Question: Assistance selecting new skis

[Aussie Ski Girl]

Hi Ladies,

Am new to this site and first would just like to say how wonderful it is to have a ski site run by and dedicated to women's skiing.

I am looking at purchasing some new skis for a trip I am taking to Japan. Will be my first pair of skis and wanting to purchase an all mountain ski that will work for japanese powder, trips to canada, local slush and New Zealand ice (if such a ski exists... I am probably asking for too much).

I am a 30 year old intermediate skier (hoping to keep improving), 5'11", 200lb. Only doing on-piste at this stage, but that might change with Japan, not sure. Having been looking at the Roxy Joyrider and the k2 Lotta luv. Most the reviews on this sight have been by shorter and lighter ladies so looking at getting some feedback for how these, or other skis would work for a heavier girl like me.

May Demo a few in japan before working out the right ones but assistance with a few recommendations to try would be really appreciated. Ski gear in Oz is quite expensive, along with hire and ski hire in Japan for six days is around $180US. Already have my boots purchased and ready to go so the skis will be the last purchase so thinking that purchasing might be the way to go this time around.

Thanks for all your help in advance

 

[Jillian]

Hi and welcome!

Yes ski gear in Oz is expensive, but I have also heard complaints about excess baggage charges for skis between Japan and Australia.
Will you be travelling to anywhere on a regular basis with occasional trips to the other destinations, or are you lucky enough to get to them all?
I would be inclined to seek out, as a first ski, one which best suits the places you ski the most and hire for the occasional different conditions.(I have happily used the same skis in Australia and Canada, but am not likely to sample off-piste in Japan any time soon.)
In Australia we do tend to use the one pair of skis regardless of the conditions!
Also you may like to look at unisex models for more choice especially in lengths.

Really helpful information will be posted soon by Divas far more wise than me!

 

[Aussie Ski Girl]

Thanks Jillian,
Currently we don't live near any ski fields in oz (living in the sunshine state) so we will have to travel either way, but will most likely be skiing in New Zealand and Australia more than the northern hemisphere. However in saying that my husband has the skiing bug and I love to travel so we may get up north more in the future.

From the research I have done, excess baggage isn't too bad with JAL (about $30) and even better if I pack really light on everything else.