I've been skiing on K2 Superburnin skis length is 153 for the past 10 years. I need new skis. I have slowed down as I've aged (66 and 5'3") and can't turn as quickly. I ski in New England and have been going to Colorado for a week as well so lots of different snow conditions. I ski blue and black trails. I tested the Dynastar Ecross 88 and liked the ski (I was able to turn quicker and was able to do some small mogul runs and soft snow without problem) but am concerned about going shorter to 150 or longer to 158. My local ski shop recommended the Elan Ripstick 154 and I can get a good deal if I get 2024 skis rather then 2025. Are these skis comparable? Will I notice a difference? Or, since I haven't been on skis since March, will it not really make a difference?
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Help Needed: best ski to buy?
- Thread starter fsavage
- Start date
VickiK
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hello and welcome, @fsavage . Just some notes:
- The 153cm K2 Superburnin ski has a 121-72-106 sidecut and an 11m turning radius. It's definitely a front side side carver. Plus, I read that it is an expert level ski, with a full-sidewall, metal-reinforced, wood-core. It sounds pretty stiff, which I like.
- Dynastar Ecross 88 has a 134-87-116 sidecut, and a 13m turning radius.
- Elan Ripstick 154 sidecut is 131-94-107, 14m turning radius. With its wider waist and larger turning radius, this ski will not be as easy to turn as the Dynastar or the K2. I've heard the Elans are on the softer side in terms of stiffness; maybe the sales logic is that the softness makes them easier to turn, despite the wider waist?
I bet the Elan would be a big adjustment going from the K2's. I'm not an expert, and not a sales person, but I'd look at other skis. Lots of good sales these days.
- The 153cm K2 Superburnin ski has a 121-72-106 sidecut and an 11m turning radius. It's definitely a front side side carver. Plus, I read that it is an expert level ski, with a full-sidewall, metal-reinforced, wood-core. It sounds pretty stiff, which I like.
- Dynastar Ecross 88 has a 134-87-116 sidecut, and a 13m turning radius.
- Elan Ripstick 154 sidecut is 131-94-107, 14m turning radius. With its wider waist and larger turning radius, this ski will not be as easy to turn as the Dynastar or the K2. I've heard the Elans are on the softer side in terms of stiffness; maybe the sales logic is that the softness makes them easier to turn, despite the wider waist?
I bet the Elan would be a big adjustment going from the K2's. I'm not an expert, and not a sales person, but I'd look at other skis. Lots of good sales these days.
marzNC
Angel Diva
Welcome! Agree with the earlier post noting that width underfoot and turn radius are important factors to consider.
I'm a few inches shorter, 110 pounds, and a few years older. Had K2 OneLuv that I bought deliberately short about 15 years ago when I was an intermediate mostly skiing with my daughter as she learned to ski (ages 4-8). As we skied more, I got skis that were 75 underfoot initially. Have since become a solid advanced skier. Now I use 2018 Volkl Yumis, 123/84/104, R 12.9, 147cm, for eastern skiing. My all-mountain skis that I take out west are 85 underfoot and 159cm.
The old K2 skis had marketing lengths that were a bit confusing. The OneLuvs I had were called 142cm but were actually 149cm long.
I'm a few inches shorter, 110 pounds, and a few years older. Had K2 OneLuv that I bought deliberately short about 15 years ago when I was an intermediate mostly skiing with my daughter as she learned to ski (ages 4-8). As we skied more, I got skis that were 75 underfoot initially. Have since become a solid advanced skier. Now I use 2018 Volkl Yumis, 123/84/104, R 12.9, 147cm, for eastern skiing. My all-mountain skis that I take out west are 85 underfoot and 159cm.
The old K2 skis had marketing lengths that were a bit confusing. The OneLuvs I had were called 142cm but were actually 149cm long.
Thanks for the information. The Elan Ripstick version I was looking at are the 88s, not the 94s so I think they are closer to the Ecross 88. I should have also added that I weigh about 130. Not sure how much a difference the 88s will make for comparison. I did see some good reviews of the 88. I do know I will need to make some adjustments to my ski technique. I'm hoping to ski in more powder (3 to 5" would be nice) since I haven't been comfortable in deeper powder but that might change with new skis.
tinymoose
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
My personal opinion is I would not buy the Ripstick 88s without trying them. I tried them a few years ago and did not like them... at all. They just skied very oddly for me. They also didn't have great edge hold on scraped off terrain here in PA. I haven't tried the Dynastar Ecross so can't speak to how it compares to the Ripstick.
Some other popular options, that I liked better than the Ripstick as far as all-mountain skis, are and the years I demoed were:
Nordica Wild Belle 84 (turniest of these 3) - 21/22 model
Volkl Yumi 84 (most all-mountain/least groomer focused/best in bumps) - 21/22 model
Blizzard Black Pearl 88 (stiffest, best carver/edge hold of the 3) - 22/23 model
Granted there may have been changes since I tried them so take that all with a grain of salt. Anyone feel free to correct the above if there's been major design changes since I tried them.
