Volkl Auras

[skigrl27]

Because I know you ladies will back me - and I feel like I need a little support here...

I'm sooooo very close to buying the Auras. I think after a demo this weekend I'll be ready. Planning to demo the Bridge & Aura. So, tell me again why the Auras are great & I should buy them??? I got the K2 Nancy pre-season & they're too soft and very poor edge grip on anything hard.

Any length recommendations or comments out there as well?

 

[volklgirl]

You don't really want them.

So, buy the 163cm and when you find you hate them, let me know so I can buy them off you for a song.

 

[sibhusky]

I'd wait another two weeks. The Auras should start falling in price at the end of February.

The Aura is the first woman's ski I ever liked. And it is the ski of choice for my ex-racer daughter who skis NOTHING like me. So, it must make a wide gamut of women really happy.

But, I'm with volklgirl..Buy them then auction the 163's off to us.

 

[Lori_K]

Well, I bought the 163cm last year, and they're a keeper ski for sure.

I've run them all over the mountain, and while they excel at powder and trees, they handle the groomers and hardpack (and even bumps!) just fine. I used to have a pair of Pocket Rockets, and the Auras just work better everywhere compared to the "blue noodle".

I'd be interested in hearing your comparison of the Aura with the Mantra that you demo'd the other week.

 

[skigrl27]

Yeah I'm still wanting to demo THIS year's Mantra and the Aura. The Mantra I demoed was last season's. I'm not exactly a little girl...so the idea of women's skis (especially after the too-soft Nancy) scares me a bit. I'm 5'8" about 155 lbs. If I can demo one this Saturday & one on Sunday, that would be ideal. Especially in this nice new fluffy snow!

As for getting deals, I have some really good connections with folks around here & should be able to get a sweet deal on Volkls.

 

[Lori_K]

At your height, you may want to try the Aura in a 170cm or 177 if you can find them. The shop down here that we do a lot of business with doesn't seem to stock a lot of the longer ski lengths. (Men's OR women's!). The 163 is good for me, I get enough float in the deep pow, and can still get through the tight trees easily.

And you know Volkl's reputation for edge grip.

 

[mollmeister]

Oooooh, I want to know all about them, too!

I am hoping to find some demos to try in about 10 days and also maybe try the 164 BROs.

It's so funny to talk about skis in lengths like 155cm to 165cm.:D I still haven't quite gotten used to it, after what? Nine years? I am 5'2" and 110lbs to 115lbs (depending on how recently I had a baby, lol) and my last pair of straight skis was 193cm! (I was skiing with ex-racers.) Then when I went *shaped,* I dropped to 180 and then 167 and it just keeps dropping!

 

[sibhusky]

As for getting deals, I have some really good connections with folks around here & should be able to get a sweet deal on Volkls.

I'm listening.....

 

[mollmeister]

I'm listening.....

Me too. . .

 

[alta_gal83]

Because I know you ladies will back me - and I feel like I need a little support here...

I'm sooooo very close to buying the Auras. I think after a demo this weekend I'll be ready. Planning to demo the Bridge & Aura. So, tell me again why the Auras are great & I should buy them??? I got the K2 Nancy pre-season & they're too soft and very poor edge grip on anything hard.
QUOTE]

Are you thinking of selling your Nancy's?

 

[skigrl27]

No I'm going to keep my Nancys... I think. Well...I guess if I fall in love with the Auras I could technically sell the Nancys. I do really like the Nancys, despite some awful tester reviews. I can rip on them and they take me all over the mountain...deep pow, cliffs, bumps, kinda shaky in trees...but they're an "ok" ski. If I decide to sell them, I'll let you know!

About the deals on Volkls. I work for the Aspen Skiing Co. & our retailer is D&E Ski/Board shop. They demo the Auras (& lots of other Volkls) so all I'd need to do is email the owner & see if he can get them for me for wholesale. I know the guy pretty well...and he's always said, don't buy anything before you talk to me first. Sooo....

I think tomorrow is Aura demo day - and it's snowing 12" today...Can't WAIT!!!

 

[skigrl27]

Oh Noooooo!!!

