Ski choice help - please

Hi,

I've skied now for about 20 years (only once per each year though) and have always rented skis. However, due to currency rates the cost of one weeks rental at Kitzbuhel this year was 90 GBP which is just ridiculous. So, I've decided it'll be much cheaper to buy a pair.

I love skiing but don't actually "know" much about differences in skis. I would say I'm an advanced skier who is quite happy to ski any groomed run (don't tend to go off piste unless by accident) although I may get a little "untidy" on steeper mogul runs.

Anyway, I have looked around and I can get one of the following pairs all for roughly 150 GBP

1. Atomic Izor 7.5
2. Head Xenon xi 7.0 (or 9.0 for 20 gbp more)
3. Salomon Crossmax V10

If you were me, what would you buy ?

Thanks for your time
Tim

My suggestion is to send Pavelski a private message -
he is incredibly knowledgable and helpful and will doubtless point you in the right direction.

Thanks skidaddle. Will do.

Seven lucky logs wrote:Hi,

I've skied now for about 20 years (only once per each year though) and have always rented skis. However, due to currency rates the cost of one weeks rental at Kitzbuhel this year was 90 GBP which is just ridiculous. So, I've decided it'll be much cheaper to buy a pair.

I love skiing but don't actually "know" much about differences in skis. I would say I'm an advanced skier who is quite happy to ski any groomed run (don't tend to go off piste unless by accident) although I may get a little "untidy" on steeper mogul runs.

If you were me, what would you buy ?

Thanks for your time
Tim

In your situation I would continue to rent. Yes, you can buy a cheap pair of skis. I just purchased a cheap pair of skis (Scott Punisher's). But the difference is, I knew what I was buying.

Ski technology is developing rapidly, unless you put some more weeks under your skis, your owned kit will be behind the times, and you will miss out on the changes that have made skiing more fun and more accessible.

When you can ski the whole mountain, (all of it) start looking at advanced level skis.
Some brands to consider: Movement, Scott, Head, Stockli.
With modern production methods, there are no real "turkeys" for sale on the ski shop racks. Some skis are happier at slower speeds, or have softer construction.
If you are set on buying, buy the model which you enjoyed as a rental.Then you will know how it will perform.
Keep on skiing :D

I'm with Bandit most of the way here. Developing the logic process: -

You say the reason for renting is cost of rental. Have you rented from Skiset (located on this site) I have used them several times, and found them to be good value.

Last time, in Saas Fee, cost came out at £51. Remove the £30 cost of airline ski charge. Then consider, that you are travelling lighter. You can bet that the way the airline industry is now, there is only one direction for carriage charges to go.

Then consider Bandit's points on the benefit of change. During a week, you might have used a stiff ski if the piste was hard pack/icy. Then it dumps snow, and a softer pair is so much more fun. Then you can experiment with ski length, brands, models.

Also, with rental,you are always on new/nearly new skis. Conversely, after two seasons, your new skis are already going out of date, unless they are a very good quality, (costly) ski.

There is one exception. If, like me, and others on J2Ski, you have a favourite place, that you return to, leave some skis there. I have a couple of pairs in Niederau. They cost me nothing for the 4 weeks or so that I am there each year.

I learned the hard way, I have about 12 pairs of skis in the loft, all bought and paid for, and all too long/stiff/old/creaky, lord, sounds a bit like meself.

spend more than £150, you'll thank yourself for it. Spend 4 years "rental" and use em for 4 years. £360 will get you a top of the line pair at the end of a season.

This is a really interesting topic, and one which people will point out reasons for going either way. Personally, I bought my own skis because I WANTED to own my own, but mainly because I was going 2 to 3 times a season, and it made perfect sence to do so. I pay £15 return to take them with me, as I dont use Easyjet or Ryanair, so its hardly even worth considering that as a cost.

Rental was costing me betwen £50 and £75 a week, and my first pair of skis cost me £100, my current pair £180. If you seek advice from people regarding your ability, strength, preference of terrain, experience etc, you should come up with a shortlist. I havent even looked at those 3 skis you have mentioned, but do some online reviews, and see if these are the right "fit" for you and what you want them for.

I am not convinced that owning a pair of skis is going to put you so far behing the times, as Bandit suggests. But I also dont see the point in spending £500 on skis, when if you are prepared to shop around, you will find something suitable at a good price. Thats why I tend to avoid the obvious places like Snow & Rock, 2 Seasons and Ellis Brigham.

May I suggest you visit www.swisstimsskis.com and actually give him a call. I had identified what I thought I wanted, spoke to him, and he recommended a similar ski but not the one I initially wanted to discuss. As it turned out, he was spot on. They are great skis, perfect for me, and have greatly improved my technique and ability just in 2 weeks of use!

Personally, if you can afford to spend on skis, I would go for it, as rental skis are often not in great condition, and each time you go you may end up on different skis, which doesnt really help you much.
But dont end up with something that wil hold you back, for example a mid range speed ski might be cost effective, but by what you say, you need advanced skis, so be bold!

Oh, and try and go more than once a season!!!!

I'd agree with Tony and buy your own pair. As a first pair they dont have to be expensive by any means, a cheap pair will be fine for a while and will help you learn to maintain them properly, without the worry of ruining a nice new pair of expensive skis if you get it wrong.

Ski carriage isnt really much of a cost, especially if you use mainstream airlines like BA etc... (they do it free). As for choice of ski i'd choose the Head pair. Don't really know much about any of the 3 but have heard that the Head Xenons are pretty good!