Hi all. I am about to be the proud owner of my very own pair of skis! I've been using my boyfriend's sister-in-law's old skis. They're too big for me. I'm 5'3" and 118lbs and these are a 160cm men's rossignol's. This is my first season of skiing and I'm in love with it. I'm still on greens about to move on to blues. I need some help choosing the right skis though. I have it narrowed down to the Volkl Attiva Lunas in a 149 cm, the K2 One Luvs in a 149cm, or the Atomic Royal Minx in a 150cm. Can anyone give me some advise or suggestions?
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Volkl, K2, or Atomic?
- Thread starter Megs
- Start date
Thanks for the response. Yeah, all the reviews I read on the Atomic Minx were really good. It sounds like they're a ski that I can really progress on. I'm kind of leaning toward the Volkl Attiva Lunas though for a couple of reasons...I found them for a really good price ($305, brand new '09 model with bindings) and my boyfriend swears that Volkl makes the best skis. But of course, he doesn't know much about their women's line and he's a really aggressive skier. So I needed some ladies opinions! I found the Royal Minx's for $100 more though and I'm willing to spend the extra to get a ski that I love.
CAdreaming
Certified Ski Diva
Hi,
I am about your size and height. I also am at the same skill level as you. I bought K2 True Lov 146 as my first skis after getting very positive feedbacks from other ski divas from this site.
I tried my new skis this weekend at one of the Tahoe ski resorts and I just loooovvvve my new skis. It gave me the confidence that I needed.
You may want to try this model.
I am about your size and height. I also am at the same skill level as you. I bought K2 True Lov 146 as my first skis after getting very positive feedbacks from other ski divas from this site.
I tried my new skis this weekend at one of the Tahoe ski resorts and I just loooovvvve my new skis. It gave me the confidence that I needed.
You may want to try this model.
Jilly-I thought the Royal Minx should've been a better deal too! I don't know why I can't find them cheaper.
Robyn-I found the good deal on the Volkl's at an REI about 1 1/2 hours from my house. I think they have a really good return policy if I don't like them. I'll check into that before I buy if I decide to go with those.
CAdreaming-I'll check into the Tru Luvs. Are they a more advanced ski? That's where I'm having the problem. I live in Taos, NM and from what I understand our blues are comparable to blacks at some mountains. I'm not too sure about that though because I've never skied anywhere else. I don't want a ski that will hold me back when I start getting more brave, but I don't want a ski that will be too much ski for me to handle either.
Robyn-I found the good deal on the Volkl's at an REI about 1 1/2 hours from my house. I think they have a really good return policy if I don't like them. I'll check into that before I buy if I decide to go with those.
CAdreaming-I'll check into the Tru Luvs. Are they a more advanced ski? That's where I'm having the problem. I live in Taos, NM and from what I understand our blues are comparable to blacks at some mountains. I'm not too sure about that though because I've never skied anywhere else. I don't want a ski that will hold me back when I start getting more brave, but I don't want a ski that will be too much ski for me to handle either.
Robyn
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Many shops will let you demo for a price and then if you purchase from them they'll apply the cost toward your purchase. Ask around for sure! What valley? Someone here may be able to direct you. 
And yes, REI does have a good return policy but definitely confirm it for skis. Just in case.
And yes, REI does have a good return policy but definitely confirm it for skis. Just in case.
CAdreaming
Certified Ski Diva
Like you, I also wanted my skis to advance me to the Blues and not hold me back.
K2 True Luv is classfied as intermediate ski so it will get me to the Blues.
K2 True Luv is classfied as intermediate ski so it will get me to the Blues.
I skied my True Luvs again yesterday -- green, blue, black, they take me everywhere -- but they make me FAR happier if I stay on the groomers!
Bought them as a beginner/intermediate skier with no sort of confidence. About the time I thought I'd pretty well outgrown them, I took another lesson and they suddenly turned into much more exciting skis!
I did NOT take them with me today -- I wanted to try my new skis, which are going to be a whole lot of fun too, I can tell!
Karen in Boise
Bought them as a beginner/intermediate skier with no sort of confidence. About the time I thought I'd pretty well outgrown them, I took another lesson and they suddenly turned into much more exciting skis!
I did NOT take them with me today -- I wanted to try my new skis, which are going to be a whole lot of fun too, I can tell!
Karen in Boise
I would second the suggestion to check on REI's ski return; I bought a pair of Luna's in a 156 after demo'ing them, and I LOVE THEM. That being said, I'm 5'6" and 150lbs, and a little aggressive for a beginner, so I'm not sure whether the "wheeee!!!" sensation that they give me would translate as well for a lighter skier. They did great on Midwestern hardpack, and were fun on what little soft snow I've seen so far.
Are they more stiff than other skis? Is that where the "wheeee!!!" feeling comes from? I tend to go faster than a lot of the other beginner skiers that I've skied with but sometimes I get these sudden moments of fear when I realize how fast I'm going. If I don't think about it fast is fun!
I have the Lunas and they really helped me progress. I can't praise them enough! I demoed a bunch before I found this ski. I was a progressing beginner and demoed on green hills but I could feel the difference in all of the skis. If I had purchased the one that the ski shop said that almost all women love and would be perfect for me I would have been very dissapointed. I hated that ski but when I got on the Luna I knew it was the one for me. 
Obviously that "recommended" ski worked well for other women but I have learned from this site that each skier prefers a different feel in their skis. I do get the WHEEEE sensation and I think it is the ski. I am shorter than you and weigh about the same. They are fun, fun, fun!!!
Obviously that "recommended" ski worked well for other women but I have learned from this site that each skier prefers a different feel in their skis. I do get the WHEEEE sensation and I think it is the ski. I am shorter than you and weigh about the same. They are fun, fun, fun!!!I didn't demo either of your other two choices, but compared to some of the other skis I demo'd I found the Luna's to be a little stiffer, and they definitely have more "pop". It's not like riding on 2x4's, they definitely flex, I think you have to have some weight or a little muscle (or some technique, which I am working on) to flex them. They also don't start chattering on hardpack like the Dynastar Exclusive Sensations that I was *heavily* pressured to buy back when I had my boots fitted.
Well here I come "WHEEEE" sensation! :D I just called REI and they said that because the Luna's have the integrated bindings and there won't be any drilling done to mount bindings I can use the Lunas and if I don't like them I can get a full refund. Woohoo!! I can't wait. I'm happy to hear from some ladies at my skill level liking the Lunas. I have a little knee injury (stretched MCL) that's healing and won't be able to ski until Jan. 1st so I'll have to wait to try them. I have blackout dates from 12/26 to 12/31 anyway.
Thanks for your posts. This site and all of you are awesome!
Thanks for your posts. This site and all of you are awesome!
oragejuice
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
FWIW, I've returned two different pairs of skis to REI, and one of them was drilled. I just returned both the bindings and the skis together, and they got resold at a garage sale as an item. It works....
As an ex-employee... If you have proof that you bought them there, they can't refuse a return. If they do, ask for the manager, 100% guarantee, regardless of if you drilled the ski or not. =P
As an ex-employee... If you have proof that you bought them there, they can't refuse a return. If they do, ask for the manager, 100% guarantee, regardless of if you drilled the ski or not. =P
