Suggestions for a narrow carving ski for slalom and giant slalom gate training?

[aiweima]

My local mountain at Vancouver, BC is offering a advanced class for slalom and giant slalom gate training. I'm looking to learn to carve and figured this could be a great class to learn. My current ski is the BP 88 so I'm looking for something more narrow, perhaps around low 70 width? I'm 5'2.5" and 110lb intermediate/advanced skier (ski all blues and some blacks). I'm not looking to actually race, but want to learn about it and to improve my technique. Does anyone have any suggestions on a ski and the length? Interested in a ski good for this class but also for skiing on ice and perhaps instructor training in the future as well. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Also thinking of something with a smaller turn radius so I can learn to carve more easily.

 

[Jilly]

I have the Rossi Hero ST Ti as my daily driver here in the east. It holds the ice and is really turny. It's basically a tuned down race ski. 68 underfoot!!

This past season I acquired the Rossi Forza 70. It's been a great ski, but it's not a tuned down race ski. I had a 1 day gate training session this season and since I knew the course conductor, I asked - Hero's or Forza'. Was told to bring the Hero's.

A lot of the instructors here in the east ski a similar ski from Head, Atomic and Salomon.

 

[aiweima]

I have the Rossi Hero ST Ti as my daily driver here in the east. It holds the ice and is really turny. It's basically a tuned down race ski. 68 underfoot!!

This past season I acquired the Rossi Forza 70. It's been a great ski, but it's not a tuned down race ski. I had a 1 day gate training session this season and since I knew the course conductor, I asked - Hero's or Forza'. Was told to bring the Hero's.

A lot of the instructors here in the east ski a similar ski from Head, Atomic and Salomon.

Thanks for the suggestion! The shortest length for that ski is 157cm, I'm worried this might be too long for me, what do you think?

 

[Jilly]

Then look at the Nova 14.

 

[tinymoose]

I'm just a little smaller than you, 5'1" and around 100 lbs, and used junior SL skis for our adult race clinic. Recently replaced those with a pair of Head Super Joys, which are a bit lighter and more user friendly but every bit as turny as the SLs. Ran the Super Joys through the gates this year doing Nastar and they were a blast.

 

[aiweima]

I'm just a little smaller than you, 5'1" and around 100 lbs, and used junior SL skis for our adult race clinic. Recently replaced those with a pair of Head Super Joys, which are a bit lighter and more user friendly but every bit as turny as the SLs. Ran the Super Joys through the gates this year doing Nastar and they were a blast.

What length did you get? Also which junior race skis did you get. How are the super joys more user friendly? Is it because they’re more forgiving?

 

[tinymoose]

What length did you get? Also which junior race skis did you get. How are the super joys more user friendly? Is it because they’re more forgiving?

My jr SLs were the Head WC Rebels iSL RD team skis in 150 length. So basically their older kid jr race skis. I'm not really sure brand matters all that much with jr race skis, other than maybe in flex. I had a pair of Fischer jr GS skis prior to the Head SLs, and other than the Heads being turnier b/c SLs, I can't say they felt wildly different.

The Super Joys are not as stiff as my jr SLs, so I find them easier to work/get on edge. Their flex is more even/smooth due to the lack of race plate, which really stiffens up the SLs. They're also wider in the tip than the SLs so they deal with chopped up crud better. With the jr race skis I feel like you really have to be on them at all times, which is good for working on your technique, but not so great for casual cruising. When I say you have to be on them, you really do have to keep them on edge through chopped up crud or you just get tossed around. My Super Joys are 148 in length. I was a little worried they'd ski too short, but have found them very stable so far at speed. Turn radius on the Super Joy's is 9.7 and the SLs are 11.8. You may need longer lengths than me though.