Hi,
I am looking for a long overdue upgrade to all-mountain skis to better handle west-coast (Tahoe area) conditions. For the past 10years (yes, that long overdue!) I have been surviving on Volk Attiva's (76 waist, 153length) out here but want something around the mid-to-high 90's width.. nothing too narrow but nothing too wide that it tips to big-mountain. I mostly ski on-piste/groomers, probably because my narrow/stiff skis aren't that fun on crud, bumps, etc. but there is plenty of ungrommed terrain here in Tahoe that I find myself on. (Grew up skiing strictly east coast, so I am most familiar with ice and that a ski needs to have a descent edge..ha)
Winter 2018/2019 season I demoed Volkl Secrets 92 and Nordica SA 93 and while I liked them both and was very interested in buying one of the two, I actually ended up completely blowing out my ACL after a wee tumble. So there went the rest of that season and last, or the thought of buying skis that I injured myself on (I can't remember which skis I was on at the time of the fall)
This season I was gently suggested by my boyfriend (a big-time advanced-expert skier who lead me down that fateful trail.. haha) to try a wider waist. So far I have demoed Blizzard Black Pearl 97s (159) and Nordica SA 98s (158 and 165). I understand they have made some changes from last year's model (I didn't try them back in 2018-'19 bc they came in 98/100 and I didn't want to go that wide then). I liked them both, maybe the 165length SAs the most but wondering if anyone else has tried them and/or any other suggestions I should demo before making the plunge at the end of the year when they go on demo-sale? Should I try the narrower 92/93's again?
I am just shy of 5'-5" about 117lbs. Before my accident I would consider myself a Type III skier, but with a reconstructed ACL I am probably taking it more cautious this year until I get comfortable/confident that my knee is in fact okay. All is to say that I hope to get back to being an aggressive skier, actually enjoy Tahoe conditions with proper skis, and being able to occasionally go off-piste.
thanks so much in advanced (and reading my saga..lols)
I am looking for a long overdue upgrade to all-mountain skis to better handle west-coast (Tahoe area) conditions. For the past 10years (yes, that long overdue!) I have been surviving on Volk Attiva's (76 waist, 153length) out here but want something around the mid-to-high 90's width.. nothing too narrow but nothing too wide that it tips to big-mountain. I mostly ski on-piste/groomers, probably because my narrow/stiff skis aren't that fun on crud, bumps, etc. but there is plenty of ungrommed terrain here in Tahoe that I find myself on. (Grew up skiing strictly east coast, so I am most familiar with ice and that a ski needs to have a descent edge..ha)
Winter 2018/2019 season I demoed Volkl Secrets 92 and Nordica SA 93 and while I liked them both and was very interested in buying one of the two, I actually ended up completely blowing out my ACL after a wee tumble. So there went the rest of that season and last, or the thought of buying skis that I injured myself on (I can't remember which skis I was on at the time of the fall)
This season I was gently suggested by my boyfriend (a big-time advanced-expert skier who lead me down that fateful trail.. haha) to try a wider waist. So far I have demoed Blizzard Black Pearl 97s (159) and Nordica SA 98s (158 and 165). I understand they have made some changes from last year's model (I didn't try them back in 2018-'19 bc they came in 98/100 and I didn't want to go that wide then). I liked them both, maybe the 165length SAs the most but wondering if anyone else has tried them and/or any other suggestions I should demo before making the plunge at the end of the year when they go on demo-sale? Should I try the narrower 92/93's again?
I am just shy of 5'-5" about 117lbs. Before my accident I would consider myself a Type III skier, but with a reconstructed ACL I am probably taking it more cautious this year until I get comfortable/confident that my knee is in fact okay. All is to say that I hope to get back to being an aggressive skier, actually enjoy Tahoe conditions with proper skis, and being able to occasionally go off-piste.
thanks so much in advanced (and reading my saga..lols)