My head hurts... help me w/my 1st ski purchase!

[snowbunny1976]

Hello all!

I've been doing a lot of research here and on the rest of the internet, trying to narrow down my choices of skis that are appropriate for me.

I've been skiing only about 1-2 days a year for about 10 years now. However, until 2 years ago, I've never ventured off greens. Now I'm skiing easy blues, but get overcome with fear on the harder ones. I mostly ski out East - PA/NJ/NY/VT (or as I joking call it "ice skating"), but have gotten some exposure in Utah recently, which is where I developed my courage to venture onto more challenging territory (challenging for me, that is :P).

I'm looking to step my game up and improve my skill. I have dreams of black diamonds -under my skis, not on my hands LOL! I want to own a better pair of skis, ones that'll help me improve, and will grow with me as well and not be beneath me in a year. I currently have some old ex-rentals Rossignols 150cm that I bought from Mountain Creek off-season when they were making way for new rental gear - and that was 4 years ago. The skis I was renting in Utah (hell if I can remember what they were - I just remember they were yellow!) were fabulous, and I really think they were what helped me gain the confidence to kick it up a notch. I'm not a speed demon, and don't want anything that'll have me flying like a bat outta hell, but I want to be able to work on my carving. OH - and stats: 5'2", 125-135lbs (depends on if I've been watching my carb intake or not :P).

After reading reviews here and elsewhere, I'm looking at these:
- Elan Black Magic
- Salomon Siam 5 (are these too beginner for me?)
- Volkl Attiva Aire or Oceana
- K2 True Luv or One Luv

The Volkl's and K2's I'm having trouble determining which would be most appropriate for me. And size confuses me too -- someone at the local ski shop by me said I needed 146cm in the True Luvs and said the 153's would be too big. However, I'm thinking he's wrong???

After all the reading I've been doing, I'm confused as all get-out! Unfortunately, I can't find a place to demo and none of the resorts near me have demo days the rest of the season. Any insight you can offer will be a great help!

PS - I bought new boots a few weeks ago... LOVE them!!

 

[smpayne]

Either of the K2s or Volkls look like they would be a good fit. The 07 One Luv is narrower than the 08. You may want to consider the Volkl Luna also, it is a little wider in the waist, would like the UT snow better. Can't comment on the others, but I'm sure others will have awsome opinions.

Most rental shops will let you rent demo skis (sometimes this years, sometimes last years only), but it will cost you. However, this is probably the best way to determine which size you prefer. At the mountain is best, then you can switch them out during the day. K2s are weird and look a longer than the measurment reads, but supposedly, they ski like the equivalent measurement of another brand. I am still trying to determine the best size for me.

If you absolutely can't try the different sizes, then go with your gut (I always regret it when I don't). Read the "sticky" on ski length it should give you some guidlines to help make your decission.

 

[lucine]

For an easy intermediate the true luvs would be a great fit the one luvs you could grow into as well The true Luv is a great all mountain intermediate ski in the west I do not know about the East.
They keep trying to get us to ski shorter and shorter
I have a friend who is 5'3" and she is on the 153 but she may be a wee bit more advanced in skill and need the length for speed.

correct me Divas, but isn't length required for stability at speed?

We have a store here "Colorado Ski and Golf" that does not offer easy demo's but does offer a --ski it for a few tries and if you hate it we will return the ski -and apply the $$$ to a new pair.

Talk to many sales folks, ski instructors and other folks on the hill and then just DO IT!

Have fun

 

[Kano]

Check with the rental shop at the resort you ski -- ours has demo skis too, not just the "mass rental" skis. Not a lot of them, probably because they don't have a great demand, but they do have them.

MY feeling is that since you only ski a couple of times a year, it's probably cost effective to always rent them. That way, you could be using current technology every time you're out!

We stopped in the rental shop at Bogus the other day, just to see what they have to offer, how much for a day rental, and that sort of thing. Rental Shop Dude says "today's a Tough Luv kind of day" -- and it WAS! Wind, visibility, snowing, blowing, driving, just in general, it was a tough luv kind of day! Of course, he was talking about the snow...

