What ski`s to buy??

I'm booked up on the boot camp. I think primarily they are pushing their new hawx boots but they are also bringing with them the new range of Atomic Nomad all mountain skis.

I'm heading out to Zermatt at the end of September. The resort is running quite a few ski testing weekends with an inclusive package available. Brands available for test are Atomic, Blizzard, Dynamic, Dynastar, Elan, Fischer, Head, Nordica, Kneissl, K2, Movement, Rossignol, Salomon, Scott, Volant and Volkl. Got all the paperwork through today :D
I purchased some new skis in the UK a couple of years ago, basing my decision on the write up's in the big retailers' brochures. Never again :shock: , I used them for a week, then sold them on Ebay.

Gareth,

Don't mean to teach granny to suck eggs but....something to think about...

Have you considered continuing to rent and not buying?

Charges for taking skis on flights seem to be more commen now..
Servicing costs on average once per week of skiing plus major repairs..
If you are not 100% sure of which ski suits you it could be an expensive mistake..
You can rent premium skis in many resorts from shops that will let you swap whenever you want - so if it dumps you change and if it ices up you change.. and no servicing costs.
If you are in one resort a lot then you could get a season long deal on rentals. Last season I paid the equivalent of two weeks rent for a whole season and swapped them every few days.

Mark

Gareth,

Mark_T makes a very good point. If you are a beginner skier and only ski once or twice per year, it may be better to rent skis during the holidays as long as you get "top level skis"

Most rental skis are not worth skiing on. The bases are finished since many skiers go "everywhere". I mean everywhere! I saw some skiers skiing down a concrete stairway! Also theses skis are designed for durability thus have have extra top layer, extra Ptex base, softer tip zone and wide hard steel edges.

The rental option serves two purposes;
1. Allows you to save up for those great skis you will soon merit and appreciate.
2.Allows you to get to know how skis differ in performance. Initiatly you will not notice any difference but as you improve and take lessons you will note major difference!

Say to yourself that this is an "exploratory" stage of your learning and the cheapest way to do this is rent!

May I suggest you keep a dairy of all your ski tries! Then in 2-3 years you will know what type of ski you want!

Hope this helps you!

Respectfully,
Pavel

Thanks Mark_T and Pavelski,
The idea of keep renting untill I really know what I want is a good one,I have only skiied about 6 weeks at this stage so probably would not appreciate the skiis to their full extent.Mind you I thought it might be a good idea to buy a pair and get to know them well and I like the idea of skiing on my own skiis.Is this a good or bad idea??
I only started skiing a few years ago but love it and am keen to ski more and ski better.

Thanks again,all help is good help.
Gar. :)

I had only being skiing for four weeks before I bought my own skis. Renting is by far the most sensible option but do you know what - I have a pair of skis in the back bedroom that I adore just because they are there and they are mine and I'm the only person who has skied on them. If you get into to the who ski tuning thing to then they become even more special.

I'm not saying you should go out and buy some. I'm just saying I understand why you want to.

ellistine wrote:I had only being skiing for four weeks before I bought my own skis. Renting is by far the most sensible option but do you know what - I have a pair of skis in the back bedroom that I adore just because they are there and they are mine and I'm the only person who has skied on them. If you get into to the who ski tuning thing to then they become even more special.

I'm not saying you should go out and buy some. I'm just saying I understand why you want to.

Exactly, You can't enjoy some carpet skiing in the comfort of your own home with rentals :lol:

Also the process of choosing which skis to buy (with lots of research) is a great learning experience.

Trencher

I totally agree!

Besides, nothing quite beats that feeling of trepidation you get when arriving at your destination just before you are re-united with your skis. The nervousness you feel when examining your skis to check they are okay.

Nothing quite beats the endless questions that go through your head whilst sat in the airplane seat looking at the bag chuckers complete loading, those questions "Please be careful with my skis?" "Please god I hope they make it onto the plane with me" and "I hope they don't get left behind" and my personal favourite, "Don't you realise how expensive those skis you've just dropped on the tarmac are?"

As Trencher says, a great learning experience!! :?