Help with buying my first pair of skis!

[NewSkier08]

I've been reading the other threads and everyone seems so nice about helping out a new skier that I thought I'd throw my situation out for a little advice.

I've just been exposed to the world of skiing this past season. Here are my stats:
-4'10", 125 lbs
-I ski primarily NH and ME resorts, greens confidently and blues confidently.
-Just finished a great day of skiing on rossi 130's since it "come up to my chin" per the rental guy. Previously, I skied 140-145's but was always a little hesitant on them.
- I expect to ski 10-15 times a year.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

 

[hungrybunnies]

Do you have boots yets? If not, I would visit a shop with a good boot fitter and splurge on a pair of boots first.

When I was researching skis, the shortest women specific skis were 142cm. Head and Volkl both had 142cm skis while the other manufacturers seem to start at 146cm. I'm 5' and weigh about 115 lbs. and consider myself a low intermediate. I have demoed the Head Fine Thangs in both 149cm and 142cm and the Volkl Attiva Aire in 148cm which are both intermediate skis. I also ski primarily in the Northeast and I found the 149cm handled the ice much better. I found the Aire more responsive and a bit easier to turn than the Fine Thangs. Another ski to check out is the Volka Attiva Luna if you're looking for 142cm. I ended up getting the Fischer Vision 70 in 153cm.

Where do you ski in NH and ME? Definitely demo before buying if you can.

 

[atlantiqueen]

There are some demo days coming up in ME - PM MaineSkiLady for details.

If you ski at Sunday River, PM me and I'll give you details on the best place to go for bootfitting and demos


AQ

 

[fatoots]

There are some demo days coming up in ME - PM MaineSkiLady for details.



AQ

Really? At SR or the Loaf? MSL do tell!

 

[NewSkier08]

So far I've only skied Attitash and SugarLoaf. However, my husband and I are very interested in exploring other mountains! : )

I think a demo day is going to be a top priority soon.

While we're at this, any thoughts on boots? My feet are a 5.5 but I've got larger calves. What does "splurging" on a pair of boots entail? Are there special considerations that should be taken into account? Would it be horrible to buy boy/girl boots instead of women's? I've done that with tennis shoes, but didn't know if the shape and comfort would be dramatically different for boots. : )

 

[Jilly]

Try to find women's boots. Junior boots are OK for some, but they may not be stiff enough, without going to junior race boots. Only a good bootfitter can help you. NE Diva's lets get some names of bootfitters to help this diva out!

 

[volklgirl]

What does "splurging" on a pair of boots entail? Are there special considerations that should be taken into account? Would it be horrible to buy boy/girl boots instead of women's? I've done that with tennis shoes, but didn't know if the shape and comfort would be dramatically different for boots. : )

Read the boot fitting stickie at the top of this forum for info on buying new boots. There's nothing wrong with men's/boy's/girl's/junior's boots if they truly, truly fit your feet (I'm in a junior race boot).

 

[hungrybunnies]

Try to find women's boots. Junior boots are OK for some, but they may not be stiff enough, without going to junior race boots. Only a good bootfitter can help you. NE Diva's lets get some names of bootfitters to this diva out!

NewSkier08, where do you live?

 

[Marranis]

First skis too!

Hi everyone, I'm glad I found this forum, I'm in the same position as Newskier08, but I don't go that often, I'm still a novice/ intermedia.
My old skis are a rossignol I bought an ski shop, they were rental, for junior but in that time I didn't care (I was learning), now I noticed I've improved, and after 3 years using my old equipment it is time to get something better.
I just bought a pair of boots, I got a Dallbello NX which were on sale, they feel stiffer and comfy that my old ones.
Now I'm looking for skies, but my budget is limited (I just go 5 times a year to ski, and it is northeast, usually). I'm 5'2", and weigh 108 lbs, I skiing in green ones and blue ones, but with a lot of caution, I was reading in some post an ski 146 will work fine for me (my rossi are 140), I've seem some has a carved in the front part, and are called integrated binding, are they good, or too much for me? I found a pair of skis on ebay for a good price, are the rossi passion II, do you guys think its a good option they cost $260. I also find a K2 Magic Luv for $250, and a head Lite thang for $350, between them which one would you recommend, like i said I mostly go to northeast, up state NY, and once to Vermont, i'm planing to go to Colorado for a weekend but I wont hit the slopes more than 10 times a year.
I'm pleased with any advice, I really want to have something good for the next three years... jejeje
XOXO and thanks again...

 

[NewSkier08]

I live right in Boston.

 

[hungrybunnies]

I got my boots at Ski Stop in Westwood, MA - not too far from Boston. I went there based on a recommendation I saw on the Epic Ski forums. My husband and I are very happy with the service we got there.

 

[hungrybunnies]

One more thing, Wachusett Mountain (about 1 hours west on Rt. 2 from Boston) has a pretty good selection of womens skis to demo in their ski shop. You can apply the demo fee towards the skis if you buy them there within 10 days of the demo.

Marranis, the Lite Thangs and the Magic Luvs (same as 1st Luvs if I'm remembering correctly) are beginner skis. You probably want something a more on the intermediate side to grow into. I don't know much about the Rossi Passion II.

 

[Marranis]

Thanks for the advice, I'm already making my list.
NewSkier08, good luck with your boots, it takes time to find the right ones, but it's totally worth it.... believe me!