I have luvved my True Luvs. They've taken me good places here in Idaho, but now that I'm skiing different parts of the mountain, I'm finding things that this little "all mountain" ski doesn't like to play on. It is designed more for groomed runs than crud and powder! As long as I can keep my speed reasonable, they're happy on just about anything groomed, though they didn't seem to like that double-black diamond ice sheet we went on one day a few years ago any better than I did!

When I get new skis, I'll keep them for oh, say, bumps, and maybe early and late season skiing -- and get something that can bust through crud better than these little guys do!

Kano

 

[Pequenita]

correct me Divas, but isn't length required for stability at speed?

Generally, yah, but stability (in my head) is more about being at an appropriate length for your weight. So, I'm 95-100 lbs, and a stiff ski in 146 is perfectly stable for me. A 153 is stable for me, too, but faster (more surface area on the snow). Someone heavier than me would be more likely find that a 146 is unstable at speed.

 

[toughgirl]

Snowbunny, I ski just like you. Green for the longest time and now i'm on blues... but sometimes I freeze when I see a steep lol. I'm in NJ so i know all too well the ice skating issue.

I bought the 08 one luvs 146 after demoing them at Windham, NY. They have a good demo center so i'd check them out. I'm short of
5'2 and weigh 146. I found the shorter allows me more control so I can get more confident and become a Carver one day ..

I'm also very competitive w/my husband and friends, so I went with the one luvs over the true luvs b/c I felt I could grow with them vs. out growing the true luvs. Hope that helps.

 

[snowbunny1976]

Toughgirl -
I've never been skiing up in NY; I'll have to check that out. I called around to the rental shops near me and near the resorts I ski (NJ/PA), and none of them had any demos :(

That was my thought about the One Luv's over the True Luv's - that I'd be able to grow into them a little better than the True's, but was afraid they might be too much ski?? But glad to hear you're happy with yours. I'm starting to ski with some different people these days, and they're SO much more advanced than me. But that's a good thing - they're pushing me to get better (as well as I'm refusing to be the sissy girl of the group!), and I've seen a spike in my confidence just by being with them. Although it's funny how the same run I did earlier with them suddenly seems scary when I do it by myself LOL! But I digress...

Kano -
Everyone I know that has the True Luv's is truly in luv with them (so corny, I know!)... I'm so confused! I wish I could find a way to demo! I'll just have to keep looking, I guess.

Anyone have any insight on the other skis I listed as well???

Thanks for the advice, Divas!

 

[toughgirl]

Snowbunny,

Another option if you can't get up to NYthere are some ski shops, like Pelican Ski in NJ that have a demo rental option. Its more a lease to buy... you lease them for the season and at end of season you buy or decide to lease something different next season.

 

[snowbunny1976]

Snowbunny,

Another option if you can't get up to NYthere are some ski shops, like Pelican Ski in NJ that have a demo rental option. Its more a lease to buy... you lease them for the season and at end of season you buy or decide to lease something different next season.

Thanks for the tip about Pelican Ski! They're a bit out of my way, but I'll make the trip if they'll let me rent/demo the skis I'm interested in. I'll give them a call!

 

[oneluv2ski]

hi snowbunny1976 - I have to agree with the others who recommend that you demo the skis you're considering.

I just bought myself new skis in Dec. - like you, I am 5'2" and 130-135 lbs(depending on my carb intake as well!), I am perhaps a bit more advanced of a skier (consider myself an advanced intermediate who skis diamonds out East with regularity), and I ended up with the K2 One Luvs 146cm. They're fantastic... making me better already.

At my size, I found the True Luvs to be too light of a ski for me... couldn't keep them steady on the snow. The One Luvs have a bit more weight, which for me keeps them smooth on the snow... I absolutely love sking on them!!!... the most fun skiing I've had in years.

