Need some fast skis - Fuego?

[skihub]

Hi all - I came across this site while investigating new skis for myself and I think it is great! I could use some advice:

I am an ex-racer who is going to get back into a weekly race league next season. I love to ski on steep groomed trails, fast, quick short turns. Did I mention fast? For now, I would like one ski to cover all my needs. I want to race without being held back by my gear, but also be able to ski with my kids comfortably on the blues.

I like the Fuego reviews. Is the Fuego the stiffest, fastest women's ski out there? I haven't been able to demo any women's stiff skis, but I have tried some unisex ones. The gang I ski with thinks I need men's skis because I am quite aggressive and strong. I am not sure and figured you expert ski divas could help... I did like the feel of the Atomic SL12 in a 160 cm but that is definitely a unisex race ski and not an all mountain type.

I am 5'5" about 175#. I workout 3-5 times per week and I am very strong for my height. I will be 40 years old soon.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions........

 

[oragejuice]

There is another thread about the Fuegos going right now, but in short. Buy them.

I'm the same height and weight as you, (minus 20 years... =S). Probably the same build as well. I jumped on those at the beginning of the season, and I LOVED them. Maybe I am crazy, but I found the Tierra to be a little stiffer, although they have a fatter waist than the Fuego. If I wanted a pair of groomer skis, and had the money, I would buy the Fuegos in an instant. I took them out for the first run of the day, on my first real day this season, I hadn't even been on my other ones, and I was skiing so well. Volkl makes fantastic skis, the Fuego is perfect example.

Hope that helps!

 

[volklgirl]

The Fuego or the Nordica Firefox are excellent and will keep an agressive skier like you quite happy (both are emminently racable as well).

I'd go with the 161cm for you in either model.

My review HERE

 

[skihub]

Thanks to both of you for the feedback and vote of confidence on the Fuego. I saw your review on the Nordica Firefox and Volkl Fuego Volklgirl, and it did help me a lot. It also made me decide to register on this site! Thanks again! I am hoping to get out skiing one more time, and hopefully it will be on the Fuego.

 

[greekpeakskier]

i'm think about the head "power thang" too. There aren't a ton of reviews of it on this site, but I skied it back to back with the Fuego and (I hate to say it here), found it zippier. The dimenions on the Fuego are 121 73 105 and on the Head are 111 66 97.

 

[marshmallows3]

I am not a racer, a recreational skier. i tried the fuegos on vermont snow conditions. They were great on the ice, but i found them clumsy and heavy in spring like cnditions. i didn't find them lively on semi-groomed conditions. any suggestions for another ski? How about soloman rush, K2 loves?

 

[SnowHot]

Volkl and Nordica are two ski mfgrs that are currently creating women's skis from the ground up, not just dumbing down the unisex ski line.

The Firefox is an amazing ski with some technology in it that Nordica has yet to put in any other ski, to date.
The Fuego is Volkl's counterpart to the Firefox and has blown away all who ski on it!!

 

[Jilly]

Salomon Rush is a groomer-carver ski, not an all mountain. The Siam series is their all mountain grouping from 2007. Jewel series is the 2008 update. Top end is the Origin, next down is the Topaz. Next year there is a great ski called the Opal. Both Ski Diva and I have tried it. See our reviews in gear reviews 2009 sneak peeks. I'm thinking about it for myself.

 

[canski]

