Ski Around Sue
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I am putting this in the “gear review” section but please know that it is barely a review but rather my impressions of a few skis I tried the other day. I had wanted to be thoughtful and address different issues with the skis but it was all I could do to ski them.
I had been looking for some skis that were more suitable than the full camber carvers I have for Spring skiing and also skiing in a little fresh and chopped up snow.
A bit about me: I think of myself as an advanced intermediate, although I might want to ratchet that down a bit after yesterday. Almost 5'6". 195 ish on a bad day (which are most of them). Skied in my late teens/early 20s then not for many years until around 2011. East coast exclusively. Pennsylvania, not Vermont or New Hampshire. Small mountains.
So to find new skis, I did research online and I reached out on this board and received very helpful information. I compiled a list of skis that I wanted to try. I was surprised to find a place at a Pocono ski mountain that did demos and had a number of the ones that I wanted to try. The demos were not free - it was 3 for $60. If you bought skis within 7 days, they would credit you the $60.
I went in thinking I knew what I wanted. But instead, I learned a valuable lesson - that sometimes what you think you want is not what you want at all.
By the way, the ski shop was impressed that I did my homework and came in with a printout of their available skis with my notes and what I wanted, but I was second to the gentleman who came before me with a BINDER! No lie. I saw him later in the afternoon (with said binder - color coded and all!) He was serious about his ski search.
The day was cold in early morning but warming up late morning and afternoon. Perfect conditions to find my “do it all” ski.
It turned out that they didn’t have the ski I was most interested in - the Rossignol Experience 88 Ti - in the women’s - i.e. a length that I could reasonably ski. So, my first ski of the day was the Volkl Secret in the 163. I was excited to try this ski as is sounded like something I would like. I had read another review of this ski that said it was loud and boy was it! I noticed it making my way to the lift. The sound was off putting. But not as much as the ski.
Ok. Well, I’m not sure what I was thinking with a 92 waist ski. So different from my 76mm carvers. I had a bit of a time getting them on edge and after making my way only about 1/3 of the way down the (about 3/4 mile long) run, my ankles were KILLING me! This was my 3rd day of skiing in the last week, and I usually only do 1 or 2 at most but I don’t recall having sore ankles ever. My right ankle was especially pained. My left turn is my weakest so maybe this had been an ankle issue all along. I have twisted the right one badly on numerous occasions. Anyhow I couldn’t wait to trade this ski in for the next. The skis were plankish to me. I needed to be a much better skier to ski these skis. Back they went after one run.
My original list (when I thought I knew what I wanted) had the Nordica Santa Ana 93 next. Well, forget that. 93 was now out. So I went to third one on my list, the Elan Ripstick 86 in the 158,the narrowest ski on my list. Better than the Secret for me. More maneuverable. But I still felt like I was still a novice skier on them. I did 3 or 4 runs on these to give them a chance. In between one of them, I also skied my own skis down the same run to see how it compared. I liked my current skis better.
After the Secret and the Ripstick, I decided that I needed to go rogue. My list was out the window. The rep suggested I try the Nordica Astral either in the 84 or 78. Per the reviews, it has a tip like the Santa Ana but in a much narrower package. I choose the 78 in the 158. To heck with the wide ski!
The first run down on the Nordica Astral 78 and I finally felt like I knew how to ski. These skis were turny (is that a word?) and much more fun to ski than m previous two choices. Playful - is that the word? The Astral had a good bit of rocker in the tip and some in the tail. They handled the softening snow well and I had no fear skiing into the deeper sides of the runs. This has always been an issue with my current skis. Now I know these are no powder skis. I’m sure they aren’t great in the trees but you will never find me there (I would end up wrapped around one!)
Despite the warming, there was still a very little bit of skied off areas that were icy - nothing bad, just noticeable in a few locations. The Astral’s were not as good as my Rossignol Attraxion 8's in hold on ice. I’m guessing the rocker had something to do with this? Less effective edge?
But after riding the Astrals the rest of the day I was sold. They were fun to ski - light and playful. They handled the snow that I needed them to handle but still allowed me to make some fun turns without angering my ankles. But what if I was missing something? I went back into the shop to see if there were any other options. The only demo available that I really wanted to try was the Salomon Aria 80 Ti. The shop was kind enough to throw in a 4th demo at this point. I was really fatigued by then but wanted to try them. As soon as I got off the lift, I knew that I didn’t care for them. They were definitely more damp (if I’m using this term correctly) then the Nordicas. But also harder to turn and the edges almost caught up in the snow a few times which hadn’t happened all day on any of the skis I tried. Now I was really done. I brought the Salomons back after one run. I was tired.
[Very] Long story short, everything in the shop was 30% off. That, coupled with the credit for the $60 demo fee and the Nordica Astral 78s plus bindings were going to be about $330 plus tax. So, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! I bought them. I just couldn’t beat that price.
On the really cold days I’ll probably stick with my current ski but on the warmer ones, or days with fresh or chopped up snow, I’m kicking the Astrals.
I would have liked demo the Atomic Vantages. A number of the instructors at my mountain really love this one in the 77 but this shop didn’t sell Atomics and I don’t know when I’d get a chance to demo them. Maybe I’ll look into them down the road to replace my current drivers.
So, a bird in the hand...;-)
The real lesson that I took from this experience is that while you should do all the research you can ahead of time when it comes to buying new skis, know that what you think you want won’t always be what you really want. Be open to adapting on the fly.
