Building a Quiver

[mtnbikegirl]

Ok ladies....

Here's the assignment.

You're an intermediate skier with ambitions of becoming an advanced/expert skier. You have no skis right now (just an annual rental) and are looking to start buying your quiver. You have new boots that fit. What type of skis would you buy and in what order? (i.e. all mountain, groomer, midfat, etc). Conditions are...
Western ski slopes
powder available
solid 5-6 month ski season with possiblity of 50+ days/year

Thanks

 

[dloveski]

The addiction begins and the Divas are a very bad influence....your quiver will grow fast with these ladies egging you on.

No ski will do it all. Start with a goal of two skis, perhaps a groomer/carver and an all mountain or soft midfat ski (Sweet Fat Thangs or equivalent).

Be willing to try new skis, trading/selling what doesn't work as well for those skis you find that rock your world.

My quiver:

From left:

Solomon Pocket Rockets---for deep powder days, where there is not bottom and edging/carving does not matter a bit. Floating and planing and face shots are the thing.

Head Sweet Fat Thangs---for mixed days, when conditions are variable, with soft conditions, but some packed or hard conditions needing an edge and some bite, but with intent to float.

Atomic Sugar Mamas---for strictly groomer, hard pack days, when working on the carve turns and cruising. But versatile enough to handle mixed conditions, so these shaped skis have a shovel to tuck into the trees or traverse around. Kind of peppy.

Head Intelligence---my beater/rock/don't care what happens to them skis, for pre-season or late season stuff. Pretty stiff and need more aggression to ski.

WISH LIST: VOLKL AURAS---BECAUSE THE DIVAS LOVE THEM.

Pick a couple strategically for your expected ski conditions. And build from there. And ask Quiver Queen, who knows more about the gear.

 

[dloveski]

Oh, the Sweet Fat Thangs have a different graphic than the green/white florals. These are the same ski, just the previous year's graphics, and I got them new in a screaming deal. The bindings are A/T (heel release for hiking) leaving me options for b/c and long traverses.

 

[oragejuice]

Awww yay! It's like playing dress up! With skis!

Anyways!

Absolute groomer days/hardpack- Volkl Fuego

Powder days/Crud snow- Volkl AUUUUUURAAAA

Park/twintips- Volkl Pearl or K2 MissDemeanor

All mountain- 4FRNT MSP

Oh dear. I'm dreaming too much.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

More info requested.
1. Where do you primarily ski?
2. How long have you been skiing?
3. Describe your favorite run and why it's your favorite.
4. What are your primary goals for next season?
5. What "trips you up" and why do you think this happens?
6. What was the last ski you used (make/model/length) - what was good/bad/indifferent about it for you?

 

[volklgirl]

Awww yay! It's like playing dress up! With skis!

Anyways!

Absolute groomer days/hardpack- Volkl Fuego

Powder days/Crud snow- Volkl AUUUUUURAAAA

Park/twintips- Volkl Pearl or K2 MissDemeanor

All mountain- 4FRNT MSP

Oh dear. I'm dreaming too much.

No more dreaming!
"Just DO It!!!!!"
I like your dream quiver!

 

[volklgirl]

Ok ladies....

Here's the assignment.

You're an intermediate skier with ambitions of becoming an advanced/expert skier. You have no skis right now (just an annual rental) and are looking to start buying your quiver. You have new boots that fit. What type of skis would you buy and in what order? (i.e. all mountain, groomer, midfat, etc). Conditions are...
Western ski slopes
powder available
solid 5-6 month ski season with possiblity of 50+ days/year

Thanks

1. Goomer/Mid Fat - 74-85 waist with edge grip for all groomers and minimal pow/crud.
2. Mid Fat/Fat - 80-100+ waist for junky snow and pow.

These 2 should have minimal overlap and will probably cover 90% of western ski conditions. (Or you can just get the Aura and be covered for all but the very iciest and deepest pow days ).

For expert aspirations, go with "advanced" skis as an absolute minimum, otherwise they'll be out grown too quickly with that many ski days to improve. An additional consideration is bindings....will we be touring on these skis???

 

[mtnbikegirl]

More info requested.
1. Where do you primarily ski? Mostly groomers for now. My home mountain is Mt Bachelor.

2. How long have you been skiing? 20 days so far this season...probably another 10 or so. This is after a 10+ year hiatus.

