First time ski buyer -afraid I made mistake

[Brooklyn Skier]

Hellow ladies, I have been skiing for 9 years. I have always used rentals. I live in NYC and go skiing in PA, upstate NY and Vermont. the past few years I would only go for 1 or 2 holiday extended weekends. I stay on the slopes from dawn till dusk. I would define myself as a lower level intermediate and occasionally winds up on harder terrain after completing all the blues and sometimes just by wrong turn. My problem has always been lack of friends to go skiing. I have a car and and plan to go skiing more often now that I bought my own boots and skiis. I'm excited about this but afraid I got talked into purchasing a ski that may not help me grow to be a better skiier/more advanced.

I went to the semi annual Princeton ski sale at Giants stadium on 02/03/2007 meaning to purchase the Atomic 5.3..a sales rep said I should get the 7.4 since it was sturdier. I had read a little internet reviews about the Atomic Balanze and felt that hopefully that would be a good fit...plus they were on sale for 299 and 400. Once at the store, the 5.3 were sold out and 7.4 were only 149 and I wanted a longer ski. I am 5'5" and 105lbs so a guy salesman recommended Head Fine Thang...and that is what I bought...only to go home and find reviews on the web with some stating it is a beginner ski and good for skiing in between hot chocolate stops (to my horror)!!!

I don't live close enough to demo skiis before buying and the sale was pretty good, the Heads were 350. They had other skiis like the K2s and Fischers. I've never had the pleasure to ski out west and a lot of reviews seemed to be from out there. I'm hoping to get some good feedback from your skiDiva site women. I have to bring the Fine Thangs into the store for them to mount the bindings, boots. I have the option of returning the skiis for store credit towards diff skiis. What skiis can you recommend? Was the Fine Thang a big mistake. Please help advise to what the better ski would be? Thanks so much! Chow.

 

[ski diva]

Yeah, I'm afraid you're right: the Head Fine Thang really is a beginner ski. And if you want a ski that'll keep you going for a few years, you might do better with something that'll help you progress.

It really is hard to pick out a ski without demoing. A lot of mountains have demo days during the weekends. You might want to plan a ski trip around one.

 

[Lori_K]

Do you already have your own boots?

If I were you, I'd take the skis back to the shop, get store credit, and apply the credit towards a good set of ski boots that are fitted properly (footbeds, etc, if necessary).

Then, take your boots and go to your favorite mountains and start renting some performance or high performance skis. Even if the ski hill doesn't do demos, a lot of ski hill rental shops have higher performance models available to rent.

Good boots will make a bigger difference in your skiing than new skis. With your own boots, you can make even crappy rental skis work for you. ;)

(P.S. I did a quick Google check for the Head Fine Thang, since I wasn't really familiar with it. One web site was selling it for $329, so keep an eye on those prices!)

Good luck. Let us know what you decide!

 

[volklgirl]

Even more important, though.....

You can live with the skis even though they may hold you back. But if you can get store credit and they will help you select a more appropriate ski, that might be a great idea.

Way more important, though, is did you get properly fitted and appropriate boots???? If you didn't get shell fit and evaluated at the sale (and I'm guessing you didn't?), take your boots with you to the shop and have them properly evaluated and fitted. You totally thank yourself no matter what skis you end up with. You can always make a bad ski work with good boots, but you can't make ANY ski work with bad boots!

 

[volklgirl]

Man, I GOTTA stop letting work interfere with my posts! :D

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I agree with the boot posts! Good boots make a great difference!

One other thing I would recommend.....I was buying a new pair of skis this year and I went to several different places telling the same story. The male sales people always steered me to a less than favorable beginner ski for my abilities.

Then, I started speaking to female reps and they really took the time to talk with me and learn about my skiing! THAT was critical to my decisions! I ended up buying the K2 One Luv skis and I LOVE THEM!

My skiing habits really do compare to yours. I would go back and get the boots that feel great, and then I would try any of the skis in the K2 family. There is such a wide variety, and the One Luvs really fall about in the middle....good give and flexability. You need to see what makes sense to you.

One other thing, the One Luvs were selling for about 900.00 (which scared the bee-hoo haw out of me!!!!!) and I found them on E-bay brand new for 320.00! (The guy had a high rating and was here locally in Denver!) Check around. You can find good deals.

