K2 One Luv 2004/05 vs. 2005/06

[chellski]

Hi all,
I found a great deal on a pair of 2004/05 One Luv's, but I'm wondering if there is any major difference in this ski vs the 2005/06 model that won all those awards? Any advise as to how to find a comparison of the two models?
I'm also wondering about size. I've been skiing on a pair of 2001 Salomon X-Screams in a 165, but the guys at the ski shop told me I should be in a 148 in the One Luv's. This seems a bit small. I am 5'4" and 112 lbs. I lived in Squaw Valley for 5 years and can ski most anything on the mountain. I don't ski very often anymore, but I wouldn't want equipment that is below my level.

 

[SnowHot]

Hi all,
I found a great deal on a pair of 2004/05 One Luv's, but I'm wondering if there is any major difference in this ski vs the 2005/06 model that won all those awards? Any advise as to how to find a comparison of the two models?
I'm also wondering about size. I've been skiing on a pair of 2001 Salomon X-Screams in a 165, but the guys at the ski shop told me I should be in a 148 in the One Luv's. This seems a bit small. I am 5'4" and 112 lbs. I lived in Squaw Valley for 5 years and can ski most anything on the mountain. I don't ski very often anymore, but I wouldn't want equipment that is below my level.

Welcome to SkiDiva!
You've come to the right place for ski info by women for women.

Can someone please tell me why the "guys at the shop" are telling all these women to go soft and short?

Tell me what you like to ski and how you like to ski
front side, back side, aggressive, passive? Do you feel like you need a bit more stiffness in a ski or softer?

 

[chellski]

Hello Snowhot,
Thanks for the warm welcome! I agree with your sentiments about the "guys at the shop" 100%. I always feel like I have to embellish my abilities in order to get these guys to sell me the stuff I need. I have a hard time describing my ski skills since I only get about 5-10 days a season now. I lived in Squaw Valley about 15 years ago and was a fairly agressive skier. Double blacks were no problem. These days, I probably do about 60% groomed and the rest off trail. I like big steep bowls the most, but of course on a powder day, I want to go EVERYWHERE. I want to have one pair of skis that will do it all - make nice turns on the groomed, will plow through crud and not studder at high speeds, and still hold up in powder (I know- tall order). From what I've read, I think the Burnin Luv may be a better ski for me, than the One Luv, but I'm really trying to keep it on the cheap. And I'm worried that the Burnin might be too stiff for me. I like to go fast, but my technical skills are not the best. I didn't start skiing til age 19 and blame the lack of technical skills on not learning properly as child (but I'm sure it has more to do my laziness ;)

 

[SnowHot]

Girl, you need more than a 148. From what you say, I don't see the Burnin being too stiff, but more worried that the One will be too soft and short. If you are skiing all of Squaw, you need more ski than a 148 One Luv. Be careful with what the "guys at the shop say" they tend to shoot first and ask questions later ;). Any chances of finding a Lotta Luv or Atomic Sweet Momma?

 

[chellski]

You really think the One Luv is too soft? Even if I did it in a longer ski? I'm hoping to find something past season, even if it's a used demo. I had trouble searching the web for older Lotta Luv's and Atomic Sweet Mama . Are these skis new this year, or do you know if they made them in past seasons? (They are all coming up at $650+, I'd like to keep it under $300).
I have been borrowing a friend's Salomon X-Scream 8 from 2001 and those seem fine for me (at least compared to the 190 straight skis that I usually use- totally embarrassing!-) The "guy at the shop" (again we know what that means) said the One Luv is comparable to the X-Scream. Any advise on this? Is there a good website that compares skis?

 

[chitownski]

You sound exactly like me - I grew up in Utah, skied 50-100 days a year until college, and have since gone down to 5-10 days (at most) a season. And for your ski style, which is also a lot like mine (I used to be a lot more agressive, and a lot more technically accomplished), I think the Burnin Luv is the better ski. My understanding was that the One Luv was designed for a more intermediate skier.

 

[ADKskier]

Hi everyone,

I disagree with the general sentiment on this forum that the One Luv is an "intermediate" ski. I certainly don't consider myself an intermediate and I ski the 05-06 One Luv (with the "Just Cause" top sheet) and feel it is perfectly suited to my level. I ski mainly on the East coast (Whiteface is my home mountain) and ski almost exclusively black trails. For comparison's sake, I'm a fairly aggressive skiier and would not feel confident on a ski that I felt I was overpowering.

As we all know, it can get a little icy in the East, and the One Luvs have demonstrated great grip. I've skiied the Burnin' Luvs and honestly felt that they were no different, whether it be at speed in soft snow or on hardpack, etc. I've never felt that they were a "noodle" ski at all. The Mod Monic system is great at absorbing vibrations and "dampening" the ski - giving it that great, traditional K2 feel.

