K2 PEs and Volkl Queen Attivas

[pinto]

I posted this at Epic ... also would love to hear from you gals (who are probably more likely to have skied both?)

My son is going to need new skis. I bought some iM77s over the summer thinking that I would give them to him as soon as he outgrew his current skis. However, I have sort of appropriated them myself. Love them as groomer skis. Plus, I think they might be kind of heavy for him.

He just turned 13 ... currently 5'7", 120 lb, and skis very, very well all over the mountain. He is currently on K2 Apache Jr 153.

I've been looking at the PEs ... they sound perfect for the next step for him, plus they can be found pretty cheaply. I'm at a loss on the size, because he hasn't hit his growth spurt yet. (Always been tall, but he's still just a little boy.) From what I have read, 169 sounds like a safe bet. That just sounds so long though.

The other idea is to give him my Volkl Queen Attivas (164), which I've replaced with longer Auras. I asked him yesterday if he'd mind "ladies" skis -- they are black, and easy enough to sticker over the curly writing. He didn't seem to think it would be a problem.

(It seems to me that a higher-end ladies ski would be perfect for a young teen boy ... except for the topsheets.)

So, I've never skied a PE ... has anyone skied both a PE and a QA and can compare for me? As far as I know, he'll be 6 ft tall by next season. Or not. These things are hard to predict. The QA might be a good stopgap.

 

[Jilly]

PE= Public Emenies?? Just want to be sure!

 

[pinto]

PE= Public Emenies?? Just want to be sure!

Oh yes. Don't know why I did that without spelling it out first.

 

[perma-grin]

Hi Pinto,
My son got the P.E'S for a Christmas present from his wonderful Mother! Me! LOl! He is 18 yrs 5'7'', 145 lbs he choose the 164's over the 169 length, (they are stiffer than his 1080's in the longer length which he has destroyed). He choose that length because of pipe and jump rotation. I told him it wasn't that much difference, but he demod them last year and knows what he likes. His say's they are a lot more fun than the 1080's a lot more pop off the lip of jumps. So if your boy likes to get twisted and upside down (like my emergency room frequent flyer), go with the P.E's.

 

[pinto]

Hi Pinto,
My son got the P.E'S for a Christmas present from his wonderful Mother! Me! LOl! He is 18 yrs 5'7'', 145 lbs he choose the 164's over the 169 length, (they are stiffer than his 1080's in the longer length which he has destroyed). He choose that length because of pipe and jump rotation. I told him it wasn't that much difference, but he demod them last year and knows what he likes. His say's they are a lot more fun than the 1080's a lot more pop off the lip of jumps. So if your boy likes to get twisted and upside down (like my emergency room frequent flyer), go with the P.E's.

Thanks! He doesn't go upside down (yet), and probably never will. But he likes to do some other stuff.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

So if your boy likes to get twisted and upside down (like my emergency room frequent flyer), go with the P.E's.

Another member with an ER frequent flyer...my profound sympathies - no, make that empathy! PE was "The" hot freestyle ski when it was first out. Can't speak for its performance characteristics, but I absolutely LOVE the graphics - could study those graphics for HOURS.

 

[SnowHot]

Honestly I don't think you could go wrong with the pe's in a 164, because you can get into them cheap. Then when he grows and gets an idea on his own, he can be more informative on his next ski.

 

[num]

Can he get out on your Queen Attivas and try them out first?

 

[pinto]

Can he get out on your Queen Attivas and try them out first?

I was hoping, but his feet are quite a bit bigger than mine; don't think they'll fit the binding without redrilling.

 

[Lori_K]

I just demo'd the PEs, and liked them a lot. They are great for all over the mountain, in just about any snow condition you can throw at them. Not just a Park ski by any means! (Although they do jump well! )

I'd suggest 164 for him, because he's a lightweight kid. I tried both the 159 and the 164, and preferred the 159. It's a tough ski, and stiffer than the Salomon Pocket Rockets I used to have.
You may still be able to find deals on last years model in 164.
My husband is 6' 3" and 200 pounds and liked the PE in 174 length, for comparison.

 

[pinto]

I just demo'd the PEs, and liked them a lot. They are great for all over the mountain, in just about any snow condition you can throw at them. Not just a Park ski by any means! (Although they do jump well! )

I'd suggest 164 for him, because he's a lightweight kid. I tried both the 159 and the 164, and preferred the 159. It's a tough ski, and stiffer than the Salomon Pocket Rockets I used to have.
You may still be able to find deals on last years model in 164.
My husband is 6' 3" and 200 pounds and liked the PE in 174 length, for comparison.

Thanks so much ... I was reading your thread about them in the reviews, and it was quite helpful.

I'm pretty sure the Public Enemy is the right ski, but I'm just not sure about length. Yes, he IS a lightweight kid. But he won't stay that way. Right now, 164 would be great. But he is still fine on his other skis, although he could use a little bit more ski.

I think I'll just wait until summer. There is no better way to send him into a huge growth spurt than to buy skis! (It's just a weird age ... you never quite know with boys. His dad grew pretty early, so I keep thinking he's about to sprout a few inches, not to mention hair and whatnot. )

 

[pinto]

P.S. I keep saying I'm going to sell or replace (or give to my son etc) my Queen Attivas, but I keep skiing them and loving them.

They are a little short for big bowl powder skiing, but we went to Steamboat on Sunday, and they couldn't have been better skis for that mountain: wide enough for all the snow, and short and soft enough for all the trees. Wheeee!

 

[perma-grin]

Pinto, that photo would make an awesome christmas card!It's just gorgeous!

 

[num]

I second the Christmas card idea, get some shots of the whole fam out there. Absolutely beautiful!

 

[pinto]

I second the Christmas card idea, get some shots of the whole fam out there. Absolutely beautiful!

Can someone photoshop me in??