Lastly, the ladies here really helped me with my decision! You get great advice here! Good Luck! :D

 

[Brooklyn Skier]

Thanks ladies for all your replies.

Thanks ladies for all your replies. I too was at work and not able to reply earlier. I will take the skiis back tomorrow and ask about the K2 Luvs, Elan Perlas and probably the Atomic Bz(only if Atomics still on sale). On Sat the salesman did warn me about purchasing skiis online..in that I may get a pair of demo skiis without warranty with seriel #s that don't match up. Could have been part of their sales pitch to get me to buy them then and there but another benefit Princeton has is they do offer free mounting and lifetime tune-ups.

I did buy Dalbello A-70 boots that fit pretty snug($200). Toes touch the front when upright. I don't like the knob on the back but prob won't use it. My heel lifts a tiny bit. Definately looking forward to skiing in these as the rentals never really fit. One more thing, for 5'5" @105 would you recommend I stay closer to 150 or 160..would I even feel the difference? I like control but would like the stability and confidence to go faster. Thanks again! Chow.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I'm 5'6" and I ski on 167. I like a longer ski. The shorter ski is great for bump skiing, but I like the feel of the 167. I think it's a personal preference, but I may be wrong. I'm not that into technical stuff. I'm a simple gal! :p

In the 70's, I used to ski on 180's! :D Ahhhhhhh...the good ole days!

 

[Jilly]

The Elan Perla might be one to get. I tried it a few weeks ago. I really liked the way it craved and was steady. The Atomic line should be on sale as it is going to change next year. Which Balaze are you thinking about??? B-11 is heavy!!

 

[smpayne]

Definitely get the boots "fitted". It can be the difference between night and day.

I have noticed that when dealing with male salespeople, you may need to actually over-inflate your ability and agressiveness. Since the guys do this as a matter of course, I think the salesMEN assume we do it too and then proceed to compensate and assume we really need lower level stuff. Don't be intimidated when talking to them, be very confident and ask questions, like: "How will these do when I'm trying to keep up with my boyfriend who used to race and likes to go fast", etc. I know, it sounds stupid, but for some reason you actually have to play head games with the male salespeople.

You said you can complete all the blues and then venture to harder stuff. That doesn't sound like a "lower" level intermediate to me(then again I don't know the terrain where you ski).

To figure out what size of ski you need, I would rent one size, ski a few runs and take them back and ask for the next size up or down. However, a 150+ is probably good for your weight. Rent some "demo" skis, it is worth it. If you can rent them at the resort, you can switch them out for different types, brands and sizes all day long. Many of the ladies here ski VT, PA & NY maybe someone would be willing to schedule to meet up with you and give you some feedback as to how they view your skiing abilities. I know my view of my own ability was much lower than what others told me it was - finally I started to believe them.

 

[volklgirl]

I did buy Dalbello A-70 boots that fit pretty snug($200). Toes touch the front when upright. I don't like the knob on the back but prob won't use it. My heel lifts a tiny bit. Definately looking forward to skiing in these as the rentals never really fit.

Sounds like that's a good start. However, take your boots and get them properly fitted.....see if you need footbeds, stance adjustments, cuff alignment (and it already sounds like heel lifts or a "saddle pad" might be in order to tame those lifty heels). Make an appointment with their "best" bootfitter and plan on spending an hour or 2. The leap in your skill set from being in great boots will be your reward! ;) If you're not familiar with what to expect, check out this thread: https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466&page=2 And ask questions!!

One more thing, for 5'5" @105 would you recommend I stay closer to 150 or 160..would I even feel the difference? I like control but would like the stability and confidence to go faster. Thanks again! Chow.

At your weight, probably 150+ would be appropriate. It will actually depend on the model of ski you end up on too.

 

[Brooklyn Skier]

This site is so great for info. I appreciate it!

