First luv, Secret Luv, True Luv, One Luv???? help...

[Xymenah]

Hi,
I am new to the forum and new to skiing. I am looking for some advice on buying my first pair of downhill skis.

Background : I am 5'1 and 1/4" and am about 115-120lbs. I have just learned to ski down hill for the first time this season. My hubby is teaching me. I have been out on the local mountain 3 times and am already doing flat blue runs without any problems. My hubby said he was very impressed with how fast I am learning. I have naturally good balance. I live in BC Canada in the lower mainland region and the 3 closest local hills are Cypress, Grouse and Seymour.

So far I have only been to Cypress. I have my own boots and poles that I just bought and am looking for skis. The shop guy originally suggested first luvs as I am new to skiing but after reading the forum a bit I would like an intermediate ski since I am already on blue runs that will do well in the conditions over here. We have had some nice snow and some very not so nice snow lately. Some really hardpacked shiney almost ice like stuff which I like better then the slushy melted snowcone like stuff. I have been mainly skiing at night to avoid the crowds as i am learning.

I will most likely stay with these mountains and probably occaisionally go up to whistler or the interior mountains at somepoint but that will be a much more expensive trip and would be planned for and not be the usual. I have been reading the back and forth info on the true luv and the one luv and am wondering if anyone on here could offer me advice on these. Especially with knowledge of the hills or area of mention and snow conditions.

The skis have I been renting are salomens I think as that is just what they keep giving me and were 146s I really liked that shorter length. I dont have a long leg and I dont like to go fast I like to take is easy and do lots of turning as I go down the slopes. These rental skis were heavy and once I had been skiing for awhile my legs would get tired and I would then start having trouble with my turns then it would be break time so something a little lighter might be a nice. Same with something that turns well.

Anyway thank you in advance for all the advice and I really love this forum.

 

[Jilly]

Welcome to our world. Rental skis are notoriusly heavy. They are made to last through the rental period. So your own skis will be lighter. I agree on moving up a ski. I'm not up on K2 but there are many here that are. Which shop are you dealing with Coast Mountain??
I hope Hubby is a ski instructor. If not spend some money on a CSIA certified instructor. It's worth money.
Man I'd love to live where you do. You have us Ontario diva's green with envy.

 

[gr8outdoors]

I have been skiing for 4 years and the last 3 have been on my K2 First Luv's. I just upgraded to a more advanced ski yesterday. Last season I began skiing the blacks at my local hill (in Western New York) and have not had any problems with the First Luv - also had been skiing the blue trails when I first purchased them. I am not familiar with the conditions in your area, but here we have a fair amount of ice, but usually packed powder. If you can, demo a ski prior to purchasing. That is what was recommended to me here recently. I followed that advice and did not end up purchasing another K2 ski (which I really figured I would be doing) because I found another ski I loved! Hope this helps!

Sherry

 

[Xymenah]

Well my hubby isnt a ski instructor though he could be if he wanted to be and didnt want to lose his nice paying computer job. His mum and his aunt both were ski instructors at one point as well as ski patrol. He has been skiing since he was 4 and is a good teacher and so far I have not had any problems. His mum was with us skiing for a little bit on saturday and said I was doing quite well. I will take that into consideration though in the future as I get more into it. I got my boots at Sportchek and it was just something the guy mentioned when i was taking a general look at skis. I would agree demoing would be a good idea but I have never seen anything to demo at the hills when I am up there but I havent been up a lot and might be done for the season as I am rounding up my semester in school and it is really really crazy and also it is expensive with me renting. I have heard some good things about K2s which was why I was interested. Thanks for all the advice so far and to anyone else who decides to answer my original post. I am just learning all of this and am doing my research. I dont fully understand how the ratings on skis work yet or anything or even know what our normal conditions out here are supposed to be like. But I am here to learn and I am sure you can all help me with that. Thanks again

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Here is the hierarchy of the "Luvs" (most advanced down to beginner ski!)

I've skied for 38 years. I'm a big believer in the One Luv! GREAT all mountain ski and it can go REALLY fast! If you are a beginner, though, I would go for the First Luv or the True Luv.....you can grow into the True Luv!

Good Luck!

Phat Luv
Tough Luv
Lotta Luv
Burnin' Luv
One Luv
True Luv
Sweet Luv
First Luv
__________

 

[Xymenah]

hmm ok... I am just looking at the cost here and want to make sure that I can get something that I am not going to grow out of too fast. I dont want to have to be buying another set of skis in the next yr or something like that though it seems that this isnt always the case even with the first luv. I am wondering how well the true luv is for the conditions out here and how well they will grip a steep slope and a mix of snow types. It sounds like that might be where i want to go to start so I dont have to buy a new set so quickly and can grow into it but I am willing to weigh all my options. All your advice is awesome and much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I'm sorry that I can't help you with the conditions in your area. I don't know what the snow is like there. If it is icy, I'm not the Diva to be talking to....because I live here in Colorado and I don't ski on icy conditions that often.

