Recent Demo Reviews

[Aerlind]

A friend of mine posted her reviews from a recent demo day at Loveland, CO. Friend is an expert skier, PSIA L3 instructor, has taught skiing for 40? Years, mostly at Copper Mountain. She’s a very technical skier but not afraid to push the speed either. She’s in her 70s, and probably 5’5” and 120-130lbs, give or take an inch or two and a few lbs, for context. Hopefully her reviews will help some other Divas out there!

 

[contesstant]

LOL her review of the Camox Birdie is hilarious! And I echo her sentiments of "noisy" skis like the Secret 96. Oh, and yeah, I rather love the Sheeva 9s as well.

 

[wernerslab]

Thanks for sharing! The language she uses is a lot more " my language" than reading some of the other sites and manufacturer info.

 

[santacruz skier]

I have to agree with her review of the Elan Ripstick 88. Tried at Mt Rose and absolutely could not wait to get off them.

 

[Amie H]

Very interesting. I'm not her height, weight, or ability level but minimally this tells me what to avoid.

I will say I'm surprised at a few observations bc they contrast with what I've read/heard from other reviewers elsewhere online.

I demo'ed Head Total Joys (I think it was this model?) in 2019 and felt they were absolutely not for me. But I thought my sister would like them? We have different body types/skiing styles. It may have been a different "- Joy" line ski.

 

[elemmac]

I'll throw a food for thought to anyone reading this thread and taking her perceptions into their decisions. IMO, at her size and technical ability...she skied the Camox, the Ripstick, and the ARV in a size too short. And I'm actually a little surprised that she liked the Sheeva in that size as well. While none of these are necessarily going to be ripper, aggressive skis in the correct size, skiing them short will quickly lead to instabilities (which seems like she felt pretty heavily).

 

[Amie H]

I'll throw a food for thought to anyone reading this thread and taking her perceptions into their decisions. IMO, at her size and technical ability...she skied the Camox, the Ripstick, and the ARV in a size too short. And I'm actually a little surprised that she liked the Sheeva in that size as well. While none of these are necessarily going to be ripper, aggressive skis in the correct size, skiing them short will quickly lead to instabilities (which seems like she felt pretty heavily).

Yeah, i've been really curious about the camox birdie bc other reviews have raved about them doing well on hardpack and being great in the deep stuff. They are double rockered, too, so ski even shorter, Im told.

 

[santacruz skier]

Yeah, i've been really curious about the camox birdie bc other reviews have raved about them doing well on hardpack and being great in the deep stuff. They are double rockered, too, so ski even shorter, Im told.

Mine are older from 2017-2018 and stiffer than newer models, but are in the Northstar house garage in a 156 ! Wish I was up there and you could try them....

 

[Amie H]

@santacruz skier You are so sweet. We would have to REALLY adjust the DIN settings though You are so tiny compared to me.

 

[santacruz skier]

Enjoy Northstar ! Looks like a lot still open...

 

[Amie H]

@santacruz skier Yes, everything I like is open. And I have 2 days of EPIC multi-day left to burn bc no Beaver Creek for me this year (conditions did not justify the lodging rates. I just wouldn't do it.)

My friend I'm coming back with in April really wants to visit Heavenly so we will schlep down there on a Thursday if the weather cooperates. THOUGHT about going there this week...but based on recent videos I've seen and knowing/experiencing how so much of Cali side melts/slushifies by 1pm, I think not worth the drive.

 

[santacruz skier]

@santacruz skier Yes, everything I like is open. And I have 2 days of EPIC multi-day left to burn bc no Beaver Creek for me this year (conditions did not justify the lodging rates. I just wouldn't do it.)

My friend I'm coming back with in April really wants to visit Heavenly so we will schlep down there on a Thursday if the weather cooperates. THOUGHT about going there this week...but based on recent videos I've seen and knowing/experiencing how so much of Cali side melts/slushifies by 1pm, I think not worth the drive.

It really all depends.... the Nevada side (especially Comet and Dipper) gets slushy FAST.... usually the CA side (Ridge run, top of Sky, top of Canyon will be firm in the morning. If it's getting cold, cold at night and daytime temps are warm, then you're dealing with freeze/thaw conditions.

That being said, Heavenly is also higher than Northstar by at least 1,500 ft....

 

[elemmac]

Yeah, i've been really curious about the camox birdie bc other reviews have raved about them doing well on hardpack and being great in the deep stuff. They are double rockered, too, so ski even shorter, Im told.

While I wouldn't rave about its hardpack performance or speediness abilities. I'm pretty surprised for someone to say it "won't hold a carve" or "unstable at speed". To me this is either a terrible tune, or the ski is too short, both of which produces skittishness and instabilities.

ETA: I also agree that the Elan Ripstick isn't exactly for hard chargers, or heavily technically driven skiers...I would have never considered someone of her stature and skills to be on a 161. It has a decently substantial underfoot platform, but if you drive the tips or load up the tails...it can quickly feel like a noodle.

 

[Aerlind]

Yeah, i've been really curious about the camox birdie bc other reviews have raved about them doing well on hardpack and being great in the deep stuff. They are double rockered, too, so ski even shorter, Im told.

For what it’s worth, my SO (Male, 6’ tall, skinny so maybe 160lbs, and an expert skier) said the same about the Camox: fun in bumps/trees/soft snow, was very very difficult to get to carve and hold an edge and generally unstable on hardpack. He was on the same length he usually skies on, something in the 183 range.

As for my friend skiing short, there is a chance that those were the available lengths to demo, I ran into that at Jackson’s demo tent: I could demo anything but only in 156ish or 165ish. I would hope a women’s focused demo program would have more available lengths, but I’m not familiar with this particular program. She also may be an inch or two shorter than listed: I’m going off of memory, and given her age there’s a very real possibility she’s shrunk since I last saw her in person, a couple of years ago. My mother certainly has, she used to be an inch or so taller than me (at my adult height) and is now a little shorter than me, due to nothing other than being in her 70s (she’s fit and healthy, no spinal issues).