Help with ski decision?

[smeadie]

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on what skis to buy and any help would be hugely appreciated!

I've been a skier since I was little (am 30 now) and used to be at an advanced level, but for the last 10 years or so, I've been only snowboarding (so my skis are the old, long kind (180cms) and my level has of course, dropped a lot)

I want to get back into skiing and will have about 10 days a year, mostly in Australia, which tends to be groomed, or wet messy snow, but also in Europe or Canada.

I want the skis to be versatile, but realistically I'll be using them mostly for groomed and moguls, but would like a bit of an everything ski that i can have fun on and improve on.

I'm 5'4" and about 52 kgs (115 pounds)

There's not a great amount of choice in Australia right now, as it's almost Summer, but I want to take these skis to Switzerland in January, so I am looking online at stores that ship here as well. After doing some reading I am considering the K2 One Luv, Lotta Luv, Volkl AC2 and AC3...

does anyone have any recommendations on these or other skis, or about length, or waist widths?

thanks for any advice!
cheers,
Smeadie

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I have the k2 oneluvs and I LOVE THEM! They are my favorite all around ski! I'm skied for over 38 years, but had some time off for a bit....when I got back to the mountain, I used my One Luvs and they were amazing! Almost made me cry.

In my opinion, they are a great overall ski. Good luck! I hope you get more good advice!

 

[SnowHot]

I've been a skier since I was little (am 30 now) and used to be at an advanced level, but for the last 10 years or so, I've been only snowboarding (so my skis are the old, long kind (180cms) and my level has of course, dropped a lot)

I want to get back into skiing and will have about 10 days a year, mostly in Australia, which tends to be groomed, or wet messy snow, but also in Europe or Canada.

I want the skis to be versatile, but realistically I'll be using them mostly for groomed and moguls, but would like a bit of an everything ski that i can have fun on and improve on.

I'm 5'4" and about 52 kgs (115 pounds)

There's not a great amount of choice in Australia right now, as it's almost Summer, but I want to take these skis to Switzerland in January, so I am looking online at stores that ship here as well. After doing some reading I am considering the K2 One Luv, Lotta Luv, Volkl AC2 and AC3...

does anyone have any recommendations on these or other skis, or about length, or waist widths?

thanks for any advice!
cheers,
Smeadie

The things I put in bold are strong in a decision to pick a ski. (including your short list)
Since you've been a snowboarder for a while, I'm assuming you have a great concept of the technique to carve with a wide waist. Since you've been on skis there have been several midfats that are better all mountain-ish, than the all mountain skis ever thought of being.

I'd think of the lotta luv, but not the one love, mostly for the construction and ability to get through the crud.
Both of the volkls you have chosen are fine, but fairly stiff and will not be ideal if you go from groomers to moguls.

If I were you, I'd put these on your short list
Nordica Olympia Conquer
Volkl Queen Attiva
Elan Free Spice
Blizzard Titan EOS

Of those, the Nordica Olympia conquer will be your most versatile, but all of them will give you huge :D

 

[smeadie]

thanks!

thank you both so much for this advice - I'll definitely check out the other skis suggested, too.
Any ideas on length? is 149 too short? I was thinking about 153 -156?

thanks again!
Smeadie

 

[Jilly]

I'm an inch taller, but much heavier, so I ski the 160cm. So I think the 153 area is good.

 

[SnowHot]

I wouldn't go shorter than a 150.

 

[abc]

Might want to think about the Burning Luv. It's the same geometry of the 07 One Luv but a bit stiffer. Some like the stiffness, others don't (I don't but that's just me. I ended up with a One Luv)

I'm same weight and height as you and I find the 153 One Luv just right.

Keep in mind though the 08 One Luv is a bit wider than the 07 One Luv.

Money-wise, this is a good time to buy. But I'd say this as someone who got back into skiing last year after 5 year off: You really ought to demo a few different kind of these shaped skis before buying ANYTHING! They ski rather differently. (befoer I hit the slope, I thought of skis like the Lotta Luv, but during demo, I absolutely HATED anything that's over 72 in waist on groomer!)

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I wouldn't go shorter than a 150.

Ditto! You won't be happy with anything shorter than a 150! (Well, you may be happy....but you will regret not getting a longer ski!) :D

 

[Severine]

Ditto! You won't be happy with anything shorter than a 150! (Well, you may be happy....but you will regret not getting a longer ski!) :D

I'm no expert, but I agree with this wholeheartedly. I was talked into a 140cm women's ski when I bought my first pair and I quickly outgrew them. (And this is from someone who's just under 5'5" and much heavier than you are...) I "upgraded" this year to some 154cm at the ski swap and hope they're long enough, but they're certainly better than what I had.

Other than that, can't give you an opinion on actual skis. I've been mostly off skis for 3 years now due to pregnancies and new babies. This will be my first season back.

 

[jaydog]

Another factor to consider, apart from the ski length: do you think you will stay at an intermediate level, or improve back up to your old advanced level? If you're cruising now but want to eventually start ripping, you'll want a ski that can grow with you, not one that will start off comfortable but wimp out at higher speeds. I'm not enough of an expert to be able to point to one ski over another, but it's something you'll get a feel for when you demo a few different pairs.