Powder skis for petite women

[badger]

Actually the shop did not steer me to this ski. My decision was based on the use, price and quality for a tool to enhance my potential for getting confident in powder. This may be a kid's ski, but it is beautifully constructed and is not light!

Thanks @Analisa for your input, really appreciate it! I will keep the mount as is, good advice.

 

[tinymoose]

Actually the shop did not steer me to this ski. My decision was based on the use, price and quality for a tool to enhance my potential for getting confident in powder. This may be a kid's ski, but it is beautifully constructed and is not light!

Thanks @Analisa for your input, really appreciate it! I will keep the mount as is, good advice.

You’re tweener sized like me. I feel like we can get away with higher end kids gear because we’re really not any bigger than a tween.

 

[badger]

You’re tweener sized like me. I feel like we can get away with higher end kids gear because we’re really not any bigger than a tween.

Exactly

 

[Chuyi]

You’re tweener sized like me. I feel like we can get away with higher end kids gear because we’re really not any bigger than a tween.

Wayyyy cheaper too

 

[tinymoose]

Wayyyy cheaper too

I got my Redster boots for $250 because previous year’s model.

 

[Jerez]

Bumping this thread because, well, there's snow in the forecast!

I have the precursor to the Liberty Genesis, the Liberty Envy in a 106/165. It's getting a bit long in the tooth and am thinking about a new powder ski. Current skis are not behaving the way they used to. Not as lively and experiencing some tip dive in many snow in the trees. I would have bought a new pair, but Liberty isn't making them anymore! They tried to steer me to an evolve 98 but I'm seeking an actual powder ski, not an all-mountain ski.

My quiver (beside the Liberty) consists of a Stockli Laser AX 78/154 (the yellow model) and a Peak 88/160. I am 5'3" (Shrunk over an inch since buying the Libertys!) and weigh in at 111 lbs. Older person; decent skier. On piste, I'm very much a directional skier, but I ski a lot of trees in NM and CO and want a ski that can swivel and turn on demand.

FYI, I really hated the old Rossi Soul 7. They were squirrely and I just couldn't trust them, especially at speed. They are the only skis I ever jettisoned because I didn't like them.

This last season I demoed the Volkl Blaze 106 during a knee-deep, very heavy and wet day at Winter Park. Liked them a lot in the relatively untracked snow, which lasted quite a while because it was so heavy a lot of folks had bailed after one run. I felt like the snow Queen until the snow tracked out and actually froze a bit in places, then I felt like the Jester. Then the skis were really knocked around, and it felt almost dangerous. I know it wasn't a fair trial for the skis but hesitate to buy them unless can verify that they could handle normal tracked out snow well and could get "through" snow as well as surf it.

Because I like the Peak 88, I'd consider a Peak 104 but wonder if it is enough of a powder ski as it's billed as a western daily driver.

I enjoy demoing, so tell me what else to try and why.

 

[Jerez]

PS: posted here instead of SkiTalk because I really want women's perspectives.

 

[marzNC]

Not sure it's possible to demo anywhere but around SLC, but I have great fun with my DPS skis at Taos and elsewhere when I catch a powder storm. I have an older pair of Zeldas, 106 underfoot. Can't remember what model that's evolved into.

I'm petite, 110 lbs, more or less 5'0", over 65, and only started skiing deep powder with some confidence in the last decade. Opted to get the Zeldas in the same length as my all-mountain skis, which are Stöckli Stormrider 85s. Bought the Stormriders at Taos from Le Ski Mastery.

 

[Jerez]

Thanks. That means I can probably demo at Taos. Fingers crossed for a deep day during the SkiTalk gathering.

 

[marzNC]

Thanks. That means I can probably demo at Taos. Fingers crossed for a deep day during the SkiTalk gathering.

To be clear, I've demo'd DPS skis at Alta, not Taos. When a Diva offered the Zeldas for sale, I already knew I liked them. Hadn't really planned on buying powder skis since it's a matter of luck for me to catch a deep powder storm while on a trip to big mountains.

