retromaven
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
First I'd like to say "hi" to all you ski Divas. It's great that there is FINALLY an all women's ski resource, which has been so long overdue. Many THANX to the original "SkiDiva" for developing this.
I am hoping you ladies, who seem to have quite a bit of experience with the Fischer Visions, will help me decide which of the two Fischer models would be right for me. Here's a little info on me/my skiing ability so you can best guide me:
I'm going to be 44 next month and have been on a long hiatus from skiing (9 years) due to health (lupus), having kids and no one to ski with, as hubby doesn't (gasp!) ski and I have not met one women in my area who does! Well anyway, I finally want to get back to the sport I love, despite the obstacles. My 9 year old daughter wants to learn to ski and I signed up for a weekly mid-week women's ski group/clinic that meets at a local mountain to get my feet wet again, and have decided if I don't make a few friends in the group looking to ski other places/times, I will ski alone or with my daughter as she progresses as she is a quick study, as has been good on skates and gymnastics as I had been as a young girl.
When I unceremoniously stopped skiing I was =much= (50lbs) lighter (LOL), and have been skiing since I've been about 13. I would put myself at a solid 7/8 (mostly carver) and when I took lessons would be put in advanced/expert category for group/private, although I am not particularly aggressive and need to be pushed a bit, or ski with better skiers to feel challenged. I usually skied with "the boys" for that push, but now that I am older, heavier (5'2" 155lb, but very muscular, especially in the legs) and have more stiffness due to the lupus (but am still in good physical condition), I am looking to ski with my daughter as she progresses in lessons, and then mainly stay on the blue runs with forays into black diamond and a mogul field or two occasionally when feeling up for it. I'm not looking to do "high speed" steeps or be a "Bump Queen" and at this point "built for comfort, not for speed, controled skier" best describes me !! Skiing in the East, especially where I am, I will be on a lot of hard pack and ice and I understand this ski holds an edge well in those conditions, right?
Anyway, I say all this now, but who knows? If it's a good season, and I get out a lot, I can be fickle, so might want something with a bit more "growing room" in there. I am hoping it will be like riding a bike and after a few rusty go's, I'll be not to far off from my former skill level, and maybe even improve, especially with the new advances in skis.
That's where my indecision lies. I think I've narrowed down my choice (I grew up on Fischers and always liked the way they skied) to the Vision 70 and the Vision 73. The Vision 70 seems good for what I am looking to do now, but I wonder if I feel better skiing than I anticipate or meet some more aggressive women skiers in my group and feel like I'm up for the challenge, will I regret not having the Vision 73. My gut tells me to go with the 73, my target skiing tells me Vision 70. I considered other skis from Volkl, Atomic and Dynastar, but I think the Fischers seem best suited for what I am looking for out of a ski.
Then there is the length issue. Obviously, not being on new skis in almost a decade, lengths are shorter. I've always skied 165/170 skis in the past, even though I was significantly lighter. I'm thinking about either ski in a 158 length or based on weight the 164, but seeing what others are skiing on here in the Vision, I'm thinking 164 might be too long?
What boots are you guys in skiing the Visions? I'll be in a Solly Rush, and if anyone uses them, let me know how you like them. They were a great fit inside, albeit a bit tight around my very muscular calves. They were still one of the best I tried, to cope with that issue, other than Dalbellos, which were more forgiving in the calf, but that I personally wasn't wowed by, seemed too soft of a boot in the price range I could afford. Anyway, I may or may not need them tweaked depending how they pack out. Have most of you had your boots tweaked at a specialty boot fitter? I see there are a few Jersey/NYC gals here, so any recommendations for boot fitters (I know there is a good one in Hunter, NY, but if there was one closer to Metro NY/NJ that would be stellar!) or more individualized ski shops would be welcome too.
I know I'm asking a lot. I appreciate in advance your replies - THANX!
"JJ"
I am hoping you ladies, who seem to have quite a bit of experience with the Fischer Visions, will help me decide which of the two Fischer models would be right for me. Here's a little info on me/my skiing ability so you can best guide me:
I'm going to be 44 next month and have been on a long hiatus from skiing (9 years) due to health (lupus), having kids and no one to ski with, as hubby doesn't (gasp!) ski and I have not met one women in my area who does! Well anyway, I finally want to get back to the sport I love, despite the obstacles. My 9 year old daughter wants to learn to ski and I signed up for a weekly mid-week women's ski group/clinic that meets at a local mountain to get my feet wet again, and have decided if I don't make a few friends in the group looking to ski other places/times, I will ski alone or with my daughter as she progresses as she is a quick study, as has been good on skates and gymnastics as I had been as a young girl.
When I unceremoniously stopped skiing I was =much= (50lbs) lighter (LOL), and have been skiing since I've been about 13. I would put myself at a solid 7/8 (mostly carver) and when I took lessons would be put in advanced/expert category for group/private, although I am not particularly aggressive and need to be pushed a bit, or ski with better skiers to feel challenged. I usually skied with "the boys" for that push, but now that I am older, heavier (5'2" 155lb, but very muscular, especially in the legs) and have more stiffness due to the lupus (but am still in good physical condition), I am looking to ski with my daughter as she progresses in lessons, and then mainly stay on the blue runs with forays into black diamond and a mogul field or two occasionally when feeling up for it. I'm not looking to do "high speed" steeps or be a "Bump Queen" and at this point "built for comfort, not for speed, controled skier" best describes me !! Skiing in the East, especially where I am, I will be on a lot of hard pack and ice and I understand this ski holds an edge well in those conditions, right?
Anyway, I say all this now, but who knows? If it's a good season, and I get out a lot, I can be fickle, so might want something with a bit more "growing room" in there. I am hoping it will be like riding a bike and after a few rusty go's, I'll be not to far off from my former skill level, and maybe even improve, especially with the new advances in skis.
That's where my indecision lies. I think I've narrowed down my choice (I grew up on Fischers and always liked the way they skied) to the Vision 70 and the Vision 73. The Vision 70 seems good for what I am looking to do now, but I wonder if I feel better skiing than I anticipate or meet some more aggressive women skiers in my group and feel like I'm up for the challenge, will I regret not having the Vision 73. My gut tells me to go with the 73, my target skiing tells me Vision 70. I considered other skis from Volkl, Atomic and Dynastar, but I think the Fischers seem best suited for what I am looking for out of a ski.
Then there is the length issue. Obviously, not being on new skis in almost a decade, lengths are shorter. I've always skied 165/170 skis in the past, even though I was significantly lighter. I'm thinking about either ski in a 158 length or based on weight the 164, but seeing what others are skiing on here in the Vision, I'm thinking 164 might be too long?
What boots are you guys in skiing the Visions? I'll be in a Solly Rush, and if anyone uses them, let me know how you like them. They were a great fit inside, albeit a bit tight around my very muscular calves. They were still one of the best I tried, to cope with that issue, other than Dalbellos, which were more forgiving in the calf, but that I personally wasn't wowed by, seemed too soft of a boot in the price range I could afford. Anyway, I may or may not need them tweaked depending how they pack out. Have most of you had your boots tweaked at a specialty boot fitter? I see there are a few Jersey/NYC gals here, so any recommendations for boot fitters (I know there is a good one in Hunter, NY, but if there was one closer to Metro NY/NJ that would be stellar!) or more individualized ski shops would be welcome too.
I know I'm asking a lot. I appreciate in advance your replies - THANX!
"JJ"