Skis for east, midwest and west

[IKam]

So, I live and ski in the midwest, but I also go east and west for ski trips. I need new skis and I was thinking that I could do some demoing to make an informed choice. I demoed once in Wisconsin towards the end of last season. There are 2 demo days in Boyne, Michigan at the end of Dec. and I was thinking of demoing on my east and west trips but here's my question:

How do I pick a ski that will work in all these different conditions?

I'm an intermediate, just under 5' tall and 106 lbs. and 75 years old, still looking to improve. I was thrilled to see that Bodie's Peak Skis have come out with a 78, 160 length ski but the rental company that carries his skis (Black Tie) in Steamboat said they wouldn't be carrying the 78 because it's too narrow for their conditions. My current skis are Nordica 78 at a 146 length. I have used them all over. Anyway, what to do?

 

[Jilly]

Europe only from the looks of this.

Peak introduces the Peak 78 geared for the European Market!

PEAK LAUNCHES IN EUROPE + NEW PEAK 78 More big news from Peak Skis, but this time it’s not coming from Bozeman, but Sölden! This week, Bode, Andy, and the Peak team are in Austria for two major announcements: the launch of the new Peak 78and the introduction of Peak Skis to the European...

www.skitalk.com

 

[tinymoose]

So, I live and ski in the midwest, but I also go east and west for ski trips. I need new skis and I was thinking that I could do some demoing to make an informed choice. I demoed once in Wisconsin towards the end of last season. There are 2 demo days in Boyne, Michigan at the end of Dec. and I was thinking of demoing on my east and west trips but here's my question:

How do I pick a ski that will work in all these different conditions?

I'm an intermediate, just under 5' tall and 106 lbs. and 75 years old, still looking to improve. I was thrilled to see that Bodie's Peak Skis have come out with a 78, 160 length ski but the rental company that carries his skis (Black Tie) in Steamboat said they wouldn't be carrying the 78 because it's too narrow for their conditions. My current skis are Nordica 78 at a 146 length. I have used them all over. Anyway, what to do?

Are you looking to just have one ski then? My personal preference if I could only have one ski to do it all would be to stick to something in the low to high 80s range, like 83-88 or so. I live and ski mostly on the east coast and I'm 5'1", 95 lbs. I would make sure to try any wider skis you try, though, on typical midwest/east coast (i.e. icy) conditions to make sure you're comfortable with their edge grip compared to your current, narrower skis.

 

[Jilly]

How are your knees? As much as I would wider skis, I just can't. The wide ski on hardpack just makes me sore.

But I did find I could ski the Brahma 82. That might be too much ski for you, but I'm sure there is something in the 82 range that would work for you.

 

[marzNC]

So, I live and ski in the midwest, but I also go east and west for ski trips. I need new skis and I was thinking that I could do some demoing to make an informed choice. I demoed once in Wisconsin towards the end of last season. There are 2 demo days in Boyne, Michigan at the end of Dec. and I was thinking of demoing on my east and west trips but here's my question:

How do I pick a ski that will work in all these different conditions?

I'm an intermediate, just under 5' tall and 106 lbs. and 75 years old, still looking to improve. I was thrilled to see that Bodie's Peak Skis have come out with a 78, 160 length ski but the rental company that carries his skis (Black Tie) in Steamboat said they wouldn't be carrying the 78 because it's too narrow for their conditions. My current skis are Nordica 78 at a 146 length. I have used them all over. Anyway, what to do?

Demo'ing before making a purchase is very useful.

You want skis that are good in the conditions you'll ski the most. If that's groomers, then no need to go much wider than mid-80s as a petite older skier. My first all-mountain skis that I used in the southeast and in the Rockies were 75 underfoot with a wide tip and tail. That meant if I was skiing in a few inches of fresh snow that hadn't been groomed out, I was floating on top of the snow for the most part. I was an adventurous intermediate in my 50s. Those skis were mid-150s in length.

When demo'ing out west, it's hard to find skis narrower than 80 underfoot. My current all-mountain skis for trips out west as an advanced skier over 65 are 85 underfoot, 159cm. I own another pair of skis that I use in the east that are also mid-80s, but shorter. Before I switched, my eastern skis for mountains where there is very little ungroomed terrain were 78 underfoot and 10cm shorter than the all-mountain skis. I wouldn't be interested in Peak skis @160 that are 78 underfoot.

When you demo, if you can take out the same model in different lengths then you are guaranteed to learn something. Could be the longer length then you think is best, or the shorter length.

 

[elemmac]

How do I pick a ski that will work in all these different conditions?

Where on the mountain do you normally ski? And where do you aspire to ski more?

Trees, bumps? Open ungroomed terrain? Strictly groomers?

 

[diymom]

Maybe put the Volkl Blaze 86w on your demo list. And if possible try both the 146 cm and the 152 cm.

 

[santacruz skier]

Europe only from the looks of this.

Peak introduces the Peak 78 geared for the European Market!