That said, quite possible to demo powder skis at Taos. Although hard to know how many ski shops will exist this season. Le Ski Mastery is independent and still there. The TSV resort ski shop is still there. The other ski shops at TSV had been bought by Christie's in recent years. After the 2023-24 season was over, all those shops were closed both at TSV and elsewhere in NM.

 

[Jerez]

Got it. I missed that it was the Stormriders you got there. And, yes on the shops closing (Thanks a lot Christies). I miss the Boot Doctor. Luckily Charlie, the great boot fitter there is now working out of Bluebird in Santa Fe now.

 

[skivet]

Not sure it's possible to demo anywhere but around SLC, but I have great fun with my DPS skis at Taos and elsewhere when I catch a powder storm. I have an older pair of Zeldas, 106 underfoot. Can't remember what model that's evolved into.

I'm petite, 110 lbs, more or less 5'0", over 65, and only started skiing deep powder with some confidence in the last decade. Opted to get the Zeldas in the same length as my all-mountain skis, which are Stöckli Stormrider 85s. Bought the Stormriders at Taos from Le Ski Mastery.

Can I ask what length your skis are?

 

[Jerez]

Of course!
My quiver consists of a Stockli Laser AX 78/154 length (the yellow model) and a Peak 88/160. The Liberty powder skis are 106/165

 

[marzNC]

Can I ask what length your skis are?

My Stormrider 85s and my Zeldas are 159cm. That's been the length of all-mountain skis since I improved technique enough to feel like an advanced skier. I opted to get the Zeldas a little short since I planned to ski powder trees with them.

I've rented powder skis between 160-166 in length. I bit more length and width can help in deep snow that isn't fluffy. I've also skied my Stormriders in knee deep light powder and had great fun.

 

[skivet]

My Stormrider 85s and my Zeldas are 159cm. That's been the length of all-mountain skis since I improved technique enough to feel like an advanced skier. I opted to get the Zeldas a little short since I planned to ski powder trees with them.

I've rented powder skis between 160-166 in length. I bit more length and width can help in deep snow that isn't fluffy. I've also skied my Stormriders in knee deep light powder and had great fun.

I’m 5’0’’ as well and ski 150 in my all mountains

 

[marzNC]

I’m 5’0’’ as well and ski 150 in my all mountains

What length skis did you learn on? I only ask because my first experience was long ago on straight skis several inches above my head.

When I was an adventurous intermediate starting to ski more regularly, the first decent skis I bought were 75 underfoot and 154cm. The tips and tail were wide and were rockered. I could ski them comfortably in 4-6 inches of fresh snow.

For the way my skiing evolved as I took lessons in the past 15 years, the length that felt best was around 160cm at big mountains. For the short slopes in the southeast, I have skis that are about 10cm shorter. Those are Volkl Yumis, 84 underfoot, 147cm. I took them to Michigan last season.

I've had a few opportunities to demo the same model skis in different lengths. So choosing an appropriate length became simpler after a while. In general, I've bought skis that I've had a chance to demo within a year or two before the purchase.

 

[skivet]

What length skis did you learn on? I only ask because my first experience was long ago on straight skis several inches above my head.

When I was an adventurous intermediate starting to ski more regularly, the first decent skis I bought were 75 underfoot and 154cm. The tips and tail were wide and were rockered. I could ski them comfortably in 4-6 inches of fresh snow.

For the way my skiing evolved as I took lessons in the past 15 years, the length that felt best was around 160cm at big mountains. For the short slopes in the southeast, I have skis that are about 10cm shorter. Those are Volkl Yumis, 84 underfoot, 147cm. I took them to Michigan last season.

I've had a few opportunities to demo the same model skis in different lengths. So choosing an appropriate length became simpler after a while. In general, I've bought skis that I've had a chance to demo within a year or two before the purchase.

I learned on longer straight skis. Skied 160 cms for a long time. My current all mountains are 80 cm, 150s but I'm thinking about demo'ing wider skis at Alta next week.

