molls
Diva in Training
I started skiing again as a young adult a season and a half ago on some 2014/15 Atomic Affinity Airs. They are 140cm, 74 underfoot with rocker tips (9cm splay, 15cm depth) and slight rocker tails (3cm splay, 7 cm depth). I got them second hand and didn’t put too much research into them as I had no idea what I wanted and just wanted to start skiing on something. Now, I feel like I’m ready for something that is a better match for my skill and style. I have a LOT of questions/considerations I would appreciate some help with, particularly from other petite skiers.
About me: 5’2” and 100lb. I would say that I am an all mountain skier and want to do a little bit of everything. I like the adrenaline of speed, the glide of fresh groomers, and I’m constantly eyeing side hits (though currently building the confidence to commit to them more as I usually chicken out). I have tried some powder/tree skiing and enjoy it when it goes well, but find myself struggling a lot getting caught/stuck, or not having the confidence to commit to the terrain. I don’t think my current skis are doing me any favors in that department though! I would also consider myself a solid intermediate with a desire to keep progressing, especially off-piste and in steeper terrain. My home mountain is Bogus Basin (Idaho, mountain west), I’ve skied around 20 days this season and expect to do 20-25 days again next season, if not more.
As far as research goes, I’ve read Blister’s 2021-2022 gear guide (is the 2022-2023 one worth buying for updated info re: women’s skis?) and checked out Outdoor Gear Labs list of women’s skis, as well as reading some of the threads here (I’m new though so not familiar with everything yet!). On paper, I ruled out most wider skis because the available lengths seem too long- ski length calculators put me between 143-150cm. I guess question number 1 is how big of a ski can I use before I get myself into trouble? I had initially ruled out the Sheeva 10 but upon more reading, the effective edge is shorter so it’s back on my list. On a related note, does ski waist scale with skier weight/height like ski length does? Is wider ski going to be more challenging than a narrower ski at the same length? Expanding my upper length limit would bring a lot more skis into consideration, but I also don’t want to demo/buy a ski that is going to be too big for me. Open to length suggestions for all options listed below.
With that in mind, the skis that stand out to me are the BP88, Elan Ripstick 94, Renoun Earhart 88, and Sheeva 9 or 10. Below is what I find appealing and what gives me hesitation about each one:
BP88 pros: stability for high speeds and choppy snow, has popularity going for it/tried and true.
BP88 cons/questions: concerned about lack of playfulness, still having my current problems off-piste and in powder (though can I expect less sinking in powder than the average person bc of weighing less?)
Ripstick pros: great playful/powder performance
Ripstick cons/questions: stability at high speed/rough snow, and would 94 be too wide for me for an all mountain? Am I going to suffer on groomers?
Earhart pros: better off-piste than BP88, light and forgiving
Earhart cons/questions: upon reading a full Blister review, it seems like a lot of the appeal of this ski is that it stiffens up under higher forces. My concern is that I won’t have the weight to push the ski to that point and that it would just be a soft ski under me.
Sheeva 9/10 pros: soft tails are appealing as my big off-piste hang-up is lack of confidence leaning forward and steering with my tips, progressive mount. After reading Analisa’s review it seems like a good fit (I’d put myself in her ‘ballsy intermediate’ category, ‘skiing cautiously but with rhythm and flow’ sounds exactly up my alley as I progress).
Sheeva 9/10 cons/questions: 10 might be a bit big? How do they compare to the Sheeva 9?
I know my ski shop has a BP88 147cm or 153cm that I can demo this weekend, and if I like one I could buy the demo pair with bindings for under $600 which is a pretty good deal. My other demo options are Volkl Kenja 88 149cm, Secret 96 156cm, or Rossignol Rallybird 92 154cm.
Aside from which ski to get, I also would appreciate input on how you decided when it was the right time to buy/when you felt you had enough info to make a decision with confidence. Budget is a consideration for me so the lower-cost demo BP88s are really appealing, but I also don’t want to rush into getting them and regret not trying other skis. Right now, I feel like all I can see are the costs to each decision- rushing into buying a good deal ski too soon that ends up being the wrong one, or spending a lot of time and money demoing a bunch of options and staying on my current less-than-ideal skis all the while- which is throwing a layer of buyer anxiety over what should also be a really fun, exciting purchase.
