jmfd84
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hi! I’m new to the forums - this is my first winter getting back into skiing at age 34 after skiing as a kid, snowboarding as a teenager, a little of both as a college student, followed by a 12-year hiatus. I’m looking to buy equipment this spring and I’m hoping for some input after my first demo experience yesterday.
I spent six days skiing in rental boots on Head rental skis at 160cm this winter. I’d describe myself as a mid-level intermediate who wants to ski more and advance. I live on the East Coast and ski on piste. 5’10”, 170lbs.
I should note that I was in a pair of demo boots that were the right size but had too much volume for the entire day, so I was able to move around too much in the boots. Unfortunately they didn’t have another demo boot option in my size.
I knew my mountain doesn’t have Blizzard skis so the Black Pearl 88 wasn't an option. I was hoping to try Volkl Yumi and a couple similar options based on the shop’s recommendations.
The shop rep was surprised I wanted to try the Yumis and called them a “high end” ski that “a lot of the female instructors wear.” I was a little thrown off as everything I’ve read suggested the Yumis are a solid intermediate ski.
She gave me Volkl Flair 78 Elite in 161cm as the first ski of the day. I had an awful time on them. I just couldn’t find the sweet spot - I could barely carve and the whole ski was vibrating. I assumed it was my skiing so kept them for probably 10 runs and it never got better. My dad (lifelong expert skier) was with me and said it was some of my worst skiing this season. He's been skiing with me this season and I appreciated his observation that confirmed my experience!
A different rep helped me for skis #2 and #3. The second ski they recommended I try was a “step up” from the first - Volkl Flair 81 Carbon in 163cm. These were immediately better - I was more stable and back to turning well. But the tips were bouncing a lot and I didn’t love them.
Third and final ski of the day was Head Super Joys in 163cm. I said I liked the Flair 81 but wanted to try a different manufacturer since the first two skis were both Volkl. I felt the best on the Super Joys after just a couple turns. Turning and being on edge was easy in these. No more tips bouncing. Observation from Dad was that I was skiing the best in these - like I had been skiing other days this season.
What’s confusing me is that the Flair 86 and Super Joys are both described as great skis for more advanced, faster and aggressive skier types. I would use exactly none of those adjectives to describe my skiing. I’m wondering if I liked stiffer advanced skis at the 163cm length but perhaps I should try a longer (168?) intermediate ski.
Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!
I spent six days skiing in rental boots on Head rental skis at 160cm this winter. I’d describe myself as a mid-level intermediate who wants to ski more and advance. I live on the East Coast and ski on piste. 5’10”, 170lbs.
I should note that I was in a pair of demo boots that were the right size but had too much volume for the entire day, so I was able to move around too much in the boots. Unfortunately they didn’t have another demo boot option in my size.
I knew my mountain doesn’t have Blizzard skis so the Black Pearl 88 wasn't an option. I was hoping to try Volkl Yumi and a couple similar options based on the shop’s recommendations.
The shop rep was surprised I wanted to try the Yumis and called them a “high end” ski that “a lot of the female instructors wear.” I was a little thrown off as everything I’ve read suggested the Yumis are a solid intermediate ski.
She gave me Volkl Flair 78 Elite in 161cm as the first ski of the day. I had an awful time on them. I just couldn’t find the sweet spot - I could barely carve and the whole ski was vibrating. I assumed it was my skiing so kept them for probably 10 runs and it never got better. My dad (lifelong expert skier) was with me and said it was some of my worst skiing this season. He's been skiing with me this season and I appreciated his observation that confirmed my experience!
A different rep helped me for skis #2 and #3. The second ski they recommended I try was a “step up” from the first - Volkl Flair 81 Carbon in 163cm. These were immediately better - I was more stable and back to turning well. But the tips were bouncing a lot and I didn’t love them.
Third and final ski of the day was Head Super Joys in 163cm. I said I liked the Flair 81 but wanted to try a different manufacturer since the first two skis were both Volkl. I felt the best on the Super Joys after just a couple turns. Turning and being on edge was easy in these. No more tips bouncing. Observation from Dad was that I was skiing the best in these - like I had been skiing other days this season.
What’s confusing me is that the Flair 86 and Super Joys are both described as great skis for more advanced, faster and aggressive skier types. I would use exactly none of those adjectives to describe my skiing. I’m wondering if I liked stiffer advanced skis at the 163cm length but perhaps I should try a longer (168?) intermediate ski.
Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!