https://soothski.com/ is a great site as far as a ski comparison tool
My stats: 5'1", 105 lbs, advanced skier, 45 yrs old
Some other popular options, that I liked better than the Ripstick as far as all-mountain skis, are and the years I demoed were:
Nordica Wild Belle 84 (turniest of these 3) - 21/22 model
Volkl Yumi 84 (most all-mountain/least groomer focused/best in bumps) - 21/22 model
Blizzard Black Pearl 88 (stiffest, best carver/edge hold of the 3) - 22/23 model
Granted there may have been changes since I tried them so take that all with a grain of salt. Anyone feel free to correct the above if there's been major design changes since I tried them.
https://soothski.com/ is a great site as far as a ski comparison tool
My stats: 5'1", 105 lbs, advanced skier, 45 yrs old
scandium
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
If you are keen on the mid-80s all mountain ski in a mid-150s length there are plenty of options - the Volkl Yumi 84 might be a bit soft for you in the 154 although the more recent version is supposedly stiffer (my mother finds the 2019 version too soft/flappy at times and is a similar age to you, 115lb and 5'4")
My thought was maybe the newer Kenja/Secret 88 or Mindbender 89Ti would suit what you are after, or if the Ecross 88 has more rocker the 158 may have a similar or shorter effective edge compared to your current ski and you won't need to worry about the length change.
marzNC
Angel Diva
In general, when moving to a more current design for skis having a lesson or two can be useful. Especially for someone who has been skiing long enough to have been making parallel turns on straight skis. My primary ski buddy was a very good skier back in high school in the late 1960s. Took a while for him to decide that lesson(s) could be helpful. It's been very interesting to watch his approach evolve so that he can use his all-mountain skis more efficiently everywhere on the mountain while still being able to do wedeln turns on groomers.
Having more tip rocker does make it more fun to ski fresh snow in the 4" range. I found that to be true when I was still an adventurous intermediate on the skis I had that were 127/75/108 with a short turn radius @154cm, with tip and tail rocker. That's what I bought off eBay after demo'ing when it became obvious that the K2 OneLuvs weren't really the best fit for me at the time. I had a good time skiing those skis in up to 8" of powder in Utah a few times.
mustski
Angel Diva
I have stats pretty similar to you - 65yrs, 5’2” and 133 lbs. I second the recommendation for the Kenja as it is on the stiffer side. Since you are used to a stiffer, damp ski, it is probably better to stick with that. The Kenja is not as maneuverable as some other skis though. If you are looking for something more floaty for powder, I think any of the newer skis will satisfy that requirement. The rocker technology has made most skis friendlier. My current favorite ski is the Fischer Ranger 84. Since I bought it, nothing else comes out of the garage. It is very nimble and agile but still nice and damp. I haven’t tried it in deep powder (and probably wouldn’t) but it was great in a few inches of set up fresh and in spring crud and it carves beautifully. I am a terrible mogul skied but the Ranger makes me feel competent. There is no change between the 23/24 model and the 24/25 model and the only difference between women’s and men’s is graphics.
if you can demo some skis before buying, that is always better.
if you can demo some skis before buying, that is always better.
Well, I'm going to throw this out there. You're used to a carving ski (75 underfoot). My daily driver here in the east is even narrower at 68. Love the edge hold on it. But my ski, a tuned down race ski will be too much for you.
Our Diva's, love their wider skis. I find anything wider than 82 is too hard on my knees. Yours maybe different. And you won't know until you ride them consecutive days.
So I have some suggestions;
Rossi Nova 10 - on piste carver (close to what you have been on, 75 with 130 tip)
Rossi Experience 76, 78, 82? - more all mountain
Rossi Forza 50 - on piste carver
Blizzard Brahma 82 -all mountain, loved this ski out west
I have not had a opportunity to demo in a couple of years. So I'm not in tune with much that is out there except what I have tried (Rossi) and ridden (Brahma)
Our Diva's, love their wider skis. I find anything wider than 82 is too hard on my knees. Yours maybe different. And you won't know until you ride them consecutive days.
So I have some suggestions;
Rossi Nova 10 - on piste carver (close to what you have been on, 75 with 130 tip)
Rossi Experience 76, 78, 82? - more all mountain
Rossi Forza 50 - on piste carver
Blizzard Brahma 82 -all mountain, loved this ski out west
I have not had a opportunity to demo in a couple of years. So I'm not in tune with much that is out there except what I have tried (Rossi) and ridden (Brahma)
Trailside Trixie
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm not sure if this is too advanced of a ski for you or not, others can chime in on that one. I love my Head Super Joy's. They are 75 underfoot and have a wider'ish shovel so they always surprise me when conditions are a little mixed. They are an amazing ski that so far has handled everything I've put it through. Obviously not a powder ski but for an average southern vermont day they hold their own.
BlizzardBabe
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I demo'd the Ripstick 88's (and another Elan ski) last year and didn't care for them. The "softer" flex allowed the ski to be pushed around in the chop. This is one ski that I wouldn't buy w/o trying them first. I've purchased other skis based on reviews and just knowing what I like, but I would've been blindsided by this one. It just didn't perform the way I expected it to based on reviews and input from other skiers.
FYI, I'm 65, 150, 5'6", advanced. I prefer a ski in the high 150's w/a "narrower" waist (e.g., 86) than is popular right now. My favorite ski for the last 4 years has been the Volkl Blaze 86. I bought some used Liberty skis at the end of last season that are a 75 underfoot. I hope to get a lot of use out of them on "drill" days. I also have the Stolkli MX Laser which has a 67 waist -- very fun front side carver, but a one trick pony for sure.
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