J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Hirsty,
Thr trick is to find a ski that has great stability and yet not so "heavy"! I have a pair of B5 Metrons that I rarely use because of that famous weight!

The newer 2009 skis seem to have discovered a way to make a "plate or rail system" that permits low vibration ,,yet has less weight! The Head SL World Cup and Fischers WC SL are two such examples!

If ever we meet Hirsty, you can try a real Salomon Lab racing ski on a closed testing run! You will remember run all your life! Pure pleasure!

Seems the Rossi Bandits 3 ,are fast becoming my favorite skis due to the fact that they are also my lighest units! Great for anging knees on chair!

Jan Stenmark has great solution, which was posted !

Wear them ! Yes wear them on plane!!! Just get some slippers which you can put on once on plane!

No regulations about NOT wearing ski boots on! He did it!

I tested his solution going to Utah and guess what! Sure you get stares...Sure you get "what the...." but it works. Once on plane I just took out some thin, light fur lined CROCs and smiled!!!!

I am the one who "suggested the wire trick", just make sure it is of thicker gauge that moder hanger I see now days!

Also the above suggestions are very valid! Love your women? Then get her some great boots! You can not believe what a great smile will do!
You just sit down and calculate cost over 10 years + no complains + happiness = happy women!

I often hear the comment, "ha,,,that ski is so heavy"! The underlying message is, it will tire me, it will be too difficult to turn, it will be a dud!!!!

Yes race skis are heavier that most all-round or intermediate skis! But you must understand why! Allow me an example with an analogy!

If ever you have driving a true race car on a race track you know what "competition suspension" is like! It transfers all the roads imperfections to the seat of your pants! You become part of the car and feel each sway, each tuck of the car! So it is with racing skis!
Of course they are not for everyone, but the skier who knows how to use them does not use "wasteful movement", does not lift ski unless necessary and skier who uses such skis is fit!

Nothing is free, so yes they are heavier,, but the stability and speeds I get far compensates for this small issue!

As far as prices,,,well there is now a major world wide surplus of skis and plus racing skis are not "popular" so you have your pick! Enjoy the harvest!

I know a shop that has a whole wall of Atomic 11 and 12 for sale! For the next three years it will be a skiers market since we are heading into a serious recession! There are many changes happening in the skiing industry!

It is not the number of years that you ski that is important, rather it is how technically well you can ski! Some people ski one a year, never take lessons yet say they have skied for 40 years! Quality is more important than quantity!

Elanboy, it cost most ski companies about 68$ for all raw materials to make a ski! (based on 2001 estimates) so you see profit margin is very high! Last skis I tried were the Head World Cup SL 2009 skis! Very very hot units that melt the snow under them as they cut the turns! Not for the slow boys or cliff boys!

Elanboy,

I know what you are going through! I have a wall of patches which I started to collect many years ago!

May I suggest the following solution. If you have a picture or drawing of desired patch, there are many companies that will make "special order" patches for via!
Look you ski or skiing magazines they post ads there or look up "patches" on net!
Goodluck!

Interesting that the initial question focused on "real racing skis",,then author gives example of the Atomic 9 and Rossi 9 models!

Rarely do real racing skis get on market for recreational skiers! They are not designed for recreational skiing! It is like having a Porsche 911 turbo in downtown traffic!
Very few skiers should have such skis!

The skis mentionned are NOT real racing skis. They have the very specific SL cut design! Now those skis are worth buying and using if the price is right and you have hard groomed ski runs.

What do they offer?
If you know how to ski and can handle such skis, you will get a skiing feeling that you have never had,,,ever!
They respond to your every smallest twich of the knee. Wiggle your ear and they will turn!
They become part of your body! From the initial edge set to the very end of the tail section of the ski,, you will feel the ski cut the hill! Steep hard icy sections, those skis will carry you over with style and grace! While others are sliding sideways and causing teeth to chatter, the SL type skis will wisk you over with stable razor sharp turns!

Not for the "expert- want- to- be" or the heel turner for sure but if you want to go to another skiing level,,do it!

Hirsty,
Yes I have received your PM. Waiting for you to test the 150 pairs of skis in 2009!

Hirsty,
Timing is everything! Look up K2 Apache! Just finish testing them and guess what they are gathering dust! !77 cm.
You will read about them in 2009 since they are next years skis!
Now define,,,"lend"!