Help Me Pick Some New Skis

[jyl]

Last year I returned to downhill skiing after 8+ years off. I spent the year on the bunny hill teaching my daughter, but now she's a the point where I'll be able to do semi-serious skiing more often.

So, naturally, I'm thinking of upgrading my equipment. After all, I'm going to be a worse skier than I used to be - I'm 15 years older and don't have the time to ski 30 days a year anymore. So it seems only fair that I get some technological assistance.

My current skis are among the last of the old-style straight-sided (conventional sidecut) skis, K2 "Extreme" in 195cm. These were K2's "all-mountain expert" ski back in the day.

What I wanted then, and still want now, are skis that will (1) hold fast medium-radius carved turns on steep slopes, (2) be quick-turning and not too stiff for the bumps, (3) be at least passable in crud, and (4) be tolerably stable at higher speed, but needn't be a GS ski or an autopilot cruiser.

I "think" this means that I want today's version of the "all-mountain" ski. After some reading, I'm thinking about the Volkl SuperStar 5 and 6.

Can anyone give me some advice? Do you ski the Volkls, or another ski that would meet my needs, that you can recommend? What ski length should I consider (I'm 200# and used to be a good skiier, hopefully I'll work my way back to "decent").

P.S. They have to look good on a 911 too.

[badcar]

Volkl 5 stars are great. Don't own them, but have skied them at various demo events. Being in the ski business, I can have my choice of product to ski on and I chose the Dynastar Legend 8000s. They are orange....so they might clash with the car....

[CamB]

I tried a few different skis while away over Christmas (one of the advantages of renting). Mostly I stuck to GS skis (like the Rossignol 9X), but they are pretty heavy and only average at short turns/bumps. Specificly with the 9X "Oversize", I thought it was fine in powder, but crud was not especially easy. Other people I was with had Bandits and they thought they were great. Mind you, I like going fast and not turning much (I'm lazy).

Tried a Volkl GS ski. It was... purposeful. This is another way of saying it was only any good for GS (but it was very good). At the other extreme, I tried some Stockli Snakes (a twin tip ski). Absolutely hilarious fun in powder/crud, absolutely scary at speed and on hard surfaces.

[stomachmonkey]

Second that, I've skied Volkl's for 20 years and don't think I'd ever switch.

But then again ski technology is so good these days you could hardly go wrong.

Check your local shop and see what "demos" they have to rent, costs a bit more but it's better than making a costly poor choice.

Mountains have lots of brands to demo as well and you have the ability to grab one set, make a couple of runs and swap em for another set.

That way you can try a few at the same time and get a real comparison.

Wait till the summer or fall and grab what you like from last years leftover stock at firesale prices.

Scott

[rcm]

GO with 5 Stars, I am a little biased as I work there. However, haveing tested a few skis here and there, you will not be un-happy. Don't forget about a new pair of Tecnica boots to go with them.

[badcar]

Rick,
What do you do for Volkl/Tec...?
I buy for TSA...

[SLO-BOB]

Buddy of mine lived on those extreems for years-loved them. He now skiis Line. However, on his last trip to Snowbird he demoed Rossi BanditIIIs. Despite being wide and short, he said they were amazingly versitile. He was skiing with some friends of his who were judging some a mogul competition in Deer Valley. They use the B3s and pretty much shred anything with them.

Just food for thought. I guess I would demo and then buy. I do LOVE Technica boots.

[304065]

Atomic Beta CarvX 9.18

[JSDSKI]

Try them all before you buy...but definitely try Fischer. You'll want an All Mountain Cruiser or Expert. Fischer Rx9 (109 shovel, 69 waist, 96 tail) is a "bigger" turn All Mountain Expert ski and the Rx8 (115-66-98) is a bit tighter turning - probably better for your comeback. Probably want something between a 170 - 180cm. Shorter is better these days. You're going to want new boots too because the skis nowadays need different input - stiffer side to side and softer forward pressure... Take some lessons - the new sidecut designs respond to a different technique then when you last skied seriously.