My One Luvs are pretty good in all conditions, and while they are termed for a more "advanced/intermediate skier, they are a great ski....I just don't know how they would handle for a beginner.

Also, I think an even MORE important purchase is a FABULOUS boot! Make sure you spend the money on a very good boot and a boot fitting! You won't be sorry!

Good Luck!

 

[Xymenah]

Well I am not really sure what is normal around here. It seems it can be quite nice at times with some powedery stuff and normal snow also mixed with hardpacked snow that looks icy but i dont think it really considered ice. There is also sometimes a lot of junk at the lower end of the hills that is more like snowcones... wasnt fun... but that isnt all the time i am told. I did buy boots and I quite like them unless I am walking in them but I dont know anyone that would want to walk in them for a long time anyway... the only trouble I have with the boots is some pressure on the outside ball of my foot when I am doing sharp turns and when I am on the flat which i think is mainly because I am putting more pressure on that part or my foot when doing those things. I definatly want something that will do well on most conditions just incase. My hubby would probably know more specifically what is normal snow wise around here. I want a ski I can handle but grow into and not one that is too much. Thank you I really appreciate the advice. I will weigh the pros and cons and keep on researching I probably wont be making a decision just yet but I find it better to talk to people who have actually used the skis before then to just read what the manufacturer says.

 

[Solincia]

Questions... Are you carving on blue runs, or skiing flat?

I'd say if you're carving, go for the One Luv... if you're still skiing flat, or wedging at all, go for the True Luv.

My niece can ski blue runs pretty well, and it's her first season, but she still skis in a wedge style. I have every confidence she could ski down blacks at our hill, but she has to learn to carve her turns.

I'm with NVG, I have the One Luv's, although I just purchased this season. I only have a few days on them... but love them. I'm back skiing again after 11 year hiatus, so I wouldn't consider myself new, but I'm learning how these parabolic skis work.

 

[Xymenah]

I am not wedging as my hubby kinda said there is no point as I will keep doing it forever. He taught me how to carve the turns by following me and me following him so he could watch me. I learned how to 'skate' stop (i dont know if there is a real term for that) really fast. I have only done the blues once but it was pretty easy and he was totally impressed and that goes for everyone else who was with us who are way way way above my level. I am a fast learner but I will definatly be staying on the blue runs until I get that down and am happy with them before trying anything else. I do quite like the 146 length and would be probably tripping all over myself at a longer length. Thanks

 

[Solincia]

I'm going to say go for the One Luv then...

I was like you when I started skiing <back in eighth grade, I'm now 29>... I wedged for one lesson, then my sister through a fit, took me out skiing, and I was skiing blues parallel skiing and "hockey" stopping <I don't know the proper work either, that's just what I call it> by the end of the day. I was skiing blacks well by the end of the season. That was on straight skis though. Oddly enough, she hasn't skied in just as long as me and she went skiing a week ago on straight skis, and she did just fine. I kinda miss those ol' things. I know how they ski!

btw, there are lots of other brands out there to choose from, too! Just a thought!

 

[Jilly]

If you're dealing with Sportchek what out for their "house" skis. You may have noticed NVG's list. Secret luv and mystery luv were not on that list. If you can try a speciality ski shop. I don't know of any in the lower mainland - Van, Surrey or Abbotsford area. I do know of some at Whistler, but that's a drive.

 

[Xymenah]

Well it looks like I have a lot to learn about this stuff. I definitetly was disappointed in not being able to search out a specialty ski shop around here. I figured Whistler would have them but then that would also be very expensive and a nice 2 hr or so drive. However I know my hubby will be going up there late season with some friends sometime in April if things are still going well and if i find something I decide then I guess I can get him to look for me. I would definitely rather deal with a specialty store. I am definitely going to keep doing my research and make a pros and cons chart on the different skis that may work for me and go from there. Any suggestions on other brands and stuff that may also work would be also appreciated. You would think that we would have a specialty shop around here with skiing actually being a pretty big sport in the area at this time of year, that is very weird. Thanks again for all the advice I really do appreciated if very much. Going to continue to read through the forums to absorb as much info as possible.

 

[meowser]

Try Snowcovers in Kits. They are a great speciality ski shop and carry K2s. And the best boot fitters around as well.

I have the one luvs and ski them at the locals in vancouver and whistler. They are great!! I would go with them since it sounds like you are advancing quickly.

 

[Xymenah]

Thank you for the info. I will definately have to check out that shop as soon as I can get a weekend to get out there. Nice to hear from someone who uses these on the same hills as I think that is the best way to know that they will work in the snow and conditions around here. Much appreciated I will definitely check them out.