Panicked about new skis

[Born2ski]

Hi,

I've never done this before but I need some feedback from women - cause I'm getting way too much from the men!
just bought my first shaped ski, a 167 K2 Burning Luv. I got such a great deal I figured if they were too long, I'd sell them next season.

I WAS excited, but every guy I've talked to, except one, says they are way too big & very agressive. (Mind you, none of these guys have seen me ski)

Now I'm afraid the ski will be more then I can handle & I'll suck!
I've been skiing about 40+ years, all levels. Don't know how I'd compare to all of you, but compared to most midwest skiers, I'd be an 'expert'. I'm more conservative now & unfortunaely ski mostly midwest. Not big into tons of moduls - I prefer to ski very fast, and LUV quick turns...It's an addiction
Pushing 50 next yr (yikes!), weigh 117, 5'5".
Was sking 190 OLIN DTV's, which were long & I loved them.

I had my boots custom fitted yesterday & the shop just called to tell me they were 'discussing my skis' and found a better length that I should buy instead! They recommend 'I don't use that ski - it's too long". Thoughts???

 

[Shellski]

I'd take all that with a grain of salt. There is no hard and fast rule as to what length is 'right', it's all just a guideline anyway.

Burnin' Luvs are a fantastic ski, they aren't a beginner's ski, but they are forgiving and easy to ski. 'Way too big and very aggressive' is rot. I have the 160's, I am the same height as you, quite a bit heavier, but I have been skiing on shorter, shaped skis for close to 10 years.

I think you might have been fine on a shorter length, but I don't think the length you have is necessarily a mistake either, I think you are going to 'LUV' them!

 

[Robyn]

I'm the same height as you but quite a bit heavier as well and ski 163s so I wouldn't think that the ones you bought are way out of your range.

 

[Pequenita]

I can see why the guys in the shop think that they're long for your height and weight, and to top it all off, your first pair of shaped skis. Have you spent time on shaped skis in the past? I found they took some getting used to.

 

[SnowHot]

Its not going to hurt to try your skis. Not like the shorter skis won't be there if you decide you don't like them.

What am I betting on?
I'm betting you try your 167's and LOVE the Luv!!!

I, personally, think that women are being sold too short on ski length, for the day to day ski.

I've owned the K2 Burnin Luv in a 168, and would not have liked it if I'd gone shorter.
OTOH, I have a few other pair of skis that are shorter, with a different purpose in mind, and I like them just fine.
I also have a few pair that are longer.........again, for a different purpose.

Don't let the men tell you that you can't use these skis to their potential.

Report back to tell us how much you like your new skis!

 

[SkiMave]

My quick question? Whatever would possess you to think that men know better than you ?!?

The first sign that this cannot possibly be true, is that you are now a member of this site !

You go girl !!!! These skis will definitely work for you because now you have the motivation to prove them wrong......:ROTF:

 

[perma-grin]

Hi Born2ski,
I'll add my to cents here too. My opinion for what ever it's worth is this, you will be just fine on that ski. I say that because this is your first pair of true shape skis and while the side cut of the Burnin luv is fairly aggressive it is not unmanageable. The tail will still allow for a little skidding if you haven't quite dialed in on your slightly wider stance and foot tipping skills yet. This ski was built off of the "Mach" slalom ski that k2 use to produce. When they stopped producing the Mach they tweaked the sidecut and flex to produce the burnin luv! K2 has a great group of women testers ( instructors, coaches,extreme skiers) that have a lot to do with how their skis are designed. If you loved your DTV's you will do well on these Burnin Luv's. K2 and Olin were long time sister company's and had a very similar feeling and sweet spot. Let me quess the shop that you took them to doesn't sell K2. If you are a level 6-9 you will be very happy on that ski. Would I have put you on that length ,probably just a smidge shorter BUT and this is a hugh but, based of the fact that you have been skiing on a longer more traditonal ski I think that you are making a big enough transition dropping down the 20 cm that you have already. That is a big drop! And the lateral movements that we make on the new shorter skis are alot different than the rotational movements we use to initiate turns on the longer sraigther skis of years past. If you have a hard time on them PM me and we can try to get together I'll get you rockin on them!!! I would blow off the shop guy's most of the time they are just trying to sell you something else. Don't listen to those stinky boy's they have kootie's!! To quote my "ripper girls team" (7-14) "Girls Rule,Boys drool, cause chicks ski fast!!!!! Maybe that was a quarter!Lol.

 

[altagirl]

I agree. Maybe in the future you'll decide you want something shorter in the quiver too. But my first shaped skis were a 178 and they were great. I used them for years and loved them.

I'm 5'8" and have everything from 160's to 185's in my quiver - different lengths and dimensions for different purposes. And if I had to stick with only one ski, it would definitely be in the 175-180 range for length, no question.

So I definitely do not think those are going to be completely wrong for you. Might you find you end up liking a different ski better in the future? Sure, but I think they'd be just fine to make the transition on and once you're used to shaped skis, hit a demo day and test out a bunch of stuff and see if there might be something more ideal for you.

Have fun!

 

[Born2ski]

That's what I've heard....No, never even demo'd a pair. I know, stupid... thus the panick. You have to start somewhere, but I suspect just adjusting to the shaped ski will be challenging enough.

 

[ISki]

Were you skiing your 190's last season?

 

[lil mountain girl]

I WAS excited, but every guy I've talked to, except one, says they are way too big & very agressive. (Mind you, none of these guys have seen me ski)

they've never even seen you ski?

silly folks and their assumptions!

go with your gut and give those skis a whirl . . . you never know until you try, right?

most people are surprised when i tell them i ski on 178s . . . it depends on the person, the ski, and soooo many other factors . . .

the only way to know if you'll like them is to ski, girl, SKI!!!!!

and enjoy your new sticks

 

[Squaw]

years ago when I switched over I also went with a longer pair....could not imagine going so short! It was fine. Must agree with all these other great Divas have said. In more recent years, I have gone to a shorter length....age does creep up and it is great to not work so hard. Multiple sizes in the quiver, multiple choices given the condition of hill and body and mind.

