Am716
Certified Ski Diva
Hello. Back for more advice. I am looking for a new pair of skis but as much as I think I know which ones I want, whenever I go to buy them I stop and start second guessing myself.
Background info: 5’3.5in, about 110-130lbs (on any given day lol), I believe myself to be a true intermediate skier (my psia 3 instructor claims I am a level 7/8). I ski mainly hard packed in Michigan on some 154 Yumis which I like but they are letting me down a little bit after I got some really good training in this year and 600+ hours in (normally I only get in about 10-12 days or ~100ish hours).
I am looking for a ski that I can take out west but can also use in the right conditions in Michigan (I am looking at a completely different set of skis for my go to pair of skis for Michigan hard packed). Right now the debate is between some blizzard BPs (88 or 98), Blizzard Sheevas (9/92 or 10/102; honestly leaning towards the 10s), Salomon QST Lux, Völkl Secrets, Elan Ripstick (94 or 104)...
From the reviews the Sheevas and of course the BPs get outstanding reviews. My hesitation is, I demoed the BPs about 3 years ago and HATED them. But I hear they have gotten better, and that they usually need some tuning. Leaning a little bit more towards the Sheevas only because I hear they float and handle pow a little better than the BPs and are more playful. But I have also read that the BPs are pretty awesome on groomers and in pow.
The secrets also get awesome reviews. But some sites say they don’t float very well in powder (I am assuming because of the 92 waist) but they rip on hard packed which is what I Ski, but i really want a ski that can handle some fresh stuff and bumps and trees.
Ripsticks are supposed to be fun, but won’t lie, from the reviews I read they don’t quite get the same hype as the blizzards or Volkls. Same with the Salomons.
Demoing is almost out of the question due to our small demo fleets here in Michigan, as well as the season is mostly over at all resorts (except Boyne Mountain and some places in the UP).
Any thoughts? Any other suggestions? The more I research each ski, the more confused I become. 2 days ago I was ready to buy the sheeva 10s but couldnt find a site that sold them in the 164 length. Now I honestly have no idea what I want!!
Background info: 5’3.5in, about 110-130lbs (on any given day lol), I believe myself to be a true intermediate skier (my psia 3 instructor claims I am a level 7/8). I ski mainly hard packed in Michigan on some 154 Yumis which I like but they are letting me down a little bit after I got some really good training in this year and 600+ hours in (normally I only get in about 10-12 days or ~100ish hours).
I am looking for a ski that I can take out west but can also use in the right conditions in Michigan (I am looking at a completely different set of skis for my go to pair of skis for Michigan hard packed). Right now the debate is between some blizzard BPs (88 or 98), Blizzard Sheevas (9/92 or 10/102; honestly leaning towards the 10s), Salomon QST Lux, Völkl Secrets, Elan Ripstick (94 or 104)...
From the reviews the Sheevas and of course the BPs get outstanding reviews. My hesitation is, I demoed the BPs about 3 years ago and HATED them. But I hear they have gotten better, and that they usually need some tuning. Leaning a little bit more towards the Sheevas only because I hear they float and handle pow a little better than the BPs and are more playful. But I have also read that the BPs are pretty awesome on groomers and in pow.
The secrets also get awesome reviews. But some sites say they don’t float very well in powder (I am assuming because of the 92 waist) but they rip on hard packed which is what I Ski, but i really want a ski that can handle some fresh stuff and bumps and trees.
Ripsticks are supposed to be fun, but won’t lie, from the reviews I read they don’t quite get the same hype as the blizzards or Volkls. Same with the Salomons.
Demoing is almost out of the question due to our small demo fleets here in Michigan, as well as the season is mostly over at all resorts (except Boyne Mountain and some places in the UP).
Any thoughts? Any other suggestions? The more I research each ski, the more confused I become. 2 days ago I was ready to buy the sheeva 10s but couldnt find a site that sold them in the 164 length. Now I honestly have no idea what I want!!