 

[marzNC]

I learned on longer straight skis. Skied 160 cms for a long time. My current all mountains are 80 cm, 150s but I'm thinking about demo'ing wider skis at Alta next week.

I still have the straight skis I bought as a package deal in the early 1980s. First time I rented was during a business trip to Reno in the 1990s. The first skis they brought out were really short. I was only going to ski groomers but I insisted on skis the next size up. I was with a few co-workers. A friend of a co-worker was going to ski for the second time ever. He was probably 6 feet. It was funny to me that this skis were shorter than mine.

At Alta there are three different ski shops, which handle different brands. Alta Ski Shop is owned by Alta Ski Co., which owns/operates the lifts. The main Alta Ski Shop is at the Albion base in the same building as the Albion Grill. There is also an Alta Ski Shop with rental skis next to the Wildcat ticket office. Alta Ski Shop has the lowest rental rates. Powder House has a shop in GMD, Alta Lodge, the Rustler, and the Snowpine. There is a ski shop instead the Peruvian.

I don't remember all the brands each shop stocks. Alta Ski Shop has DPS skis. Powder House has Blizzard. For Kastle, need to get over to Peruvian.

 

[chasinghorizons]

I enjoy demoing, so tell me what else to try and why.

Late response, but I really enjoy my Salomon QST 106 in powder. I'm 5'1" / 115lbs and I have it in a 165cm. At that size it charges over tracked out crap in a way that is very confidence-inspiring, but also pivots quickly and is very maneuverable. As a more directional skier, I also appreciated it's more progressive mount point - it seemed like a lot of powder skis have mount points closer to center, which I find a bit harder to adjust to. Definitely worth adding to a demo list.

I also just found out that the Rossignol Sender Free 110 is being offered in lengths 160 and 168. Haven't tried them but my husband swears by his pair. Could also be worth demoing.

 

[scandium]

Bumping this thread because, well, there's snow in the forecast!

I have the precursor to the Liberty Genesis, the Liberty Envy in a 106/165. It's getting a bit long in the tooth and am thinking about a new powder ski. Current skis are not behaving the way they used to. Not as lively and experiencing some tip dive in many snow in the trees. I would have bought a new pair, but Liberty isn't making them anymore! They tried to steer me to an evolve 98 but I'm seeking an actual powder ski, not an all-mountain ski.

My quiver (beside the Liberty) consists of a Stockli Laser AX 78/154 (the yellow model) and a Peak 88/160. I am 5'3" (Shrunk over an inch since buying the Libertys!) and weigh in at 111 lbs. Older person; decent skier. On piste, I'm very much a directional skier, but I ski a lot of trees in NM and CO and want a ski that can swivel and turn on demand.

FYI, I really hated the old Rossi Soul 7. They were squirrely and I just couldn't trust them, especially at speed. They are the only skis I ever jettisoned because I didn't like them.

This last season I demoed the Volkl Blaze 106 during a knee-deep, very heavy and wet day at Winter Park. Liked them a lot in the relatively untracked snow, which lasted quite a while because it was so heavy a lot of folks had bailed after one run. I felt like the snow Queen until the snow tracked out and actually froze a bit in places, then I felt like the Jester. Then the skis were really knocked around, and it felt almost dangerous. I know it wasn't a fair trial for the skis but hesitate to buy them unless can verify that they could handle normal tracked out snow well and could get "through" snow as well as surf it.

Because I like the Peak 88, I'd consider a Peak 104 but wonder if it is enough of a powder ski as it's billed as a western daily driver.

I enjoy demoing, so tell me what else to try and why.

Second the Salomon QST 106! It floated well in knee-thigh depth powder in the trees (Annupuri in Japan) and I took it out in 157cm but could have gone longer, I'm 158cm and 120lb. It managed the piste fine (although the tracked out crap was soft, not solid/wet). My mother (163cm, 110lb) took out the Santa Ana 97 in 161 and felt it floated well enough although it isn't a dedicated powder ski.