Looking for new skis.

[crista]

I'm looking for new skis this year. I am 5ft4in and 124lbs. I am an advanced skier. I ski mostly in the Pacific North West. After a number of years off from down-hill skiing (have been mostly xc-skiing with the kids) I'm looking forward to this winter on the slopes. I've been looking at either the Fischer Vision 70 or 73 in the 152cm length. I would appreciate any recommendations.
Thanks.

 

[SnowHot]

Both of those skis get high marks by the Ski Divas that have been on them.

You'll find a few reviews
Fischer Vision 70
Fischer Vision 73
Another for the 70
Fischer Vision 73
And this of the Fischer Vision 73 which has a nice comparison to a few other skis
I wish I could give you a personal recommendation, but I have never tried this ski. I am very impressed with the great things I hear about it.

 

[crista]

thank you

Both sound like great skis. Don't think I can go wrong with either. One question still, how do you determine proper length. 153 seems quite short from my old school skis (180s). Any insignts on selecting length?
Thanks.

 

[ski now work later]

I think 153 is fine for you, but the next size up might also work if it's not too much longer.

 

[Pequenita]

One question still, how do you determine proper length. 153 seems quite short from my old school skis (180s). Any insignts on selecting length?
Thanks.

As a point of reference, I went from 175s in straight skis to 149s in shaped; I'm approx. 5 ft, 95-105lbs, depending on the scale's mood. There is a post somewhere recommending where the tips should be in relation to your head (ie, chin height, eye height, forehead height,etc.) depending on your abilities. You'll be able to feel a difference if you have the opportunity to try the same ski in different lengths. I'll hunt around on the site archives for the thread....


Here's the thread:

Ski Length Sizing Guide

 

[Jilly]

I'll add my history here too. I went from 190 to 154 but through about 4 pairs of skis. I'm 5'5 and 160 lbs. The 154's are a unisex ski. I skied the newer verison - Vision Breeze last winter at 160cm. Since you haven't been on the shaped skis try for middle of the face. Longer is good if you want speed and depending on your weight. 152 may just the right one. As an instructor I would recommend a lesson too on these new toys. It'll make the whole experience worth it.

 

[abc]

Instead of giving you what SKI works for me, I'll tell you what works for me: DEMO. But before you even start demoing, you should take a lesson or two ON SHAPE SKIS!!!

I went through what you just did last season. Couple of first impressions:

1) All the newer skis are too fat for my taste. I keep going narrower and narrower until I'm back to the same waist wigth as my old straight ski. They still got big fat tip and tail compared with my old ski though.

2) They turn on a dime! Being so short and so "shapely", turning isn't an issue, keeping (some of) them going straight is. But stability has more to do with construction and sidecut than just length alone. So just when you think you want to go long? See below:

3) Think length = stiffness. Don't think in terms of manuvability. You can manhandle anything under 170. But you may not be able to bend anything above 160!

So you need to find the right ski that has the stiffness and speed stability. It could be 153 in one ski and 160 on another. What I thought I want before lesson and demo, is quite different from what I actually got!

 

[volklgirl]

Instead of giving you what SKI works for me, I'll tell you what works for me: DEMO. But before you even start demoing, you should take a lesson or two ON SHAPE SKIS!!!

Best thing I've heard yet!

Getting shaped skis of any size then trying to ski them old-school is just wasting a perfectly great pair of skis. Look for an older instructor that skied on straight skis yet still rocks on the new skis.

FWIW, I went from 190cm (straight) to 180cm (1st gen shape) to 168cm (1st gen fatties) to 161cm then back up to 168-177cm last year.

 

[jaydog]

Yay, another Pacific Northwesterner! Where do you typically ski?

Make sure that whatever skis you get can stand up to heavy, wet snow, aka Cascade Concrete.