Jen

 

[pinto]

I will echo the remarks about going short for the first time ... my straights were 195, and my first shaped were 178. I've since gone shorter, and now I'm re-adjusting a little bit longer, but there's no need to make such a huge change all at once.

 

[IntheClouds]

Hi,

I got such a great deal I figured if they were too long, I'd sell them next season.

I WAS excited, but every guy I've talked to, except one, says they are way too big & very agressive. (Mind you, none of these guys have seen me ski)

Now I'm afraid the ski will be more then I can handle & I'll suck!
I've been skiing about 40+ years, all levels. Don't know how I'd compare to all of you, but compared to most midwest skiers, I'd be an 'expert'. I'm more conservative now & unfortunaely ski mostly midwest. Not big into tons of moduls - I prefer to ski very fast, and LUV quick turns...It's an addiction
Pushing 50 next yr (yikes!), weigh 117, 5'5".
Was sking 190 OLIN DTV's, which were long & I loved them.

I had my boots custom fitted yesterday & the shop just called to tell me they were 'discussing my skis' and found a better length that I should buy instead! They recommend 'I don't use that ski - it's too long". Thoughts???

You figured right the first time. These are NOT a difficult ski to use. Not for a beginner to use, but intermediates & above not a problem. Others have commented in reviews that they have a speed limit, so the extra length may help push the limit a little higher to suit your desire for speed. You were right with your insticts, so enjoy !

 

[DianaLucas]

K2 True Luv's

I'm reading your threads with interest.

After much analysis and procrastination, I have closeted my beloved rock-star Volant Machete McGs 175s, and bought K2 True Luv 153s on Saturday.

I am 43, 140lbs, 5'7", with a bum left knee (ski accidents), a member of Mt. Washington Ski Resort, our alpine destination on Vancouver Island. Quite used to high winds, fog skiing with touches of vertigo, quad burning concrete snow, knee-twisting super-heavy powder. Island conditions. I don't know what I'd do with champagne powder, its only in my dreams.

I was hesitant on going so low to 153 but the K2s seem to measure longer somehow, and I'm not an aggressive skier, I'm slower nowadays, so I am hoping dearly that I will Love the Luv on Friday when I head up to Mt. Wash.

Thanks for your thoughts and input, it's helpful,

Diana Lucas, Victoria, British Columbia

 

[num]

Don't let the guys get you down. It's easy to overthink a purchase after making it. I've caught myself poring through reviews and other options after buying something online, before it comes. The fact is that once I get the skis on the snow, all that doubt goes out the window and I just have a blast.

Though they're not the length I would have recommended given your height and weight, I think your idea (selling them after a season if they aren't quite what you want) is a great one. By next season you'll log some time on these, and hopefully get a chance to demo some stuff, and you'll be able to get a much better idea of what you like and don't like in a shaped ski.

I think a lesson to get used to them would be a good idea. It seems shaped skis take some getting used to, as Pequenita said.

Where in the midwest are you? There are a few of us midwesterners on here. I live in Chicago but usually ski Wisconsin, and we've got some Wisconsinites, Michiganders and I believe an Iowan on here. Any midwesterners I'm not thinking of?

 

[perma-grin]

I just thought of something else that might be helpful for your adjustment phase. Shapes can be a little more Hookey than straight skis. Trying dulling back your tips and tails about 3 inches from the snow-break, on either end. Nothing major, and don't ref on them with your diamond stone, less is more. ( or go way hi-tech and use a paper based emery board. Lol! it works!) Just dull enough at tip and tails so that they aren't grabby, sometimes that extra width can be a tricky at first. I always do this for my students their first time on shapes. If your not sure about this PM me and I'll explain it.

 

[liquidfeet]

All the women I ski with in my ski club who have been skiing forever as you have, who skied straight skis all that time, ski now on shaped skis which are said to be "too long" for them. We ski the same kind of snow as you ski, since we are in New England. They were used to skiing long skis just as you were, and when they went short (168-176) it was a big jump down for them. They ski just fine on those skis, even though they are told all the time that they are too long.

They do weigh more than you, however. This might prove to be the important factor. You'll only know after you try them. your experience bending the longer straight skis will probably help you bend these skis just fine. Best of luck.

 

[ski now work later]

I skied on old straight skis but was never a very good skier. I'm 5'7" and weigh 145 lbs. and started skiing 3 seasons ago. I'm an intermediate to advanced skier depending on terrain familiarity and conditions, and I found that I ski much better at the 156 length then a 161 or a 163 length. As my skills progress, I would be fine with a longer ski, but if you are at all like me, you might find the 167s to be a bit long. I like a shorter turning radius as well for the most flexibility. Either way, don't sweat it. You can keep the Burnin Luvs, sell them, or whatever. I gave up last season beating myself up for equipment and ski clothing/accessory mistakes I made. I lost a lot of $ but sold everything that I didn't need, and am happy that the items are out there being used and this season I *think* I'm properly outfitted! It's not that the money didn't matter, it's that I was being really hard on myself and I decided to cut that out!

 

[dloveski]

As I explore ski gear, I have learned that almost as important as length, is the mounting of the binding. I discovered that on a couple of pair of my skis, the setting was wrong--too far back. Adjustments forward, although small, made a difference in the balance and feel. (I stood on this funky balance tool to find the center).

Have any other Divas adjusted their binding? It may be a factor in being 'centered' in your ski, regardless of length.