I tried some Atomic Sugar Mamas and Volkl Lunas as well, but they also felt too light for me. The demo experience was invaluable in helping me to very clearly realize which ski was for me, and the cost of the demo is often discounted off the price of the skis if you buy them from the place you demo. (Jiminy Peak, MA - Potter Bros. ski shop; Sunday River, ME ski shop; and I'm sure lots of others)

I don't doubt my purchase for a second... I am in love with my One Luvs!! At the end of the day, your preferences may be different than mine, so I encourage you to get out on the slopes and demo some skis. Good luck!

 

[meredithCO]

One more to consider...

I was heading to more blacks last year when I shredded my ACL. I'm back this year and am sticking mainly to blues. To help me transition back on the slopes, I wanted an all-mountain ski that wouldn't send me zipping down at lightening speed but that I could do just about anything in. I bought this year's Dynastar Legends and LOVE them. Light weight, responsive, but under MY control vs. having a mind of their own. With these -- and some boot/canting work -- I have felt for the first time the meaning of "carving" my turns. If you get a chance to demo them, I say do it.

My first pair were K2 Title 9 Flights and loved those for many years before this year's upgrade. K2 also makes a good women's ski, IMHO.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up with!

 

[smpayne]

Although it's funny how the same run I did earlier with them suddenly seems scary when I do it by myself LOL! But I digress...

DITTO!

I think it helps to know that there is someone there to pick up the pieces if you go down. It also helps to watch someone else go down first and follow them, or not if they find an ice patch

 

[AnnKH]

I tried K2 Flights, and didn't like them nearly as well as the Atomic Balanze C:9 I ended up buying. I don't know the technical difference between these skis; all I know is that the Atomics sang to me; the K2's did not.

I was amazed at how different they felt (these being the first new skis I'd tried since 1976). I HIGHLY recommend trying out any ski you plan to buy.

 

[Randi]

Hi Snowbunny-

I ski true luvs and avg around 35-40 days a year, mainly in bumped out/advanced terrain. They work just fine for me. In fact, the only difference I noticed between 'one' and 'true' is saving $400.00 which I was then able to spend on a weekend getaway at Sunday River.

.02

 

[snowbunny1976]

In fact, the only difference I noticed between 'one' and 'true' is saving $400.00 which I was then able to spend on a weekend getaway at Sunday River.

That's hilarious! I was wondering about that...

 

[Solincia]

That's hilarious! I was wondering about that...

Snowbunny, I'm in the same situation you are in.

I found the K2 One luvs at www.o2gearshop.com for $449.99 though. Haven't bought them, as I want to visit my local shop and check them out in person. I don't think I'll be able to demo any skis this year, so I might have to take a leap of faith.

 

[lucine]

I just bought my new volkl fuego at 02gearshop.

Wow
I ordered on a monday after they had closed, gave them the wrong email address, called on Tuesday as I noticed I had made a mistake. They were sent out Tuesday with FREE shipping and they were delivered on Friday!
I am very impressed with this online retailer.

And I love my skis.

 

[cosmogirl]

I haven't had new skis in a long time and received the Elan speed magic's as a gift this year! They rock! I've always wanted Elan skis since, omg, highschool. Hmmmmm, I've waited a loooonnng time! They did not disappoint! However, many I know ski the K2's and love, love love them! almost makes me think I should have a pair of these. My cousin has the Elan black magic and says these have helped her improve!

 

[daniwrites]

I absolutely LOVE my K2 One Luv's!

I had been researching for quite a while before I finally decided on them and I couldn't be happier. Between these skis and my new boots, I feel 100xs better out there. I ski longer doing more runs than before, and have gained confidence on steeper blues and blacks.

I also ski East Coast...PA (Blue Mountain almost every Sunday) or
VT when I go away for the weekend. I'm planning a trip to CO in April and feel these will perform well there too.

Good luck with your search!

 

[snowbunny1976]

I also ski East Coast...PA (Blue Mountain almost every Sunday) or VT when I go away for the weekend.

I was at Blue Mt. yesterday! Were you there?