Question: New Gear

[Carol]

Hi everyone.
I'm a somewhat new skier and have been taking lessons this season at Winter Park (I live in Denver). I'm tackling the easier blues now and have been renting skis and boots. I'm going to a boot fitter this Friday to get fitted for my own pari of boots. (I have huge calves and hope that they can help me on this).
Anyway, I want to buy my own skis now. I'm renting the K2 Sweet Luv 142cm and am doing well. I'm 5'2" and 143 lbs.
I am looking at the K2 Burnin Luv or the K2 One Luv, in a longer length so that I can grow with it in the future. Unfortunately, the ski stores here don't have anything under 149cm for demos and I am not ready to jump from 142 to 149 yet to try as a demo. (I tried a friend's pair and couldn't control them at all).
So I was thinking about one of those two skis at the moment as it is a good step up or two from what I am renting, but in a 149 length, to buy at the end of the season when I hopefully become a better skier.
What do you guys think? Any other suggestions? I like to ski the groomers right now and have done the Mary Jane moguls at Winter Park. That was a blast. There's not much ice here at all either. Not too crazy about the powder as of yet. I end up face down in it every time.

 

[Robyn]

Try some other brands as well. Different manufacturers have hugely different feels to their skis. You won't know if you like something more or less without trying it. Volkl, Head, Fischer and Dynastar all come to mind.

 

[ski now work later]

You actually might prefer a ski in the 150 range, even longer if it's a twin tip. Longer skis can be more stable especially at speed, as long as they aren't too stiff for you to flex them.

My daughter started with the Sweet Luv and now skis the True Luv but she only skis a few days each season. I recommend that you try the Volkl Luna in a 149, it's a great ski for soft and groomed conditions, easy to flex, you should be able to find it to demo at a ski shop. Volkls and K2s are both great skis, but are different, and Robyn is right about trying different brands if you can.