Help with new skis

[Heather]

Hi guys, I've been following SkiDiva for several months--love it.
Need some help picking skis. Me: 5'2" 125lb. This was my 4th season. I ski parallel and carve on all blues and groomed blacks. I've made it up around 20-30 times so far. I'm trying like ?%*& to improve with the steep and bumps. I ski in Washington State. Our black runs are steep and bumpy with usually 4-10 in of some form powder. Occasionally they're icey.
Tried:
Fischer Exhale 155cm: Felt too soft or light or something. Of course this was after the Volkl Tierras and Sugar Mamas.
Volkl Tierra 156cm: Best carving machine I've ever been on. Plow through anything! Man oh Man. Anyway, demoed these on one of those icey days with 2 people who were true experts, well I SUCKED on the icey steeps. Liked these a lot but probably too much for me right now?
Rossi Attraxion with the flex bar thingys 160s cm: Hated. Like big ol' heavy hunks of heaviness. Felt too long for me.
K2 Lotta Luv 160s: lack energy. Again, felt too long for me.
Elan Mag spice 152cm: Liked to just turn on their own all the time, especially when going fast down cat tracks. Soft, skid more than carve.
Sugar Mamas 150cm (I own): Really like 'em. I discovered what GS turns were on these (breakthrough moment sniffle, sniffle). Weird flex thing, though. Tips are soft tails are very stiff. I discovered if I stomp on my heal at the end of turns it seems like something good happens but I'm too new to understand it all. I thinks it's called rebound. I like it. Very fast and very stable. Problem is that where I ski our black runs all have moderate to steep bumps. Well, maybe it's just me, but I can't get these SOBs to turn as quick as I want without really being rough on them. I mean these babies really like more abuse than I can handle giving out. They were great in the trees too (another new thing I did this year--very very fun!).

Anyway, being new to the steep bumpy stuff I don't go very fast down it, hence difficult to bend a stiffer ski hence difficult to turn and hence I land on my head a lot and it hurts even with the helmet.

I'm thinking of the Nordica Olympia Drive in 154cm, the Dynastar Exclusive Legend in 152cm, Volkl Attiva AC2 in 156cm. I would love to demo but our po-dunk town/resort doesn't have 'em. My plan is to have a pair of smaller, more agile skis to learn steeps/bumps and then get some fatter ones for days after a dump.

Sorry so long. Thanks in advance for any input. Oh yeah I've read all the reviews: Ski Magazine, Skiiing Magazine, Realskiers.com, SkiCanada--everyone says different things. Thanks again, Heather

 

[veggielasagna]

I'm no expert, but it seems that you have progressed pretty well and know that you want to carve your turns. That being said, it doesn't sound like the "expert" skis would be too much for you at all. The mid 150 length range seems to work well for you so here are some ideas...K2 Burnin Luv (153), Nordica Speed, Victory or Firefox (154); the Victory is more of an all-mountain where as the Speed and FF are considered to lean towards pure carvers, Volkl Fuego (154) etc etc, the options are huge. You mention GS turns, are those your preference or do you like short turns as well? Most of the above will excel at short/med. turns, some will also do well with GS turns.
It really sounds like you are to the point where you will keep progressing and want a ski that will be able to keep up. I've heard good things about the Dynastar, definitely demo it if you can. While the AC2 and Drive are liked by many, it sounds like you would reach their limit rather quickly. However, if you can demo them you definitely should, they just may be your ski!

-veggielasagna

 

[Heather]

new skis

Thanks for the reply, Veggie. I like a variety of turn shapes on groomed. But in the steeper, bumpier, or tree areas I need a ski that's more agile and can turn at slower speeds. It's difficult to have it all I guess. I'll check out the other skis you recommended--a few of those you named I hadn't thought of. Thanks again.
Heather

 

[Jilly]

I love my Rossi Z5's for just the conditions you're describing. The shape is similar to the Attraxion XI's you had out, but no arms. (I need to do a review on that ski as I had them all last week to ski on.) 126, 74 and 106. Next year its known as the Z6. The Z9 is the same ski but stiffer. Also for reviews check out Skipress. They are least bias I find.

 

[Heather]

Oh I hadn't thought of the Rossi Z5. Another one I"ll need to check out! Sidecut sounds about right. Thanks.

 

[jaydog]

Where in WA are you?

As for the Lotta, you might like it in 153cm. K2 sizing tends to run longer than advertised. I'm a couple inches taller and a few pounds heavier than you, and found the 160cm Lotta to be an absolute dream in moguls (and I hate moguls!) and had incredible grip with easy turns on the steeps.