So I finally got my sweetie to concrete up our plans about which mountain we're skiing tomorrow...so I can put my demo Auras on hold at the right place. Well...sad news ladies. Sad news. The longest length anyone in the Aspen area carries is 163 in the Auras. :(

But, I was able to find THIS year's Mantra (as opposed to last season's which I demoed a few weeks ago) in a 170. Sooo...that will be tomorrow's adventure instead.

I'm kinda sad. But, I suppose if I find the Mantras to be fun but too stiff...then perhaps it's enough to go on & buy the Auras?? Or maybe I'll just love the Mantras as is. Who knows.

 

[pinto]

Oh Noooooo!!!

So I finally got my sweetie to concrete up our plans about which mountain we're skiing tomorrow...so I can put my demo Auras on hold at the right place. Well...sad news ladies. Sad news. The longest length anyone in the Aspen area carries is 163 in the Auras. :(

Herein lies the problem with demoing women's skis. Well, the problem for some. I bought the 177 Aura without demoing, because, well, I couldn't demo it. (I still haven't even skied it yet, but that will change next week.)

I had to base the purchase on reviews and my own experience with the Queen Attiva ... I think I'll be okay, but I'm not totally sure.

I could have demoed the Mantra, that is true. But that was $50 spent on something that still wasn't exactly the same, so it's a bit of a gamble nonetheless.

 

[ski now work later]

I really like Volkls and the Auras sound great, but they are too stiff and advanced a powder ski for me at my current ski level. I have the Solomon Scarlets which are a breeze to ski. I love the graphic on this year's Auras, though why they make a powder ski so white is a mystery to me. If I could ski them, I would love a pair in 163 length.

 

[sibhusky]

I'm somewhat interested in the 170 for myself, depending heavily on price (will to wait until August if need be as I already bought one pair of skis this season) AND I am more intensely interested in 163's for my daughter, but the price has to be under $500.

 

[alta_gal83]

No I'm going to keep my Nancys... I think. Well...I guess if I fall in love with the Auras I could technically sell the Nancys. I do really like the Nancys, despite some awful tester reviews. I can rip on them and they take me all over the mountain...deep pow, cliffs, bumps, kinda shaky in trees...but they're an "ok" ski. If I decide to sell them, I'll let you know!

Please do! I'm guessing you have the 169s?

 

[skigrl27]

Yes they're 169's from last season. Although the only difference betw this year's is the graphic. I called K2 on that.

You know...now I've got beef. How much you wanna bet that in the Aspen area any MAN can demo juuuust about any ski he wants...in his size, no less. No also think....golf clubs - you can demo ANY & EVERY golf club on the market before you buy.

But us ski divas?? No, we have to demo another size...maybe not even be able to test drive the skis we want at all...or, in my case - I'm forced to ride the man's version.

WHAT UP WITH THAT???

It will be very hard to buy the Aura without skiing it - but we're talking a $600+ investment after bindings (unless I take my Jester's from my Nancys). It's now forever going to be a crapshoot if I decide on the Aura. I say no fair!!!

k i'm done.

 

[ski now work later]

You know...now I've got beef. How much you wanna bet that in the Aspen area any MAN can demo juuuust about any ski he wants...in his size, no less. No also think....golf clubs - you can demo ANY & EVERY golf club on the market before you buy. But us ski divas?? No, we have to demo another size...maybe not even be able to test drive the skis we want at all...or, in my case - I'm forced to ride the man's version. WHAT UP WITH THAT???

I totally agree with you. I couldn't find the Scarlets anywhere to demo and wound up buying them without a demo. I love them, but would have liked the opportunity to demo 2 different lengths.

BTW, skigrl27, what kind of bindings are you planning to mount on those Auras if you do buy them?

 

[skigrl27]

At this point & because of cash flow...I'd probably take my brand new Marker Jester's off my Nancy's & plop them on the Mantras/Auras...or whatever elusive ski I decide to purchase.

And I just bought my Nancy's this season...I need to be stopped.

 

[Lori_K]

And I just bought my Nancy's this season...I need to be stopped.

But you bought those LAST year, right? This is 2008. It's a whole new year!