Question: Fischer vs Volkl & unisex vs women's

[skilover]

Hi all,
Greetings from Ireland. I'm new to the forum but have really enjoyed reading comments over the last few weeks. I am a sporty woman 39, level 7 (ish), 168cm (5'6'') and 63kg (137lbs).

My skiing preference - I like skiing fast on the groomed. I really want to buy skis this year - have rented up to now.

1. I really like the feedback on the fischer breeze, the volkl fuego and the volkl arena? Any suggestions please.

2. What is the main difference between a unisex ski and a dedicated women's ski - I also like the look of the fischer fuse 73 (all mountain carver) and the fischer progressor 8 - both unisex. Has anyone skied either of these?

Am very confused

Thanks

 

[PowDiva85]

so the main differences that you will find between a unisex and womens specific model will be that the womens will be a little softer and lighter and the mounting point will be moved about 2cm forward. This helps compensate for our lower center of gravity. Volkl did a study of top athletes a few years back when they were first making womens skis and discovered that even at the olympic level men were about 20% stronger than women and so made there womens skis 20% softer than the mens version. Womens skis also tend to be a bit wider in the shovel to help with turn initiation. If you really like the feel of a unisex ski I would reccommend still mounting it forward, especially if you have a smaller foot because the mounting point on mens skis centers you if you have a average mans foot, not women's, so you dont end up in the best place on the ski. I have skied volkl but not fischer so I cant help you with the ski comparisons but im sure there are lots of ladies here that have!

 

[volklgirl]

Any chance you can demo before buying? Ski choice is such a personal thing...you need to find the ski that puts the biggest grin on your face. However, you can't go wrong with the Fuego or the Nordica Firefox for high speed women's groomer zoomers.

Same with women's vs unisex....some love the forward mounting point while other (like me) hate it. Surprisingly, the mounting point on my Hart Lady Twin is farther back than that on my unisex Karma . You may also find that the "softer" of the women's skis isn't necessarily for you either. Demoing really IS the way to go.

 

[skilover]

Thanks for the information.

Unfortunately, I won't get a chance to demo skis - perhaps only whatever skis they have at the small Austrian resort we are staying in. If I wait until I get there I'll have no chance to avail of some really good bargains now available on some German ski sports websites - links from https://www.Amazon.de

 

[SueNJ]

The Fischer Vision Breeze gets my vote--it's my go-to ski for just about any conditions (except deeper powder). Good ice grip and loves both cruising and speed, and it's fun to ski, with a nice little "pop" at the end of each carved turn. I recently demo'd several other skis (including the Nordica Olympia Victory, Elan Pure Spice and Mag Spice, Fischer Watea 78 and Vision Vapor, and the top of the line Salomon Origins--probably my favorite of the demos), but in the end, I was happy to be back on my Fischer Breezes.

It's so individual though. I hope you find something that makes you grin!

 

[retromaven]

Hey Sue!

Hope you are having a good ski year. Was out your way (Mountain Creek) the other day with my new "ski posse" and had a blast - beautiful day and conditions weren't half bad for all the melt off we have had (going back this Thursday with the girls I think). Gosh, it was dead for President's weekend though, everyone must have gone for deeper snow upstate!

Anyway, where did you demo the Origins? I hear the 2008 are better than the '09s (slightly) and am combing the net to see if I can snag a pair relatively cheap in under 161 length. Still loving my Fischers, but thought this would round things out for moguls (hear they are great short radius turners) and once and a while power. I feel the Fischers always require a lot of input (which is fine, I still LOVE them) but the Salomon you can kick back or drive hard and they are good for both with a little less leg fatigue, which with my lupus might be nice...do you remember what length you demoed and what your overall impression was, and finally why you still preferred the Fischer skis over the Origins?

Thanks for any help you can be with this!

Retro

 

[CMCM]

I subscribe to Ski Press reviews, and according to how they do their reviews, here's how it went with the Origins:
2007 different from 2008's and not nearly as well rated.
2008's very highly rated.
2009's not reviewed because they are the same as 2008 except for topsheet design.

I have the 2008's and am 100% happy with them.

 

[greekpeakskier]

i too vote for the breezes.

i've worked hard on my skiing the last three winters. as a result i've demoed a lot of skis and even made mistakes in purchasing w/o demoing. i have ended up really liking the fischer vision breeze.

it's light enough and flexible enough that i can get feedback on whatever technique i'm working on. it's easy to initiate a turn, not so stiff that i can't control it, it gives me lots of feedback -- if you like a ski where you can feel the snow, it's good. It's also versatile enough that it's great to work w/ in the bumps and the off piste attempts i'm presently making.

i have a pair of head power thangs that i use if i'm not doing narrow chutes and it's icy -- for groomers and ice, they are a blast.

i have a pair of nordica victory's that i'm going to try again when i have perfected my technique. right now, i don't get enough feedback from them and i feel they are hard to control in some areas (great to ride the rails, harder to flex to get rebound).

i also have a pair of head monster 77s that i keep in my parents' closet in utah. for me, i don't want a men's ski, it's too stiff. i'll sell it at a swap.

in comparison to these, breeze is my go to ski. and the most versatile ski of the ones i've demoed.

 

[vanhoskier]

Hi all,

2. I also like the look of the fischer fuse 73 (all mountain carver) and the fischer progressor 8 - both unisex. Has anyone skied either of these?

Am very confused

Thanks

I just got a pair of Progressor 8's and will hopefully get on them next weekend. Their bindings can be slid forward 1.5 cm from the traditional mounting point, which I liked. I will post a review once I get some time on the skis!

 

[SnowBall]

SueNJ,
What did you think of Vapor? I'm debating on buying either Vapor or Breeze and I only got to demo'd Vapor. I liked Vapor a lot except it was a little hard to handle on uneven hardpack it chattered and felt somewhat unstable on ice. Breeze seems to be a little more relaxed and stable than Vapor (from other divas reviews) and does great on ice. I'm 5'7", 130lb and level 7. Do you think Breeze is better suited for me than Vapor? Did you notice any difference between two?