Thanks Volkgirl for the tech info on boot fitting and the link..I wouldn't have been able to find that thread or even know it as a topic. I've been back to that ski shop and was hoping to get the Fischer Vision 70s or one of the K2s but neither had my size:( They were limited in womens skiis. There is a store that is more difficult for me to get to afterwork than the one that is in the city. We finally got snow in NYC this season and you would think they would have salted the roads the night before and done what they're supposed to but everything was messy from delayed subway services to clogged up sewer system(had to walk through 34th from 5th to 8th Aves today and wound up calf high in gross city street brown sludge at the intersections. They are going to try to order me the skiis (if there are any left in one of their other shops) tomorrow. One guy salesman told me to go with the True Luv rather than get into something too advanced like the One Luv...but this guy doesn't know what he's talking about since I told him that I returned the Head Fine Thang and he was telling me that was a solid intermediate ski above the Cool Thang!!What a moron! Anyway from what y'all ladies have been saying and with this shops limited I think it is going to be the Fischer V.70 or the One Luv/True Luv. Only hoping they have my size. Problem is I wanted to drive up to Killington on Friday night but now may have to wait till Sat if they can get the skiis. If not I guess I will be renting for the weekend and will check out if I can get good ones to demo.

 

[SnowHot]

Volklgirl, you Rock!

 

[GirlFromPA]

My 2 cents is that the Fischers will hold on the ice of NE mountains better than the K2s. I demoed the one luvs and the Fischer V70s last weekend (and some Dynastars that I thought I was going to die on) and I loved the Fischers. It hadn't snowed here for 2 weeks so the mountains was turning into a bit of ice and was extremely hard packed everywhere from the wind. Too bad no one is a dealer anymore in my city for Fischer. The Fischer site says the shop where my friend works is but they don't actually sell them????? The K2s are good skis but they don't like NE ice. They hardly like really hard pack. The Fischers however thrilled me. Now I'm going to demo the Black Perlas this weekend in order to decide if I should just get those or order the Fischers online from a shop in CA. After paying my shop to mount the bindings they'll essentially be the same price as the Perlas at my local shop, I just won't have a local place for warranty help.

But demo demo demo first!! And work on those boots. That's what I'm doing tonight now that I can get out of my driveway!!!!

 

[Sheena]

Another ski you may want to try is the Dynastar Exclusive Carve.

I have skied on those for the past few seasons and really enjoyed them.

 

[Jilly]

I've skied next years models of both, Black Perla (Black Magic 08) and the Fischer Vision Breeze (08). The Breeze held onto hardpack like nothng I've seen before. The Perla was in there to. Better than the Speed Magic. The Perla is a groomer. Not sure where the Breeze fits into this year, as they've done away with the numbers for next year. But it was bit wider underfoot, not much, but felt alittle more all around than just carving.

 

[ski diva]

Jilly, any idea how the Fischer Vision Breeze compare to this year's Fischer Vision 73? Someone I know demoed the latter.

 

[Jilly]

JB's suppose to have a pair for me this weekend to try again. If not I'll try to get the spec's as the buying catalogues will be out now at the shops. Our local is looking at Fischer for next year. (replaces Elan)

 

[sskier]

If a shop sells snowboards BEWARE many guys my not know anything about sking or boots.
You did good in doing your homework.
The first quetion a sale person should ask is "Do you own your own boots?"

 

[Brooklyn Skier]

Great skiing in my new stuff. Thank you ALL for your advice!!

:D I purchased the Fischer Vision 70s last Saturday night and skiied in PA at Camelback and Shawnee on this past Monday and Tuesday. I am very happy with them and also very happy with the new boots(Dabello Aspire). When the guy in the store was fixing the boots and bindings to the skiis, I told him that my heals lift in the boots and he made me put the boot on without the lining and then put some fabric sticky thing shaped like an "H" on the outside of the boot lining. When I put the boots on for the first time before skiing at Camelback(PA) they were PERFECT...no heal lift or shifting whatsoever.

The skiis I couldn't be more happy with. They do go fast! I love the sharp turns I can make on demand. Skiing was perfect on Monday. It was 15 degrees and I skiied from 1:30 till about 9PM. I thought I'd be a little sore on Tuesday too much to go skiing but I did stay over and took the day off work and around 1PM I headed over to Shawnee and skiied there till about 9PM. Love that Shawnee had "women's day" and it only cost $30 to ski the whole day. I recommend it. I did every trail including their diamonds and these Fischers were great!

I am so glad I found this website and all the great info I have gotten from you Diva Ladies was so helpful in helping me..from deciding to return the Head Fine Thangs and exchanging them for the Fischers....to getting the info on the sizing and fitting of the boots.

YOU GALS ROCK!!