Will an intermediate skier regret buying advanced skis (Volkl Fuego)?

[Lefty Lucy]

Hi ladies,

Thanks to Num for pointing me toward this forum, it's great to be able to read advice from women only!

I am an intermediate blue skier needing to upgrade my skis (currently on Salomon Siam No. 7s, which are too soft and flexy). Complicating things is my weight, approx. 265 lb. I like the forward mounting point of women-specific skis, so I am considering the Volkl Fuego as a possible purchase (down to $500 at Sturdevant's!) because they're stiff, which I think I will need at my weight, and I like the idea of the liveliness and energy Volkls are supposed to have, plus the wood/metal core and other technology is nice.

My concern is that the Fuego will be too much ski for me. I'm just an average skier (although interested in moving up), sometimes in the back seat, and probably have other defects of form I don't even know about. Will I regret getting an advanced ski? Will I feel like it's work? Will it hinder my progress to be skiing on a ski that's above me? Or will my weight help counteract the stiffness so that they don't "feel" above me? Thanks in advance for any input you can provide. I know a lot of women here love the Fuegos, I'm just not sure if they'll suit my particular circumstance.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Welcome, Lefty! :D

I don't think you will regret it. I think it will challenge you to "up" your skiing skills.

Just my humble opinion!

 

[Acadia07]

I don't think you'll regret it, either! They sound suited for you, and they won't overpower you (from what I humbly know). You'll have to wait around for volklgirl's opinion.

Do you like to go fast? Because apparently, THEY do! I've heard nothing but good things about them - they sound like a blast to me. (Yes, they are on my wish list!)

I personally think it's always better to go up a level - you'll progess quicker and they'll last you longer. JMO! Good luck.

 

[Lefty Lucy]

Well, no, I wouldn't say I like to go particularly fast! That's part of my hesitation about the Fuegos. At my weight, my momentum will carry me down the mountain like a freight train if I don't actively control my speed, so most of my efforts to date have been oriented toward learning to go slower, not faster! Do you guys think the Fuegos will take off like a rocket and scare me?

And I guess this brings up another question, while we're talkin'. What exactly does it mean when people say a ski forces you to be active/energetic and isn't for lazy skiers? What exactly does "working harder" mean? That you have to muscle it through turns more, that you have to go faster, that you have to have perfect form, or what? Like, what is the specific drawback to having a more advanced ski? What will I have to DO on the Volkls that I don't have to do now on my beginner skis?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions!

 

[volklgirl]

Well, no, I wouldn't say I like to go particularly fast! That's part of my hesitation about the Fuegos. At my weight, my momentum will carry me down the mountain like a freight train if I don't actively control my speed, so most of my efforts to date have been oriented toward learning to go slower, not faster! Do you guys think the Fuegos will take off like a rocket and scare me?

No. They like to go fast, but don't require going fast. I think they'll be forgiving enough to meet your needs adequately. When we say a ski likes to go fast, it merely means that it will perform better at the higher speeds. There are some skis that don't perform at all at slower speeds, but the Fuego isn't one of them.

And I guess this brings up another question, while we're talkin'. What exactly does it mean when people say a ski forces you to be active/energetic and isn't for lazy skiers? What exactly does "working harder" mean? That you have to muscle it through turns more, that you have to go faster, that you have to have perfect form, or what? Like, what is the specific drawback to having a more advanced ski? What will I have to DO on the Volkls that I don't have to do now on my beginner skis?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions!

The Fuego is perfectly happy to motor around in skidded turns at medium speeds as you are probably doing now. However, as an "advanced" ski, it perfers to be "driven" rather than just "ridden". It will reward the following: active steering into the turn (steering - not skidding), forward to mid-ski stance, high speeds, fully carved and high edge-angle turns. The Fuego is most definitely not a "muscle" ski. It performs best when finessed using good technique.

You certainly should be able to grow into this ski without major amounts of frustration, provided you buy an appropriate length.

 

[jaydog]

(down to $500 at Sturdevant's!)

Are you in the Seattle area? I love Sturtevants! They've got some very knowledgeable folks there and they don't sell women short. I'd recommend taking it out for a demo. I know that the Bellevue location has the Fuego available for demo- I took it for a spin earlier this winter.

 

[SnowflakeADK]

Hi Lucy!

I think you and I are on the same playing field. Your question was what I was thinking a couple of weeks ago. I'm also a heavier, intermediate skier looking to improve. Go for the more "advanced" ski's. I demo'd the Fuego and it rocked! While it did reward you for more aggressive skiing, it was also happy just puttering around and didn't spank you for bad behavior. I haven't found a love for "fast" yet and that said I never felt these skis got away from me. In fact they really inspired confidence to pick up some speed (because *I* wanted to) and go places I normally don't. Rock solid edge hold.
FWIW I didn't end up buying the Fuego as I found a GREAT deal on some Atomic Foxy Mama's.(the kind where you can't pass it up) You may also want to check those out if you're able to.

 

[Lefty Lucy]

Hey ladies,

Thanks for all your input, it has been very helpful! I've decided that the only way to be sure is to just demo them. Sturdevant's (yes, Jaydog, I'm in Seattle, and the Bellevue Sturdevant's has been very good to me!) does have a demo pair in my size, so I'm gonna rent them. I'll let you all know tomorrow how it turns out!

 

[num]

Hope you love em like I did!