I had been looking for some skis that were more suitable than the full camber carvers I have for Spring skiing and also skiing in a little fresh and chopped up snow.
A bit about me: I think of myself as an advanced intermediate, although I might want to ratchet that down a bit after yesterday. Almost 5'6". 195 ish on a bad day (which are most of them). Skied in my late teens/early 20s then not for many years until around 2011. East coast exclusively. Pennsylvania, not Vermont or New Hampshire. Small mountains.
So to find new skis, I did research online and I reached out on this board and received very helpful information. I compiled a list of skis that I wanted to try. I was surprised to find a place at a Pocono ski mountain that did demos and had a number of the ones that I wanted to try. The demos were not free - it was 3 for $60. If you bought skis within 7 days, they would credit you the $60.
I went in thinking I knew what I wanted. But instead, I learned a valuable lesson - that sometimes what you think you want is not what you want at all.
By the way, the ski shop was impressed that I did my homework and came in with a printout of their available skis with my notes and what I wanted, but I was second to the gentleman who came before me with a BINDER! No lie. I saw him later in the afternoon (with said binder - color coded and all!) He was serious about his ski search.
The day was cold in early morning but warming up late morning and afternoon. Perfect conditions to find my “do it all” ski.
It turned out that they didn’t have the ski I was most interested in - the Rossignol Experience 88 Ti - in the women’s - i.e. a length that I could reasonably ski. So, my first ski of the day was the Volkl Secret in the 163. I was excited to try this ski as is sounded like something I would like. I had read another review of this ski that said it was loud and boy was it! I noticed it making my way to the lift. The sound was off putting. But not as much as the ski.
Ok. Well, I’m not sure what I was thinking with a 92 waist ski. So different from my 76mm carvers. I had a bit of a time getting them on edge and after making my way only about 1/3 of the way down the (about 3/4 mile long) run, my ankles were KILLING me! This was my 3rd day of skiing in the last week, and I usually only do 1 or 2 at most but I don’t recall having sore ankles ever. My right ankle was especially pained. My left turn is my weakest so maybe this had been an ankle issue all along. I have twisted the right one badly on numerous occasions. Anyhow I couldn’t wait to trade this ski in for the next. The skis were plankish to me. I needed to be a much better skier to ski these skis. Back they went after one run.
My original list (when I thought I knew what I wanted) had the Nordica Santa Ana 93 next. Well, forget that. 93 was now out. So I went to third one on my list, the Elan Ripstick 86 in the 158,the narrowest ski on my list. Better than the Secret for me. More maneuverable. But I still felt like I was still a novice skier on them. I did 3 or 4 runs on these to give them a chance. In between one of them, I also skied my own skis down the same run to see how it compared. I liked my current skis better.
After the Secret and the Ripstick, I decided that I needed to go rogue. My list was out the window. The rep suggested I try the Nordica Astral either in the 84 or 78. Per the reviews, it has a tip like the Santa Ana but in a much narrower package. I choose the 78 in the 158. To heck with the wide ski!
The first run down on the Nordica Astral 78 and I finally felt like I knew how to ski. These skis were turny (is that a word?) and much more fun to ski than m previous two choices. Playful - is that the word? The Astral had a good bit of rocker in the tip and some in the tail. They handled the softening snow well and I had no fear skiing into the deeper sides of the runs. This has always been an issue with my current skis. Now I know these are no powder skis. I’m sure they aren’t great in the trees but you will never find me there (I would end up wrapped around one!)
Despite the warming, there was still a very little bit of skied off areas that were icy - nothing bad, just noticeable in a few locations. The Astral’s were not as good as my Rossignol Attraxion 8's in hold on ice. I’m guessing the rocker had something to do with this? Less effective edge?
But after riding the Astrals the rest of the day I was sold. They were fun to ski - light and playful. They handled the snow that I needed them to handle but still allowed me to make some fun turns without angering my ankles. But what if I was missing something? I went back into the shop to see if there were any other options. The only demo available that I really wanted to try was the Salomon Aria 80 Ti. The shop was kind enough to throw in a 4th demo at this point. I was really fatigued by then but wanted to try them. As soon as I got off the lift, I knew that I didn’t care for them. They were definitely more damp (if I’m using this term correctly) then the Nordicas. But also harder to turn and the edges almost caught up in the snow a few times which hadn’t happened all day on any of the skis I tried. Now I was really done. I brought the Salomons back after one run. I was tired.
[Very] Long story short, everything in the shop was 30% off. That, coupled with the credit for the $60 demo fee and the Nordica Astral 78s plus bindings were going to be about $330 plus tax. So, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! I bought them. I just couldn’t beat that price.
On the really cold days I’ll probably stick with my current ski but on the warmer ones, or days with fresh or chopped up snow, I’m kicking the Astrals.
I would have liked demo the Atomic Vantages. A number of the instructors at my mountain really love this one in the 77 but this shop didn’t sell Atomics and I don’t know when I’d get a chance to demo them. Maybe I’ll look into them down the road to replace my current drivers.
So, a bird in the hand...;-)
The real lesson that I took from this experience is that while you should do all the research you can ahead of time when it comes to buying new skis, know that what you think you want won’t always be what you really want. Be open to adapting on the fly.
A couple of my favorites actually! From what I have read the Nordica Astrals are a fun and friendly ski line; I have been meaning to pop on the Astral 84 or 88 at a demo day. My husband just got the Nordica Navigator 90 which is similar in design/construction to the Astral - he loves it.