Your sage ski-buying advice will be much appreciated! Happy to provide extra details and information if I left anything important out, and I’m open to suggestions of things not on my list. Thank you!!
About me: 5’2” and 100lb. I would say that I am an all mountain skier and want to do a little bit of everything. I like the adrenaline of speed, the glide of fresh groomers, and I’m constantly eyeing side hits (though currently building the confidence to commit to them more as I usually chicken out). I have tried some powder/tree skiing and enjoy it when it goes well, but find myself struggling a lot getting caught/stuck, or not having the confidence to commit to the terrain. I don’t think my current skis are doing me any favors in that department though! I would also consider myself a solid intermediate with a desire to keep progressing, especially off-piste and in steeper terrain. My home mountain is Bogus Basin (Idaho, mountain west), I’ve skied around 20 days this season and expect to do 20-25 days again next season, if not more.
As far as research goes, I’ve read Blister’s 2021-2022 gear guide (is the 2022-2023 one worth buying for updated info re: women’s skis?) and checked out Outdoor Gear Labs list of women’s skis, as well as reading some of the threads here (I’m new though so not familiar with everything yet!). On paper, I ruled out most wider skis because the available lengths seem too long- ski length calculators put me between 143-150cm. I guess question number 1 is how big of a ski can I use before I get myself into trouble? I had initially ruled out the Sheeva 10 but upon more reading, the effective edge is shorter so it’s back on my list. On a related note, does ski waist scale with skier weight/height like ski length does? Is wider ski going to be more challenging than a narrower ski at the same length? Expanding my upper length limit would bring a lot more skis into consideration, but I also don’t want to demo/buy a ski that is going to be too big for me. Open to length suggestions for all options listed below.
With that in mind, the skis that stand out to me are the BP88, Elan Ripstick 94, Renoun Earhart 88, and Sheeva 9 or 10. Below is what I find appealing and what gives me hesitation about each one:
BP88 pros: stability for high speeds and choppy snow, has popularity going for it/tried and true.
BP88 cons/questions: concerned about lack of playfulness, still having my current problems off-piste and in powder (though can I expect less sinking in powder than the average person bc of weighing less?)
Ripstick pros: great playful/powder performance
Ripstick cons/questions: stability at high speed/rough snow, and would 94 be too wide for me for an all mountain? Am I going to suffer on groomers?
Earhart pros: better off-piste than BP88, light and forgiving
Earhart cons/questions: upon reading a full Blister review, it seems like a lot of the appeal of this ski is that it stiffens up under higher forces. My concern is that I won’t have the weight to push the ski to that point and that it would just be a soft ski under me.
Sheeva 9/10 pros: soft tails are appealing as my big off-piste hang-up is lack of confidence leaning forward and steering with my tips, progressive mount. After reading Analisa’s review it seems like a good fit (I’d put myself in her ‘ballsy intermediate’ category, ‘skiing cautiously but with rhythm and flow’ sounds exactly up my alley as I progress).
Sheeva 9/10 cons/questions: 10 might be a bit big? How do they compare to the Sheeva 9?
I know my ski shop has a BP88 147cm or 153cm that I can demo this weekend, and if I like one I could buy the demo pair with bindings for under $600 which is a pretty good deal. My other demo options are Volkl Kenja 88 149cm, Secret 96 156cm, or Rossignol Rallybird 92 154cm.
Aside from which ski to get, I also would appreciate input on how you decided when it was the right time to buy/when you felt you had enough info to make a decision with confidence. Budget is a consideration for me so the lower-cost demo BP88s are really appealing, but I also don’t want to rush into getting them and regret not trying other skis. Right now, I feel like all I can see are the costs to each decision- rushing into buying a good deal ski too soon that ends up being the wrong one, or spending a lot of time and money demoing a bunch of options and staying on my current less-than-ideal skis all the while- which is throwing a layer of buyer anxiety over what should also be a really fun, exciting purchase.
Your sage ski-buying advice will be much appreciated! Happy to provide extra details and information if I left anything important out, and I’m open to suggestions of things not on my list. Thank you!!
