Who's happily skiing men's ski?

[abc]

Last week, I was renting skis and I ended up trying two mens' (ok, unisex) skis and one women's skis. I found I like those unisex ski quite a bit.

Not that I dislike women's specific skis. I just don't find the difference so big. I'm quite sensitive as to the right flex and the right length. But I'm not the least bit sensitive to the rest. Width? Yes. Shape? Somewhat. I just can't tell ANY difference of all that "forward waist/forward binding" from the regular men's ski and men's binding mounting points. The unisex skis ski just fine.

I'm wondering how many of you are skiing men's (unisex) skis out there.

It's only an issue if you're on the market for used skis. There're just many more unisex skis on the used market to choose from.

 

[slipnslide]

I ski a unisex Rossignal 9S Oversize. I like them, but I also like women's specific skis. I don't care as long as they are responsive. When I bend them they must bounce back at me.

 

[altagirl]

I'd say 95% of the skis I've owned have been mens (unisex) skis. I used to think women's skis were only appropriate for beginners, but over the past few years I've found they're finally coming out with a handful of decent women's skis for upper level skiers. So that's the good news. But the majority of the skis I own, and am considering buying are all still mens/unisex skis.

 

[abc]

Just to clarify, I do find some women ski I like. But every time I ask for a demo, I was handed a women's ski, and I was only researching women's ski. Never gave much thought to man's skis. Until last week, that is.

I was handed two unisex skis. And lo-and-behold, they ski great! I can flex them, I can turn them. And I can carry them on my shoulder just fine. So maybe this "light weight, forward position, yada, yada, yada..." just doesn't make that much of a different, for some women?

 

[lil mountain girl]

Just to clarify, I do find some women ski I like. But every time I ask for a demo, I was handed a women's ski, and I was only researching women's ski. Never gave much thought to man's skis. Until last week, that is.
QUOTE]

it's plain silly . . .
there are sooooooooooooo many women who are put on a women's specific ski for demo or suggested for purchase, but it may not be the best thing.

just because you're a girl doesn't mean girl's skies have the features you're looking for!

forget the "women's" and "men's" ski titles; i think it boils down to two very important things:
1. try lots of skis!!!
2. do you like the skis?

personally, i know men who've skied a "women's" ski because they liked the particular features of that particular ski. same goes for women on the unisex ski.

oy, the silliness that can be known as marketing!

cheers,
lil mtn girl

ps. i ski on a unisex ski now, and next yr. buying a new pair of stix; the skies i'm debating are mostley unisex with one or two "aggresive" girl's skies in there!

if it floats, it floats!

 

[Pequenita]

So maybe this "light weight, forward position, yada, yada, yada..." just doesn't make that much of a different, for some women?

True. I was impressed with the way that some of the unisex skis I demoed this season handled. I would have thought that given my petite size that a woman's ski would be better, since I don't have a ton of mass to flex the ski, but some of those women specific skis are too soft for me and lacked energy.

I've friends who have demoed women's and unisex skis and prefer the unisex. One woman is 5'11, 160-170, so basically similarly sized to a man. Another is 5'6, I dunno, probably 145. The taller woman told me that she prefers the unisex skis because of her size. The smaller, I'm not sure what the reason was. The one thing all three of us have in common is we grew up skiing and racing on eastern hardpack and ice on straight skis.

 

[Quiver Queen]

I have one junior race, a unisex park & pipe, a unisex carver, and a women's powder ski, and love them all. I've been demo'ing to replace the carver, which is a little heavy and has since been lightened even for the guys, and so far the decision is a toss-up between a unisex and a women's. I think which skis better, women's vs. unisex, just depends on the ski, the skier, and the application, so that's why you need to demo before you buy.

 

[volklgirl]

Not a single women's ski in this girls quiver.

I tend to prefer the beefy, high-end, race-oriented skis and they just don't seem to make them in a women's version. Although, for the first time since 1999, I finally found 2 women's skis that were pretty darn substantial while demoing (Nordica Olympia Speed and Volkl Attiva AC2). I have tried forward mounted bindings and found the skis felty hooky and twitchy....yuck!

