TiffAlt
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Preface: I know this is probably going to sound very silly, but I still feel like I've bought "too much ski". Or maybe not the right ski for what I want. Or feel free to tell me it's me, not the ski, because it may be since I basically fell deeply in love with skiing this Thanksgiving and try to get in at least a half day twice a week - usually open to close on weekends. Basically, I may be letting my neuroses get the best of me.
Stats: 40 years old, 5'2 ish (maaaaybe slightly shorter, 5' 1 and a half) 110 pounds.
I have the Blizzard Pearl 88 in 147 and I do think they are a good ski. They really allowed me to go fast with a ton more confidence than I had on my rentals (Rossi Exp 78 @ 136). However, I want to learn speed control and graduate to carving before I will feel 100% comfortable charging again without anxiety (though yea, it's fun). At the slower speeds that I've been doing with my instructor to really get the mechanics down, they feel like... well... planks.
So I've started to think I need another ski with a smaller waist and LIGHTER. I've been looking at my options to demo. They're kinda sparse since they seem to mostly demo 90MM and up here in the PNW, even for women, but I've found a few options.
Skis I know I'll be able to demo:
2023 Volkl Yumi 84 @ 154 ***
Rossi Exp 82 Basalt W @ 151
Salomon Stance 80 W @151
Head Kore 85 W @ 156
K2 Alliance 85 @ 156
^^^ Notes:
Most of these are not lightweight though. I'm also biased towards 80 - 84 waist, but beggars can't be choosers, right? With exception of the Yumi, I'd be demoing the rest when I got to Mt Bachelor in April.
Skis I really like the specs of based on soothski.com, but I can't find to demo:
Head Total Joy @153
Armada Reliance 82 Ti @ 150
Nordica Santa Ana 84 @ 151 (or the next size up since these have a lot of rocker and less effective edge)
^^^ Notes:
These all have specs I really like including being lighter than my current BPs according to the site.
The only ski that I CAN find to demo and I really like the specs on is the Yumi, which I highlighted and am demoing this Saturday. I know exactly the year on it too, so that's why I included it on that one. Crystal has their demo fleet for sale as they are getting new skis in, so I could technically buy it from them with the demo bindings for around $560. I do not know the condition as I haven't seen them in person and am not sure what I'd need to look for, but they are 2023, how bad could they be? It's not likely to be a commonly reserved size right?
OK THIS IS THE ACTUAL QUESTION FROM THE THREAD TITLE:
I can also find most of these skis as used demos in my size in varying condition and in varying years, most from powder7. Should I buy demos? What should I look out for if you think buying demos is a good idea? Powder7 has broad "conditions" on their demos. Do you have any other words of wisdom there? I'm attracted to it because I already spent a bundle on my BP 88s and I don't think I want to give them up? But if I'm adding to my quiver, I want it to be something lower priced. Apprehensive as to whether I'll actually love or hate the Yumis. And if I love them, damn, what if I bought them on the spot?
BTW, I TOTALLY need this shirt:
Stats: 40 years old, 5'2 ish (maaaaybe slightly shorter, 5' 1 and a half) 110 pounds.
I have the Blizzard Pearl 88 in 147 and I do think they are a good ski. They really allowed me to go fast with a ton more confidence than I had on my rentals (Rossi Exp 78 @ 136). However, I want to learn speed control and graduate to carving before I will feel 100% comfortable charging again without anxiety (though yea, it's fun). At the slower speeds that I've been doing with my instructor to really get the mechanics down, they feel like... well... planks.
So I've started to think I need another ski with a smaller waist and LIGHTER. I've been looking at my options to demo. They're kinda sparse since they seem to mostly demo 90MM and up here in the PNW, even for women, but I've found a few options.
Skis I know I'll be able to demo:
2023 Volkl Yumi 84 @ 154 ***
Rossi Exp 82 Basalt W @ 151
Salomon Stance 80 W @151
Head Kore 85 W @ 156
K2 Alliance 85 @ 156
^^^ Notes:
Most of these are not lightweight though. I'm also biased towards 80 - 84 waist, but beggars can't be choosers, right? With exception of the Yumi, I'd be demoing the rest when I got to Mt Bachelor in April.
Skis I really like the specs of based on soothski.com, but I can't find to demo:
Head Total Joy @153
Armada Reliance 82 Ti @ 150
Nordica Santa Ana 84 @ 151 (or the next size up since these have a lot of rocker and less effective edge)
^^^ Notes:
These all have specs I really like including being lighter than my current BPs according to the site.
The only ski that I CAN find to demo and I really like the specs on is the Yumi, which I highlighted and am demoing this Saturday. I know exactly the year on it too, so that's why I included it on that one. Crystal has their demo fleet for sale as they are getting new skis in, so I could technically buy it from them with the demo bindings for around $560. I do not know the condition as I haven't seen them in person and am not sure what I'd need to look for, but they are 2023, how bad could they be? It's not likely to be a commonly reserved size right?
OK THIS IS THE ACTUAL QUESTION FROM THE THREAD TITLE:
I can also find most of these skis as used demos in my size in varying condition and in varying years, most from powder7. Should I buy demos? What should I look out for if you think buying demos is a good idea? Powder7 has broad "conditions" on their demos. Do you have any other words of wisdom there? I'm attracted to it because I already spent a bundle on my BP 88s and I don't think I want to give them up? But if I'm adding to my quiver, I want it to be something lower priced. Apprehensive as to whether I'll actually love or hate the Yumis. And if I love them, damn, what if I bought them on the spot?
BTW, I TOTALLY need this shirt:
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