[cegerer]

The 5 Star is awesome. This is me, demo'ing them last year at Beaver Creek:



Porsche has a re-skinned version of the Volkl 5 Star that pops up on eBay frequently. Year old, but brand new versions, with Marker Motion bindings usually go for $400-$500:


I bought this used set for around $100 (based on the P50):



But as Scott mentioned, it is VERY difficult to go wrong these days. I've demo'd a couple of dozen skis over the past few years and really haven't found one that I don't like. The trick is to buy short enough skis! I'm down to 177 now and will probably go to a 173 or so next time around.

[North Coast Cab]

I've got a set of Salomon Crossmax 10's and I love them. I'd definitely get a set with the integrated bindings. If you haven't skied in 8 years anything new and shaped will be great.

John

[rcm]

Badcar,
Warranty for our big three, plus over see Nordica, Elan, Dolomite, Nitro.

[jyl]

O Yeah those "Porsche" skis look great! I suppose there is such as thing as taking the Porsche-love too far, but they would look good on the 911 . . .

Thanks for the advice everyone, and especially about the boots. I hadn't thought about changes in boots. Maybe my old Rossignol boots will have to go. I do need a cant adjustment in the cuffs, because I am naturally knock-knee'd, but I imagine that's a common feature nowadays?

[cegerer]

Yeah, boots have improved as much as the skis. No need to wear those ultra-stiff racing boots anymore. A good all-mountain boot will do everything one needs (short of all-out racing) and be comfortable all day and you won't even need to unbuckle at lunch. Boots are much tougher to demo, but the need to demo is greater than skis. It just seems there are certain boot brands that fit certain feet and those that don't. I've been a Lange person forever. So, if there's a boot you've always skied, chances are the new versions will probably fit too.

[SLO-BOB]

I was a Lange guy too. Seemed like something changed in the late eighties. I then switched to Technica. Love 'em! I bought a pair of Nordica GPs when I broke my Technicas on a hard landing (stuck it though, the ski headed for base with the bottom half of the boot still in the binding) . The Nordicas felt great in the shop, but killed me on the slopes.

Demo!!

[JSDSKI]

John - if you're knock-kneed its more likely you should be fitted with a custom footbed. This will recenter your knee over your foot and give a full range of edge to edge transition. Adjusting the cuff won't change the relationship of your hip, leg, knee, and foot to the sweet spot on the ski - it just centers the cuff around the lower leg. If the lower leg is at an angle (knock kneed) to the ski - you are still going to be riding the inside edge. Go to a real bootfitter, spend the extra bucks, and your skiing will be easier and more improved than you can imagine.

Actually, you should probably get new boots fitted first so your physical alignment doesn't affect your ski choice.... you can make a poor ski work with great fitting boots. But even a great ski will feel like crap with poorly fit boots.

[}{arlequin]

I'm loyal to Rossis but lately every brand has gone into the hourglass shape and I'm not a big fan. It feels like it's hard to go straight. The shape skis seem to wander all over the place (like tramlining tires) and *want* to turn by themselves. While good for some, it's irritating to keep fighting the skis just to go straight. I can do my own turns, thanks.

So I'd recommend finding something w/ as little sidecut as possible, if you can. As for stability, 195 used to be right on, but now w/ new technology all the skis are getting shorter, almost taking the skill out of it. A modern 185 is probably as stable as your 195cm.

BTW, anyone (that lives near mountains) know a well-stocked retailer for Spyder pants?

[cegerer]

Dave, I'd say you might have a boot alignment problem that is causing the skis not to run flat or you need to modify your technique slightly. I know I was accustomed to pressuring conventional stiff old-style race skis to 'de-chamber' them. It took a while to learn to be much more smooth, just tilt the skiis on edge and steer with both feet rather than just turning with a heavily pressured outside ski. Also, some of the very first shaped-skis I tried (8-9 years ago) tended to wander a bit at high speed, but there should be none of that with today's skis. OTOH, as long as you're having fun, who cares?

[PeteBrown]

Salomon XScream Pilot Hots are fun and I just picked up a pair of
Atomic R:EX that are an all round fun and crud ski.

[jcwade]

Free your heel, free your mind. Try Telemark.

john