 

[altagirl]

Mount point is a whole different issue. I really, really hate a forward mounting point. The womens skis I do have are mounted at a normal mount point, not the more forward women's mounting point. Obviously that works for some people, just not me.

 

[SnowGlider]

Skis are supposed to bounce back at you?

Uh oh.

 

[altagirl]

Uh oh.

Bounce back at you might be a little excessive. But it's like a good mountain bike suspension. You need to be able to flex (or compress) it, and you need it to rebound, but to do so without launching you in the process. Hopefully that makes sense. Not dead so that they're just flapping around, but not so stiff you can't flex them or with so much camber that they feel crazy. I've skied some Blizzards with so much camber they felt like they were throwing you up in the air in between turns (when you unweight). Which can be fun in certain situations, but generally is a little hard to control when you have too much. You want a happy medium.

 

[Jilly]

I ski the Rossi Z5. For the last 2 years, I've been demo'ing women's skis for the local shop. There are not too many that I would add to my stock. But for some women they are just the right thing. My fav's for 2008 that I demo'd were: Salomon Origin (but I just found out they are going to be $1200 CDN), Elan Black Magic, the Fischer Breeze and Nordica Olympia Speed. I don't like any of the Rossi women's stuff. I didn't get a chance to try any of the Atomic's. Any thing else isn't available locally, so not worth the effort to try right away.

 

[Greeley]

I have always skied on unisex skis. At 5' 9" & 160 and very strong, I tend to overpower most women's skis. Although I did just buy a pair of Fischer Rangi fat boards and had a great time on them in the spring mashed potatoes at Snowmass.

 

[abc]

I have always skied on unisex skis. At 5' 9" & 160 and very strong, I tend to overpower most women's skis. Although I did just buy a pair of Fischer Rangi fat boards and had a great time on them in the spring mashed potatoes at Snowmass.

I sometimes wonder what the smaller guys do? Even though I'm not exactly big even by women's standard, there're still plenty of men my size!

Do they also have trouble finding skis soft and/or short enough?

 

[SnowHot]

Unisex skis overwhelm my quiver. I tend to have a WS ski in the mix but tend to use a Unisex ski as my primary ski during any given season.

For the 2008 season, this may change. I just acquired the 2008 Elan Wave Spice, and think it may just be the Primary ski in my quiver. That will be a first.

Like Altagirl and Volklgirl, I have demoed a lot and have found WS skis to hold me back a until recently. The Ski Mfgr's have realized that some women want a significant ski and its time to market them.

But still........I demoed the Nordica Conquerer and the Olympia speed, and I prefered the Nitrous/Afterburner, and the Speedmachine 14 over the WS versions of those skis.

 

[cyn]

I've tried women's skis and liked a few of them, but I have always ended up liking the unisex skis more. Maybe it's because I weigh 160 pounds, but I find I need something beefy.

 

[Greeley]

I sometimes wonder what the smaller guys do? Even though I'm not exactly big even by women's standard, there're still plenty of men my size!

Do they also have trouble finding skis soft and/or short enough?

A man would never admit they need a softer or shorter ski. Longer, stiffer skis are a symbol to them, just like a Corvette...

 

[SnowHot]

A man would never admit they need a softer or shorter ski. Longer, stiffer skis are a symbol to them, just like a Corvette...

That is not entirely true.
I know some men who look for a softer ski for bumps and Icy days.

The difference is that you don't hear them talk about needing a soft ski, just a "good bump ski or good ice ski".

 

[altagirl]

A man would never admit they need a softer or shorter ski. Longer, stiffer skis are a symbol to them, just like a Corvette...

While there are some men who know enough to ski on something appropriate for their height and weight...

I do know several short and skinny guys who would rather get tossed around on huge stiff skis just because "they can".

 

[lil mountain girl]

While there are some men who know enough to ski on something appropriate for their height and weight...

I do know several short and skinny guys who would rather get tossed around on huge stiff skis just because "they can".

i'm so happy i'm a girl!
if there's one thing women tend to have lots of it's humility and unfortuately sometimes this stems on some womens' lack of confidence.

it's a good thing to have a few other divas out to help a sister out! :D