Buying skis without demo?

[BlizzardBabe]

I had great experience with20/21 BP88/159. I’m 64, 5’5” 140, advanced skier. My daughter 24, 5’4” 125 has appropriated tgem. She is more advanced. You cannot go wrong w BP88, most popular ski ever. The design changes year to year but it is a perennial favorite with good resale value. I’ve had good experience w powder7 and skiessentials for used and new skis. At your size and an intermediate you prob want to be in the 150s. OTOH if you liked the Yumis why not go with them. OTOH I found they did not have as much edge hold as I’d like on East coast “firm” back 10 years ago when I demo’d them. They are a popular ski, but BP88 is the popular-ist! Must be for a reason.

I have to agree re the Yumi and the BP. I've found (albeit it was several years ago) that the Yumi is not great on eastern ice. I had a free demo last year (in Steamboat) so I tried the BP 88 and really liked it. I prefer the Volkl Blaze for my own reasons, but I could happily ski the BP 88 in its newest iteration.

I should add, FYI, that I'll be 65 on Sunday!!!!! Happy B'day to me! I'm 150lbs, 5'6", advanced, and I don't ski longer than 160. I also will only go wider than 86/88 if there is substantial snow. My knees aren't getting any younger and I'm not willing to over-stress them in "ordinary" conditions. I now have the Blaze 94 for deeper conditions and I don't envision ever going wider unless we're talking 12 inches plus --- in which case I'll rent.

 

[AJM]

I have to agree re the Yumi and the BP. I've found (albeit it was several years ago) that the Yumi is not great on eastern ice. I had a free demo last year (in Steamboat) so I tried the BP 88 and really liked it. I prefer the Volkl Blaze for my own reasons, but I could happily ski the BP 88 in its newest iteration.

I should add, FYI, that I'll be 65 on Sunday!!!!! Happy B'day to me! I'm 150lbs, 5'6", advanced, and I don't ski longer than 160. I also will only go wider than 86/88 if there is substantial snow. My knees aren't getting any younger and I'm not willing to over-stress them in "ordinary" conditions. I now have the Blaze 94 for deeper conditions and I don't envision ever going wider unless we're talking 12 inches plus --- in which case I'll rent.

Happy Birthday !!!
Your requirements are pretty much the same as mine, I did ski my Mindbenders (85) yesterday in NZ pow (read can be pretty funky) and they were ok but took a lot of effort so I'll be reconsidering for next season may be something just a teeeny bit burlier but not a whole lot.

 

[scandium]

I'd be inclined towards a newer/stiffer BP88 in terms of edge hold on the harder snow.

 

[tinymoose]

I don't really feel that the Yumi and current rendition of the BP are friends, let alone neighbors. The BP is much stiffer and more piste oriented than the Yumi (at least in the 23-24 lineup). Turn tables weaving or something...

 

[Cygnet]

For a given ski model how do you chose ski length without demoing?? Whilst mainstream advice is to choose length based on ability and height I suspect many people are then between sizes.... Should we measure our height in socks or ski boots? The difference could be significant and make a difference to the size one chooses...

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I have a general size I stick with but for me up or down a size often doesn't matter much as we're only talking about an inch or maybe 2 anyway. Many variables such as rocker, width and the skis intended purpose. Have just as much fun on my 158cm Nordica Santa Ana 93s as I do on my 167 Stockli Stormrider Moron 85s

 

[AJM]

For a given ski model how do you chose ski length without demoing?? Whilst mainstream advice is to choose length based on ability and height I suspect many people are then between sizes.... Should we measure our height in socks or ski boots? The difference could be significant and make a difference to the size one chooses...

As a general guide for a Powder ski you'd want to be going longer, a true Carver you'd go shorter and for an All Mtn somewhere in the middle. It all depends on the running length (the length of ski that is actually on the snow) of the ski ... for example my Sheeva 9's were 162 and my Black Pearls were 159 but my Sheeva's had a shorter running length due to the tip and tail rocker even though they are a longer ski.
I'm 165cm (5'5" ish) and my go to lengths are in the high 150's - to low 160's and I base my comparisions on what I've previously skied and enjoyed ie the 159 BP's and make my decisions based on that.

This is a great website to compare running lengths of various ski's that I have used a lot to help me make buying decisions

Sooth Ski - Alpine Ski Comparison

Compare alpine skis with independent measured information. Get professional ski fitting. Ski data with bending and torsional stiffness.

soothski.com

Again reading reviews is also a great help as often the reviewer will mention that a particular model ski's short in which case you might consider going longer in that ski.

Oh and you base it on your actual height rather than our height in ski boots x

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I generally go shorter if hard pack and ice and longer if a powder ski. I also appreciate a shorter ski for their maneuverability so sometimes I'll go shorter for a fatter ski as they are easier in bumps or trees. Examples of these skis for me are my Santa Ana 93s (158) and Volkl Blaze 106 (161). All depends on the ski, it's purpose and how much rocker they have.

 

[marzNC]

For a given ski model how do you chose ski length without demoing?? Whilst mainstream advice is to choose length based on ability and height I suspect many people are then between sizes.... Should we measure our height in socks or ski boots? The difference could be significant and make a difference to the size one chooses...

It helps if you can use a length that is comfortable for snow conditions you ski more often as a starting point. When someone is picking a length for rental skis, skis are held up next to someone in street shoes. For a friend who is an intermediate, I look to see if the skis are about at nose height. If they are advanced, then may go longer but depends on snow conditions and the width of the skis.

Note that weight is also a factor when it comes to the optimal length.

Ski design in terms of the amount of tip and tail rocker makes a difference too. When both the tip and tail are far off the snow, a longer length can be good in order to have more edge on the snow in front and in back of the boots.

 

[scandium]

For a given ski model how do you chose ski length without demoing?? Whilst mainstream advice is to choose length based on ability and height I suspect many people are then between sizes.... Should we measure our height in socks or ski boots? The difference could be significant and make a difference to the size one chooses...

Ability, height...but also weight, preferred skiing style, ski profile, and location. My height is 158cm and weight around 125lb. My piste skis are 150cm which was a deliberate downsize from my previous 155cm and makes sense for skiing on hard-packed man-made snow on narrow pistes with a flat tail and minimal tip rocker. However, I am likely to go up in length to a ski in either the high 150s or low-mid 160s if I get a wide, rockered ski for a powder day in Japan!