3. Describe your favorite run and why it's your favorite. It's a narrow intermediate run with sides you can run up on. It's not too technical.

4. What are your primary goals for next season? I'd like to explore some of the steeper terrain. I had problems with intermediate/advanced terrain until I got new boots. What a world of difference.

5. What "trips you up" and why do you think this happens? Steeps with hard packed snow. I'm afraid that I'm going to lose my edge. I also have problems in powder cause I can't turn but that might be partly the ski...I was jonesing to take out a fatty after 26 inches of powder we got last week but alas it didn't work out. :(

6. What was the last ski you used (make/model/length) - what was good/bad/indifferent about it for you? I've got a season rental. Atomic Balanze 138 from 2005. It's been great for getting going again but I'd like to try something a little longer. I'm 5'2 and weigh 112.

I've loved reading everyone's input so far. I got a list of demos from the shop on the hill and will be trying some out this week.

And Volklgil...I probably won't be touring yet. But one never knows...perhaps after next season.

 

[Jilly]

You'll get lots of info on K2 and Volkl from the Diva's, so I'll chime in on a few others. Based on the info you've gave this would be my list:

Atomic - Sugar Mama, Sweet Mama or Foxy Mama(might be too stiff for your weight)
Salomon - Topaz or Origin
Rossi - Attraxion V

 

[volklgirl]

What are your options for demoing?

Do you have a list of available models and sizes? We may be able to help narrow that down for you, then give you other suggestions after you demo, based on what you loved or hated during your demo.

Oh, and definitely don't pass up the opportunity to demo some unisex skis if they have any in smallerish sizes.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Good answers provided above! If I were you, I'd be looking at what's termed (per Volklgirl) a western mid-fat. Take a look at this site for more interesting info. Demo always the best option, hands down.
https://www.skipressworld.com/SkiFi...=skifinder&type=skifinder&mode=&filter=&sort=

 

[oragejuice]

No more dreaming!
"Just DO It!!!!!"
I like your dream quiver!

Money. I know. I wish I could.

 

[mtnbikegirl]

Here's the demo list from the hill shop


K2
One Luv 160,167
Lotta Luv 153, 160, 167
Sweet Luv 146, 153,160,167
Phat Luv 153, 160, 167, 174
Nancy 159, 169
Tough Luv (not sure of the sizes)

Rossi
Attraxion 11 154, 162
Scratch Girl BC 150, 160
Bandit B78W 148, 158, 166
Bandit B83W 150, 160, 168

Salomon
Jewel Jade 156, 164, 172
Scarlet 154, 164

Volkl
Attiva Luna 149, 156, 163, 170
Attiva Tierra 149, 156, 163, 170
Aura 156, 163, 170, 177

Head
Wild Thang 149, 156, 163, 170
Every Thang 149, 156, 163, 170
Sweet Fat Thang 156, 166, 176


The unisex skis are all above 160 and I'm thinking I'm probably going to go between 145-155 (give or take a little) Demo deal is up to 3 per day but I can probably swing as many as I want...the mtn is dead during the week soo...

 

[mtnbikegirl]

Money. I know. I wish I could.

Ahhh...but dreaming is half the fun.

 

[mtnbikegirl]

You'll get lots of info on K2 and Volkl from the Diva's, so I'll chime in on a few others. Based on the info you've gave this would be my list:

Atomic - Sugar Mama, Sweet Mama or Foxy Mama(might be too stiff for your weight)
Salomon - Topaz or Origin
Rossi - Attraxion V

I'd love to try these out too...there's a shop in town that has the Sugar/Swett Mamas and the Salomons.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

That's an excellent list. Definitely should be something on it that you will love. Remember: your ski is the one that leaves you grinning from ear to ear! :D <like this!

Partial to the K2 Lotta Luv 153. Best choice for what you ski in that K2 line-up. GREAT Volkl choices. I'll let those experts put in their .02.

 

[mtnbikegirl]

Thanks for all the input. I did my first "demo" day. I tested the One Luv, Lotta Luv and Volkl Tierra...The Lotta Luv is the top of the list. I'm trying to decide if I should keep trying some different skis or just try to find my size.

 

[volklgirl]

Keep trying! Then you'll know for sure you'v found "your" ski, and you won't be wondering a month down the road if you should have tried other stuff. (I tried 16 skis this year before I bought the Aura!)