Looking for a great all-mountain adv to expert ski

[NWGirl]

Hi there! I am looking for a great all-mountain advanced to expert ski. I ski about two times a week on pretty varied terrain - not sure if you know it but Alpental in Snoqualmie, WA. It is hit or miss as to what the snow conditions will be like. Which means some days it will be snow and ice and other days it could be what we all call powder. I like my skis but they really don't handle well in the backcountry or powder at all. So I am looking for something a little less narrow and shaped but will still do pretty well on the icy steep chutes. I really want to avoid owning two pairs of skis. Any recommendations?

My last skis were a men's and pretty light and flexible. They were 160s and I am about 5'8 150 lbs strong lean build.

I have been reading the discussions and was interested in the k2 lotta, burning, and tough luv skis but wasn't sure which would be the right match for me. I also was considering the Head Supershape Magnum but I'm not sure about a racing ski. Head Monsters were also a possibility but not sure exactly.

 

[volklgirl]

Volkl AURA!!!!!

Fat enough to float in pow, plows through crud and Sierra Cement, shapey enough to rock on the groomers, legendary Volkl ice grip, and soft enough to be forgiving. The only think that sucks about them is trying to find them in the right length. :(

What are you on now and what do you like or hate about it?

I tried the Head Monster 78 last weekend and was really impressed. Rock solid and very versatile but just didn't have the Volkl "pop" that I love.

 

[sbskier]

Dynastar Exclusive Legend Powder

They are great in all conditions. They are 85 under foot, so float through the powder and spring conditions. Try them, I think you will like them.

 

[Melissa]

Hi NWGirl!

I recently bought skis, and I was looking for a ski like you describe--great in varied terrain, great edge on ice, but also good in "powder" and crud.

I narrowed it down between the Fischer Vision Vapor (2008) and the Head Monster 77 (from last year).

I did a lot of research on these skis, read a ton of reviews, and talked to people who had skiied them before, and I even talked to a former Head rep.

The conclusion? The skis ski VERY similarly, and either would probably be a great choice. I ended up going with the Head Monster because of the technology that Head puts in their skis--not too sure how it will work in practice, but I figured it would be neat to try them out. The decision was seriously a toss-up though.

Sierra Snowboard has the Vapor on sale for $360 (bindings and shipping), and I got my Head Monsters from Level Nine Sports for like $350 (bindings and shipping) I think. Please note that I *have not skiied either ski*. If you can demo, that is definitely the way to go. Just figured that I'd share my experience!

PM me if you'd like to hear more about the research that I've done!

 

[oragejuice]

Volkl AURA!!!!!

Fat enough to float in pow, plows through crud and Sierra Cement, shapey enough to rock on the groomers, legendary Volkl ice grip, and soft enough to be forgiving.

I'm going to have to agree, completely. I'm from Seattle, and I regularly ski at Stevens Pass, but I made the trek up to Alpental/Summit Central last week. It was close to 40 degrees, 50 in the parking lot, and Central was sticky fun spring snow. My only pair of skis right now, is a 3 year old pair of Salomon Verse, in a 150. I was a beginner when I bought them, and I have tried several pairs of skis in search of something fatter and longer that actually works for me. I've been on the Salomon Mynx, Dynastar Exclusive Legend, Volkl Fuego and Tierra... I was only fond of the Fuego, but I don't want a carving ski, I'm becoming more and more fond of off-piste, and when its a groomer day, I stay in the park. So... when I speak of these skis, they are from a Seattle skiier's perspective.
Yesterday, I took the Auras up to Meadows (Mt. Hood). It had snowed a good five inches the night before, but 40 mph winds were blowing the snow all over the place. Conditions were soft with random ice spots where the new stuff had been blown away. In short, the Auras were AMAZING. I've never skiied anything this fat, and I had no trouble with them at all. Seriously, absolutely fantastic. They float in the soft stuff, the hold an edge on hardpack, they carve like my Salomons, and oh man, I love them.

ps- My dad and brother both ski on Mantras, almost exclusively. Groomer days, waist deep days, numerous trips through the park, they love them. My dad owns a pair of Volkl AC40s as well, and I haven't seen him on them more than once this year, and we've had quite the variable weather. Again, all out of Seattle.

 

[NWGirl]

Thanks everybody for all of your input. This is such a great website! I consider myself athletic and an avid skier but find the technical mechanics of skiing confusing and something I need to improve on.

I've been skiing for the last two years on Atomic SX 7 skis, from which I actually bought at a discount sale at Sports Authority. They are fun, light, and have rounded tips. My friends say they are ugly, unstable, and that I need to upgrade. In all honesty, I really like these skis and didn't imagine myself upgrading to something more advanced. Until, that is, I discovered the backcountry. These skis are much too narrowly-shaped for the kind of terrain I want to be skiing on.

I've been reading posts and talking to a bunch of other people and have decided to go with the K-2 Tough Luv ski. Our local ski store has them on sale for 50% off and in my size. Plus, I owe it to myself to splurge on something nice for myself.

Thanks again everyone for all of your posts!

 

[jaydog]

I guess I'm too late to recommend the Nordica Olympia Conquer, then. I demoed its slightly narrower sister the Victory over at Crystal, but you'd probably want the wider waist of the Conquer for Alpental. But the Tough Luv sounds like a good option.

I worked as a liftie for two years at Alpental- I've probably watched you load Armstrong a time or two! I'm currently a patroller at West/Central. Haven't made it over to Alpy yet this winter.

 

[NWGirl]

Changed my mind

Okay, so I just got back from the ski shop and now am the proud owners of new Head Monster 82s - which a friend had initially recommended to me. The K2 Tough Luvs looked just way too bulky for an all-mountain ski to me. I'm not ruling out the luv line of skis entirely and will probably demo them in the future. The in-store price was still 50% off so I still got a good deal. I'll let you know how they turn out!

Here they are:
https://sturtevants.altrec.com/shop/detail/31363/

 

[NWGirl]

Hey Jaydog ~

We may have crossed paths sometime because I'll go night-skiing over at Central every so often. If you see a girl with green Monster skis say hi. It'll more likely than not be me.

 

[ski diva]

Congrats on the new skis! Let us know how they work out! I'm a Head fan from waaay back.

 

[Melissa]

Yay, another Head Monster skiier! Please write a little review of them once you get to try them. I just ordered the Monster 77s, but mine won't come til Saturday (AH!). Cheers!

 

[SnowHot]

The few Head skis I've skied on have been very nice. When I get a chance I should try some more.

 

[jaydog]

Hey Jaydog ~

We may have crossed paths sometime because I'll go night-skiing over at Central every so often. If you see a girl with green Monster skis say hi. It'll more likely than not be me.

I'll be on the lookout! Although I'm at West more often than I'm at Central. If you see a patroller wearing a gray helmet with a BARK sticker, it's probably me

 

[powdergirl]

Hi NWGirl,
Let us know how the new skis work for you. Or I might see you at Alpental too, because I'm up there every chance I get.

My daughter just demo'd those same Head Monsters last night and declared they weren't the ski for her. I was curious to try them myself but we never got around to it, and anyway I was having too much fun on my brand new pair of Fischer Vapors which I fell in love with after demoing last week.