire Doberman which were good but a much softer ride in my opinion. I preferred the HEAD for sure.

The rental place we're using don't have the HEAD Chip which is ok, I'd like to try something different as it's fun to try something different each time. They do have HEAD skis and I'm leaning towards the Titan. Do you think this is too much ski for a woman? Is it anything like the Chip or will it be much more aggressive than the Chip? It is advertised as a men's ski. I'm an advanced skier and I like an aggressive ski, just don't want to get too ahead of myself though :lol:

I like a slalom ski, like to go fast and get stuck into my short turns :D

Their 'Black/Advanced' range is:

Scott Maya Womens Ski
HEAD X-Shape MTX Ski (he has recommended this as a softer option)
Salomon 24hrs Ski
K2 AMP Rictor Ski
Salomon Enduro XT 800 Ski

Look forward to hearing your thoughts about the Titan or if anyone has had experience on any of the other skis.

Of course, I can always change them whenever I like :-)

Cheers, Alex

The question has nothing to do with gender.

It should be about;
where you ski
how you ski
competence level
etc,,,,

My wife ,,will refuse to ski on a "women's" ski ! That is her choice based on her type of skiing and desire to have a special skiing feeling! She loves SL skis !

As a skier,,,not as a women you should ask your self what you want from a ski and where you typically ski!

Then read up on types of skis in the market.

Then narrow it down to 3 types or models.

Try them. All serious ski shops have demos ( often for a free day or week) if they feel you will buy them! In my case I get them for one week free since I then recommend these models to skiers I know!
In my area many many shops will deduct the cost of demo days from purchase price !

One small hint many sales person and ski shop owners will not like me to pass along! There is a "good time" to buy and a bad time to buy ! I am preparing a post about issue!

In short do your homework as a smart consumer!

There is one "truth" about buying skis ! Never buy at a ski at a ski resort ( unless at end of season) ! My experience has been you are paying 30-40% over retail value compared to ski shops in city!
Now before all ski resort shops "attack" me let me point out that yes there are exceptions and that I have the "confidential price lists you the owner pay for the skis !

Be a happy smart skier,,,,,,shop wisely !

Pavel

Oman,
Now about those Heads.

I have two Heads. The Head WC SL ! Amazing skis for the dynamic, technical carver who wants to ski on hard fast slopes!

The Supershape 177 cm. I have is an amazing ski that few skiers appreciate. It is 177 cm but has a radius of 14 meters! When you know that SL world Cup skis have a radius of 13 meters, you can appreciate the stability and carve potetial of this ski!

It is not marketing "hyperbole" that this skis is great!

If you are a fit skier ( not just a women ), with technical skiing skills get this ski!

Silky smooth turns, stable beyond speeds you will go and so gentle on fast fast long trails. You can close your eyes and put the skis on "auto-drive" !

Only for intermediate or expert skier!

Now just find the right price,,,,,,

Pavel
Proud owner of a HEAD SKI !

OmanSki I have skied the Scott Aztec Maya on the Swiss Ski Test in Zermatt. Just looked up the new Maya and the profile looks much the same. Based on what you say makes you smile, I would avoid the Maya, it will be chattery at speed and some way down the performance list against the Nordicas (for example)
Some women's skis are worth avoiding, but not all.Most of the ski makers now produce performance skis for women. Currently I use 2 pairs of women specific skis:
K2 She's Back and Movement Black Rose (wmns version of the Thunder) I challenge anyone to prove to me that the Black Rose is not a performance ski.

With a womens specific ski, you can sometimes get a forward mounting point, sometimes not.

It does not matter a hoot if you use a mens ski. The Salomon 24 hrs might be worth testing 1st :D

My experience with skiing is I learnt as a toddler in Australia (don't laugh too loud :wink: ), skied every year then had a big break after leaving school and have just returned to it this year (after marriage and children!). So basically this is my first real experience with parabolic skis and I'm absolutely loving it! I had lessons in Italy for my first time back on skis after 15 years and was moved to the advanced class after the first day. I would consider myself a confident skier able to go down any run without hesitation. I am definitely not a 'girlie' type skier who likes to gently make her way down the slopes though I do like to stay on piste (at this stage anyway!). I like to go fast and fit as many short turns in as I can! I guess I am quite an aggressive skier and like being thrown in and out of my turns and this was the feeling I got from the Heads in St Anton in Feb this year.

Pavel, I love that your wife refuses to ski on a womens ski! I had so much fun on the HEAD Chips so after your comments I don't feel silly or embarrassed to insist on changing my skis to the Titans (which sound like an awesome ski!) We're there for 2 weeks so will try out the Salomons too just to compare and will steer clear of the Scotts - thanks for the tip bandit!

OmanSki, you didn't mention which version of the Chip you hired the 71 or the 66; if it was the 71 then it has the same dimensions as the Head Magnum. The Titan is a bit wider underfoot making it a bit more manageable off-piste. If you ski mainly on-piste then the Magnum would be a better choice.

Of the others I would also go for the Salomon 24 hrs.

Mrs SB along with all her friends here also doesn't ski on women's skis, there are some good ones around these days but previously they were pretty ropey.

If you go back to Zermatt sometime try to hire a pair of RTC (ready to carve) skis http://www.rtc-ski.ch/ there're made locally and are used by lots of good women skiers here.

Quick and dirty guide to on piste skis might be

Tight lively turns-radius 10.5 to 12.5 metres
medium turns-radius 13.0 to 17.0 metres
longer turns requiring more effort-radius 18 metres and up

Generally metal in the construction means a better ski. This might be called titinal, titanium, aluminium. Two layers is best.

A little rocker instead of camber at tip and tail makes for an easy to use, but also better carving ski. This might be called different things like early rise tip, all mountain rocker, etc

Side wall construction is generally a good indication of a better ski (as opposed to cap construction where the fibreglass top sheet extends down the sides to the edges of the ski.

Some of the skis you mention are good by these criteria.

Titans are a very well thought of ski but more of an All Mountain. I have the Magnums and they've been my do it all ski-teach, carve, can handle off piste (all down to how good you are-you don't need a wide ski for off piste per se).

There's also the supershape speeds again narrower in the waist and more dedicated for on piste.