And I'm still trying to unload my 158cm ELs, if you decide you're interested. Dynastar actually runs shorter than advertised. The EL is light, turns easily, good grip, and can handle a variety of conditions. Again, I'm just a little bit bigger than you but the 158 turned out to be too short for me once I made the transition from upper intermediate to advanced.

 

[Heather]

Hi Jaydog,
I live in Yakima so I ski at White Pass, 45 min drive is pretty convienent. Anyway, I tried the Lottas at Silver Mountain in 160, way too long for me. Maybe 153 as you suggest. I'm tellin' ya, this demoing and deciding is like a year long process. Fun, though.
Don't see many manufacturers up at White Pass giving free demos so gets expensive. What made you switch from EL to Lottas?
Heather

 

[SnowHot]

Hi Heather. What strikes me most about your OP is that you liked the Volkl Tierra 156cm, so much but discarded it as "too much for you right now"

Did you find it to be unforgiving?
IMO, if you demo a ski and really like it as much as you say in your OP, you should get it, and embrace the properties you love in it.
If its a tad above your ability, then you will probably enjoy way it enables you to grow into your next level of skiing.

 

[perma-grin]

I totally agree with SnowHot on this. If you enjoyed skiing on the Tierra's then that's what I would get, the Tierra is a great ski. It sounded like you had fun on it. What didn't you like about it?

 

[jaydog]

Hi Jaydog,
What made you switch from EL to Lottas?
Heather

I just plain outgrew the ELs. The stability at speed wasn't there. The Lotta was a demo. I might've bought a pair if I'd found a super deal, but their groomer performance wasn't all that great.

And I will echo the others in encouraging you on the Tierra if you liked it- you can improve your skills farther with a more advanced ski.

 

[IntheClouds]

Heather, sounds like you really like your sugar mama's alot for everything except those steeps & bumps. Other Divas have that ski & really like them all the way around. So I'm wondering if maybe you have an opportunity to get a lesson from a really good instructor focusing on bumps & steeps. I've heard a number of experts & equipment specialists make comments that often people think they're equipment isn't up to the task, but in truth the skier was ready to learn some more advanced skills for the newer terrain they are skiing. Just adding this as I didn't see any mention of coaching/lessons on your op.

 

[persee]

Ack! Sorry I missed this post earlier. Definitely if you demo'd and liked the Tierras give em a go. I have the Attiva AC3s (same ski as the Tierra just a year earlier with a different topsheet) in 156 and I jsut LOVE them. The more I ski them the happier I am with them.

About me - I just finished up my fourth season on skis. I'd guess I'm a high level 7 skier and I've skiied roughly 50-55 days total over 4 seasons (last year was a bad year for ski days). I bought my AC3s the end of last season on an "OMG this is too good a deal to pass up" sale and I was nervous that they might be too much ski - I never had a chance to demo them, just did a lot of research and decided they might be the ski for me. So when I took them out the first time I was very jittery, but my first run I knew I had not made a mistake on these skis. I love them because they can ski through almost anything, and they really push me to be a better skier - they really reward proper form and edging but don't totally throw you if you get sloppy or back. These skis do like speed, but they'll go slower if you want, however these are skis taht I can not hit their speed limit before I hit MY speed limit - quite a change from my True Luvs. Oh and on the physical stats - I'm 5'3.5, 130ish lbs (gotta drop a few this summer or my ski pants aren't gonna fit!), I like speed (moreso as I learn to trust my skills/gear) and going all over the mountain, and I ski in the east so I want a ski that can handle ice as well as some of waht we call powder on the east coast

Honestly don't hesitate to ask me any questions on these skis. If you demo'd them and liked them then they are NOT too much ski for you. Trust me!

 

[Heather]

A little late but thanks for your thoughtful reply. Over the summer I have realized that you are exactly right. I need some lessons to transition me into the more difficult terrain.
Heather

 

[Lefty Lucy]

So what skis did you decide on, Heather?

 

[Heather]

hard to decide

having a heck of a time.
ordered the Dynastar EL in 158cm. my thought being that i could turn them easier while going a little slower and learning the steeper terrain. i really want to improve on moguled terrain. where i ski, if you go down any black run you will at some point encounter a steep moguled slope. that being said, i'm keeping the attiva tierra in the back of my mind for when my speed on the blacks picks up.
heather
ps on my last post, i meant MY reply was a little late not the last persons reply (realized it didn't sound right).