Help Needed: Powder Ski help - no demo possible

[judes]

Hi girls,

This is my first post, I need some help!

I live in Western Australia so the nearest shop which sells skis is some 4000km away. I go to Japan to go skiing (often deepish powder) and at the moment I have some (super soft) Salomon Verse 8 skis which I believe are a beginner ski.

This season for the first time, I really felt I was outgrowing them and am looking to upgrade - and buy online. I will be visiting the US in a month so will pick them up then.

I am looking for an all-mountain ski (a one-ski quiver as I have to cart it about 10000km to go skiing) which is great in deep powder but also good on courduroy, choppy stuff, and just a dusting of snow - its rarely icy there so doesn't need skill in that department.
I have narrowed down to:
Salomon Scarlet 154cm
Head Sweet Fat Thang
Line Celebrity (length?)
The K2 Lotta Luvs sound like they may be a bit heavy for me.

I am 162cm (5'4) and 55kg (120pounds) and high intermediate/expert skier. I like slower skiing through nice tight trees in the powder

THe Volkl Auras have great reviews but don't seem to be available online. For obvious reasons I can't demo anything at all.

ANy ideas??

THanks!

Judit

 

[ski now work later]

Scarlets are fun, but I don't think they make a 154 length any more. I have a pair in that length from the '07 season. They're a little soft though and have a speed limit. They are great fun in trees and bumps and soft snow.

I haven't skied the Line Celebreties, but I hear they are a great all mountain ski.

Both the Scarlet and the Celebreties are twin tips.

I am an Aura owner and to me, they are the perfect one-ski quiver except on bulletproof ice or icy "death cookies" like we get in the Northeast. The new Auras are available from untracked.com and they ship to Australia

 

[judes]

Length?

Hi Ski now,

I am leaning towards the Line Celebrities, as I would really like some twin tips - last season I found myself going backwards and enjoying small jumps.

I have read so many reviews of all of them - how the heck do I pick?!

Length-wise... the Lines are available in 158 and 165, how many cm would the twin tip count for? Would a 165cm even if a twin tip, be too long for my light-ish weight and just under 5'4 height?

THanks for your help,
Judit

 

[alta_gal83]

A 165 will NOT be too long at 5'4. I'm also 5'4 and I ski in the 170 range when possible. If you get a twin tip always remember that they ski shorter than they really are because the tips and the tails, which are curved upward take some of the surface that actually touches the snow away.

In short, a 165 would be pretty much you're ideal length.

 

[ski now work later]

Length depends on your skill level. At my skill level (strong intermediate) I would stick with the 158 for your height and weight.

 

[Katherine Smith]

Hi Judit - Last year I bought at the ski show some ski's that people said - oh they are great - great reviews - but not necessarily for me I found - I am suffering through them... great in powder - good thing I like speed, because they don't hold edges and the on piste gets fast! Although difficult to try before you buy, I am certain that you can find some in Japan (I am heading there in Feb '09, is my little plan).

158 is a good length. I tried the Heads and loved them - that was on spring snow in Southern Ontario but there was some ice. One of my Ski Goddess friends has herself a pair this year - as she ski's in Southern Ontario (ice) and is moving to western Canada (read mountains). She is 5'0 - 5'2" and loved them in demo too. I am 5'8" and 170lbs, and am considering the 170's.

Does this help? Best thing is to pray for vast amounts of snow in the US in a month and hope for the best! () and get some time to try before you buy!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Hi and welcome! Ah, big decision, I sympathize. I demo'd skis last winter in 6" fresh, with ice/hard pack beneath it. I loved the K2 Lotta Luvs (I'm in your weight range) in 160, but they do prefer more speed. A slightly more maneuverable all-mountain ski in your preferred speed range for what you like (trees) is the 158 Dynastar Exclusive Legend. (That's what I wound up with, it won "by a hair.") Also, the same in "powder" version is 10mm wider at the waist (85 v. 75) and has regularly ranked in "best of" category from most reviewers. Again, consider 158.

(Some here will laugh...NO, I do NOT rep for Dynastar but probably should....it just is a ski brand that totally works for me - why mess with a good thing, and the availability and deals abound.... unlike the Aura, sadly, which seems to now be going to "highest bidder"....)

 

[Katherine Smith]

Agree with Maine Lady on the Dynastar's

I LOVE my 10's - and keep looking at The Exclusive Legend. I still have my 10's lined up and ready to go for this season... and they are 4 years old! I am in holding position - but Maine Lady - hm - maybe I can come down, visit you, and go out on some Exclusive's!

 

[oragejuice]

A slightly more maneuverable all-mountain ski in your preferred speed range for what you like (trees) is the 158 Dynastar Exclusive Legend. (That's what I wound up with, it won "by a hair.") Also, the same in "powder" version is 10mm wider at the waist (85 v. 75) and has regularly ranked in "best of" category from most reviewers. Again, consider 158.

(Some here will laugh...NO, I do NOT rep for Dynastar but probably should....it just is a ski brand that totally works for me - why mess with a good thing, and the availability and deals abound.... unlike the Aura, sadly, which seems to now be going to "highest bidder"....)

I've been tempted on numerous occasions to pick up the Exclusive Legend Powder. It's a really nice ski. My only gripe... is that Dynastar's skis feel wayyy light, and almost flimsy, to me. I almost forgot I had boards underneath my boots. Which might be cool, but I no likey. But, for a lighter woman, or if you're looking for that lightness... I think they would be fantastic.

I'm looking exclusively at Volkls this year, because... they feel heavy/solid enough for me, and I'm turning into a snob. To each their own? Yeah, I'm on the Aura wagon too, but... here's to variety, eh!?

 

[volklgirl]

Auras rock.

I'd also say that 154 is too short for you for a twin/powder ski, JMHO.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I've been tempted on numerous occasions to pick up the Exclusive Legend Powder. It's a really nice ski. My only gripe... is that Dynastar's skis feel wayyy light, and almost flimsy, to me. I almost forgot I had boards underneath my boots. Which might be cool, but I no likey. But, for a lighter woman, or if you're looking for that lightness... I think they would be fantastic.

My precise point, for judes. I am definitely in her weight range, and although I do agree with you that the skis are almost unimaginably light, this doesn't correlate to their performance characteristics. At least they didn't for me. This is a great ski for a lighter weight advanced skier. There is the ever-present factor called pressure control, which has a lot to do with body weight. I've skied much heavier, burlier skis -- in years of yore when my legs were more willing -- and they are infinitely more work at 120# than for someone with more mass able to exert more pressure control.