However, for someone skiing in the West where you deal more often with tracked-out conditions/crud, I wouldn't recommend the One Luv or the Burnin' Luv - it would probably get tossed around too much. Instead, I would shoot for the Lotta Luv in a 167. However, for East coast skiing, the One Luv excels in my book!

 

[SnowHot]

Thanks for the giving us a different view of this ski

Michigan is famous for skiing crud. Rarely powder and occasional ice.
My favorite ice ski is on the soft side, so ADKSkier hit that nail on the head.
My favorite crud ski is the metron B5, definitely not soft.

So as much as a review and information on a forum can help, personal preferences make a huge difference.
An Aggressive skier can prefer a softer ski.

 

[chellski]

Thanks for the reply chitownski. And for the shared experience. Sounds like you may be better at the more technical stuff than I am tho. Any advise on length? I'm 5'4 112lbs. Any other skis I should check out that I would be able to find used from past years?

 

[chellski]

Thanks ADKskier, I'm happy to hear that I wasn't way off base looking into the One Luv. I see your point about east coast/west coast differences. Thanks for the tip. I'd love to do the Lotta Luv, but I'm having trouble finding that one used. What do you all think of the Salomon line? I'm looking at the Women's Scream Pilot 8 or the High End Rush N10.

 

[chitownski]

Just FYI - I've generally been warned against Salomon. Compared to K2 and Volkl, their skis just don't get great reviews.

As for length, I'm struggling with that myself. I think I'm going with 160cm, and I'm 5'7 and 140ish (I used to ski a 175 in a straight ski). So maybe that would put you in the 153cm range? The comment string I started for this question has some great advice from others on length and how to decide.

Good luck!

 

[SnowHot]

As for length, I'm struggling with that myself. I think I'm going with 160cm, and I'm 5'7 and 140ish (I used to ski a 175 in a straight ski). So maybe that would put you in the 153cm range? The comment string I started for this question has some great advice from others on length and how to decide.

Good luck!

Just because you were on a 175cm "straight ski", doesn't mean that was the right size for you. Depending on your level, a higher performance "straight ski" for you should have been in the 190cm range. Talking to Phil-omena (our resident outboard equipement guru), Lola used to ski a 193 Rossignol 7SK and Lil skied a 195 Dynastar Crosscomp. Both of them are shorter than you and are skiing 156 Volkl AC2's.

If I worked in a shop, I know I wouldn't put you on a Burnin Luv less than a 160 and I would make sure we talked about the 167.

 

[chitownski]

I agree I could have handled a longer straight ski - but when I was skiing that, I was a big fan of tree runs out west, so I liked to keep my ski shorter.

I'm definitely not going for the 153s, that's a given. And I'm sure I could handle the 167s. But I'm feeling a lot like Goldilocks on this one, and the 160s just seem like a good middle ground.

And if all goes well this year, I'll look into a longer ski for next season!

By the way, do you have any thoughts on bindings? I'm not that picky (beyond a reliable release), and the shop is trying to sell me on the piston technology. Worth it?

 

[SnowHot]

IBy the way, do you have any thoughts on bindings? I'm not that picky (beyond a reliable release), and the shop is trying to sell me on the piston technology. Worth it?

The piston technology is the way to go if they have it. Not to confuse the issue, but have you considered the Lotta Luv? That would be my K2 ski of choice if I were skiing Squaw. You will be the Divine Diva of Squaw on them.

 

[chellski]

The Lotta Luv would certainly be my ski of choice based on everything I've heard here and all the reviews I've found, but sadly, it is just too expensive for me. Same goes for the Burnin Luv. There are a lot of great deals on EBay, but the One Luv is still way cheaper. Does anyone have advise on where to find cheap used skis? I'm too late for the ski swaps. Were do used demos go to die, anyways? They must be listed somewhere besides EBay, right?

 

[ADKskier]

The Lotta Luvs have been an extremely popular ski in the past couple of years - used pairs are very difficult to find (or so I've found). Every once in a while a used pair pops up on e-bay. Unfortunately, like you said, this years model is quite pricey.

The Burnin Luvs are a little easier to find in last year's model. Try Al's Ski Barn at www.untracked.com. They have an 05 Burnin Luv in 167 for $499.00 with the Marker system binding.

 

[Marigee]

chellski, I just notice on www.sierrasnowboard.com last years' model of lotta luvs for $525.00 (ski and binding.) The only size left though was 153 - which may be too short for you. If you go to the website and clikc on 2005-06 you will see the gear from last year that is still avaiable - new, not used. They even have a forum where you can ask Q's about skis they have.