PEAK LAUNCHES IN EUROPE + NEW PEAK 78 More big news from Peak Skis, but this time it’s not coming from Bozeman, but Sölden! This week, Bode, Andy, and the Peak team are in Austria for two major announcements: the launch of the new Peak 78and the introduction of Peak Skis to the European...

www.skitalk.com

Tried to find skis wider than 84 in St Moritz and Davos. Impossible.

 

[santacruz skier]

@IKam - Demo skis at Steamboat ! That way you won't be lugging skis around.. I'm around your size 5'1 around 105. I'm bringing my Sheeva 9's to Steamboat. They are 157's and 92 underfoot. UNLESS I hear there will be powder and then I'll bring the Sheeva 10's 102 underfoot in 156.
I also have the 2017 Black Crow Camox Birdie in 156 (96 underfoot) that I really don't ski any longer for no particular reason.... Wonder if you would like these? Keep in mind I ski mostly in Tahoe and out of state trips. I have never skied in the East.

 

[Jilly]

Tried to find skis wider than 84 in St Moritz and Davos. Impossible.

Yes, wide skis seem to be a North American thing.

 

[Soujan]

I live on the east coast and I've been taking my Black Crows Orb (88 underfoot) with me everywhere. I've been to Killington, Jay, Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth with them. They'll also come with me to Steamboat. I find 82-88 mm to be a great width for a variety of conditions, especially if you're mostly an east coast skier. Over 90 mm wide and I start to get knee pain. What I also like about the Orb is the stiffness underfoot and the metal that runs partway up the sides. Great for carving but the tips are a bit softer for bumps and softer snow. Downside is they are heavy. If there is super deep powder while we are at Steamboat, I may rent something.

 

[IKam]

Where on the mountain do you normally ski? And where do you aspire to ski more?

Trees, bumps? Open ungroomed terrain? Strictly groomers?

I ski mostly groomed. In the midwest I can ski black diamond but not so much out west. I'd like to be able to ski more black diamonds, more ungroomed, and not really bumps. I find them rather exhausting.

Tried to find skis wider than 84 in St Moritz and Davos. Impossible.The Peak 78 160 are shipping out in February according to the website.

Tried to find skis wider than 84 in St Moritz and Davos. Impossible.

 

[IKam]

@IKam - Demo skis at Steamboat ! That way you won't be lugging skis around.. I'm around your size 5'1 around 105. I'm bringing my Sheeva 9's to Steamboat. They are 157's and 92 underfoot. UNLESS I hear there will be powder and then I'll bring the Sheeva 10's 102 underfoot in 156.
I also have the 2017 Black Crow Camox Birdie in 156 (96 underfoot) that I really don't ski any longer for no particular reason.... Wonder if you would like these? Keep in mind I ski mostly in Tahoe and out of state trips. I have never skied in the East.

Will you be at the Steamboat Diva trip? Thank you for your offer but my skis are 78 underfoot so I think your 96 would be a big stretch for me and my non-west skiing. I did try some over 150 length and was surprised that they weren't too overwhelming. They seemed fine.

 

[IKam]

Maybe put the Volkl Blaze 86w on your demo list. And if possible try both the 146 cm and the 152 cm.

It's on my list now, thanks.

 

[IKam]

Europe only from the looks of this.

Peak introduces the Peak 78 geared for the European Market!

PEAK LAUNCHES IN EUROPE + NEW PEAK 78 More big news from Peak Skis, but this time it’s not coming from Bozeman, but Sölden! This week, Bode, Andy, and the Peak team are in Austria for two major announcements: the launch of the new Peak 78and the introduction of Peak Skis to the European...

www.skitalk.com

The Peak website says they're shipping out the 78 160 in February. There's a launch in Austria.

 

[IKam]

How are your knees? As much as I would wider skis, I just can't. The wide ski on hardpack just makes me sore.

But I did find I could ski the Brahma 82. That might be too much ski for you, but I'm sure there is something in the 82 range that would work for you.

I guess I'll try some of the skis in the 80s range. I must be brave.

 

[santacruz skier]

Will you be at the Steamboat Diva trip? Thank you for your offer but my skis are 78 underfoot so I think your 96 would be a big stretch for me and my non-west skiing. I did try some over 150 length and was surprised that they weren't too overwhelming. They seemed fine.

I believe you may be a condo mate.

 

[IKam]

I believe you may be a condo mate.

Great!

 

[elemmac]

I ski mostly groomed. In the midwest I can ski black diamond but not so much out west. I'd like to be able to ski more black diamonds, more ungroomed, and not really bumps. I find them rather exhausting.

I think the low-mid 80's is going to be your sweet spot for a ski:

- Salomon Stance 84 would also fit the bill...really versatile ski that you could use on any of the terrain you've mentioned.
- Check out the Volkl Blaze...as others have suggested (either the 86 or the new 82).
- The Rossignol Experience 82 (I'm thinking the Basalt version).
- Black Pearl 82 (which is the women's version of Jilly's previously mentioned Brahma).

Lots of great skis emerging in this category. Happy demoing!

 

[tinymoose]

In addition to the ones elemmac mentioned, Volkl Yumi and Nordica Wild Belle come in an 84 waist