SkiHub,
Give this one a try - I just demo'd and bought it yesterday!
Fischer RX8 Fire. It is a unisex ski (116/65/98 - same as the Race SC but lighter), with the added advantage of bindings, that with a simple screw, can go in 3 different positions - center, front, and back, by about 5/8" each. So you can set it up in a 'female' forward mounting position (which I did, and Bingo!)
Me: 55, skiing for 43 years - 5'5" 118lb - aggressive ex-instructor (wishing I had raced) type trying to keep up with the big boys, and these skis should do the trick - and I feel I could race on them. I got the 155 (which is the shortest they make) , moved that binding forward after a half dozen runs, and the skis became perfect (and I already liked them a lot!) - those tips felt like they were right under me for short zippy turns - (R11 for short turns!) but I could make long turns just as effortlessly. And I could go very fast without thinking - but they turned so easily at slower speeds as well.
I had been demoing Girly skis the past 2 weeks, and though they felt good on the groomed, they did get a bit light at times (when conditions weren't so good) - and the Power Thang and Fuego were the skis that I tried 2 different times - groomed (when everything is good and I liked them a lot) and not so good days (the Fuego's were 161's and may have been too long). I think that the girly skis have gotten too light for the most part for the ex-racer types - especially if the snow is not good groomed snow at all times. Yesterday was also a groomed day, but I could tell the difference - more 'solid' to the ground without being heavy - and great rebound when you load them up! I went over some ice patches (I could see them, but I couldn't feel them!) and thru a bit of piled sugar and spring snow and they just plowed thru, which I did not feel that the Power Thang or Fuego did as well without feeling a bit skittish, which I hate. Unfortunately there were not bumps to try, so in that department they may be a bit stiff for me, but I am not a bumper - I can ski them if necessary, but don't go searching them out - hoping that the shortness and quickness with make up for any stiffness in that situation. (Plus they were an awesome deal being demo's on sale at the end of the year and had barely been skied - and had retail, not demo bindings).
I must admit that I think I do like Fischers - my current skis are the Vision 76 (120/76/106) past 3 years - the only women's skis that I thought were 'tough' enough among the demos - but looking for an ice/groomer ski. We have had lots of snow this year, so the V76's have been great (an I will be keeping them for that), but on those other days, I felt the need.
Also my DH has had 2 pair of RX8's the past 5 years and raves about them. I finally got to try a short enough pair and can see why!
Anyway, my advice is always, demo, demo, demo - and if you can, put this one on your list.

 

[veggielasagna]

Very interesting about the RX-8. I had two guys from the shop @ Bromley yesterday recommend them. However, I am definitely far from your ability level. The same height and about 10 lbs. heavier, perhaps when I hone my skills a bit they will be one to check out!

-veggielasagna

 

[skihub]

Mmm - might have to do some investigating on the Fischer RX-8 also. I do mainly ski on groomed runs. I was pretty much narrowed down to the Volkl Fuego or the Nordica Firefox before the RX-8 was mentioned. I am concerned about weight of the skis. I want a stable, stiff ski but not heavy. I tried the unisex Nordica Doberman and I felt like I had bricks on my feet going up the chairlift.

I want to catch an end of the season deal on skis, but it is too late in the season to demo much around here. The good demo skis seem to be sold.

Does anyone have an experience on weight for the Fuego or Firefox? They both sound like a stable fast fun ski.

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[canski]

skihub,
You just described the RX8 Fire, stiff, stable, but not heavy (but heavier than a Fuego which has an oddly light tip, which bothered me) - no bricks, and I skied them for 4 hours, just powerful and damp with a great rebound if you load them up (a tough combination!). They excelled in short quick turns on the steeps, like a slalom ski, but could crank out wide sweeping GS turns if your weight is centered. They really reward aggressive skiing, but don't require it, so you can still do the blues with the kids. At my weight (118) I am concerned that they may be too stiff for me in the bumps (I'll probably find out this weekend), but I am hoping that the length (155 ) will compensate. My husband (185) has had 175's for 5 years and likes them in everything except powder over 6", even bumps, and he doesn't care for bumps. He says he can go as fast as he wants on them (there is some discussion whether there is any difference in the older versions and this and last year's other than the waist (65 now vs 66) - some folks say they are a more 'relaxed' ski now - but still getting rave reviews in most places - as in ski of the year contender). With your race background and weight, I really don't see you on a women's ski , either. Anywhere you can do an exchange if you don't like the ski after a few days? A good shop would let you.
Happy Easter.