 

[CMCM]

Hi Lucy,
I just went from a pretty low level, short carver type ski to what always seems to be ranked as an "expert" ski. It was purely accidental that I found this ski and liked it....I was at the Squaw demo shop, where you pay a demo price and can demo as many skis as you want....the several skis I was interested in were checked out, so I decided to demo one I'd heard about, but which I had dismissed as being too advanced to consider. I had been skiing 150's and had figured I'd go up to a 154 and also I wanted a slightly stiffer ski. This one was a 162, medium flex I think, wider ski than before (not classed as a carver)l. So what the heck, I took it out just to see what it was like and I was absolutely blown away by the difference. My skiing improved immediately!

I think one main factor was the extra length combined with more stiffness....For my height and weight (5'7" and 145 to 150 lbs) my shorter, very flexible skis weren't cuttiing it. On these longer, stiffer skis the very first thing I noticed immediately was the STABILITY! Stability moving around and skiing straight, I could now skate better on them, turning was smooth and comfortable, and I realized I could now actually turn and ski faster with greater comfort because of the stable feel I was getting. My old skis, I now realize, were pretty reactive and squirrelly at any speed above a crawl, which is why I always got nervous if turns went too fast....I just didn't feel solid on them. These new skis were not only longer, but wider in the waist (old ones 68, new ones 75), and also a bit wider everywhere although still definitely shaped. Perhaps this made a contribution to the stability factor too.

After deciding I had to get these new skis, I went back and read up on them....everywhere pretty much described them as expert skis for strong, aggressive skiers....that's not me yet! They perform beautifully for me at what I consider a mid intermediate level....I don't ski fast and I'm definitely not an aggressive skier, but these skis are most definitely not "too much" for me.....they do just fine at whatever I'm trying to do now, and hopefully I can grow into their expert capabilities (and not feel like I've outgrown them at some point like I did with my old skis). This is a good thing, and I realized my fears about advanced skis were ungrounded. I'm thinking now that if you are a totally new skier, you would benefit from a shorter, softer ski like I started with, but once you advance to even a low intermediate level, advanced or expert skis are probably better if you want to improve your technique. I can say for sure that my improvement was definitely held back by my old skis.

I'd also suggest that if at all possible, demo some things. If I hadn't demo'd these skis, I really think I might have bought entirely the wrong new skis! And when you demo, do different lengths. At one ski shop they told me that skis don't relate that much to your height, but the weight factor is important. At your stated weight, I would certainly think a longer ski, perhaps also a somewhat stiffer ski would be beneficial.

 

[CMCM]

Lucy....Demo the Salomon Origins....I forgot to mention which ones I got. You mentioned that you always seem to try to slow things down....that's me! And I can do this if I want with the Origins...plus, when I've gone faster it just feels better because of the stability. The Roxy Joyriders also sound similar to the Origins. But again, demo demo demo, and try out different lengths....that's really important.

 

[Lefty Lucy]

OK, so I got off work early and went to Sturdevant's to demo the Fuegos and it turns out they're no longer doing demos, contrary to what I was told yesterday! So I called around and this late in the season, there's just nowhere in the area that still has demo skis available for rent.

So then it was either wait until next year to demo some different skis, or just take a chance and buy the Fuegos. Guess what, I bought them! I hope I don't regret it! Based on what most of you have said, plus a couple of people on Barking Bear, plus 2 different salespeople at Sturdevant's (I know, not exactly unbiased, since they're trying to sell me something), I think they'll be a good ski for me. The salesperson I talked to today was very knowledgeable and since he only weighs 140 lb, he's actually one of their women's ski testers. He said the Fuego is very easy to ski and isn't going to be too much for me, especially at my weight.

I did look into some other possibilities, such as the Fischer Red Heat and the K2 One Luv, and also briefly considered the Lotta Luv on the wider end and the RX8 on the narrow end, but none of them seemed to offer the combination of stiffness, forgiving qualities, and dimensions I want. In the end, I probably could be happy on any of the skis but I guess I was more intrigued by the Fuegos overall due to their geometry, technology, Volkl reputation, and rave reviews. Your reassurances here have helped a lot in my comfort level with the decision to buy them. Who knows, at my level I may not even notice big differences between skis anyway. I know the added stiffness (vs. my Siams) is gonna help a lot. Anyway, I took a chance and we'll see how it works out.

They couldn't get the bindings mounted today, so I won't pick them up until tomorrow and then it will probably be Sunday before I can test them out. I'll give a full report then! Thanks for all your advice!

 

[Lefty Lucy]

Oh, and CMCM, that is helpful input on length and the advantages/disadvantages of going shorter/longer. I'm 5'8" and went with the 161 length for the Fuegos. I'm currently skiing 164s and wanted something just a tiny bit less cumbersome. I think (hope) the 161 will be perfect!

 

[SouthernSkier]

Congrats on the new skis. I've never been on them, either, but everything I've read says they are a GREAT ski. I'm looking forward a ski review after your trip this weekend .

 

[Native Vail Gal]

Congrats on your new skis!

I LOVE my K2 One Luvs!
It's just a matter of opinion!

 

[Lefty Lucy]

Native Vail Gal, I know! Reading about your "luv" for the One Luvs made me seriously consider them. I had a big conversation with (yet another) sales rep about them and for a minute they were my leading contender, almost like a more forgiving version of the Fuegos. But I kept reading about how soft they are, and unlike the Lotta Luv or Burnin Love, they don't have the metal core. If they made a metal core One Luv, I probably would have bought it -- it would be a slightly "safer" choice than the Fuegos, but in the end I decided I really needed more stiffness at my weight. I'm curious about the One Luv though. Maybe next year I'll demo them just for the heck of it. There's like this whole "short list" of other skis I want to try now -- all this research is dangerous!

 

[num]

Congrats on the new skis! I bet you'll love them. If it turns out you don't, I'm sure there are divas who'd love to take them off your hands. As a matter of fact, I think someone posted a thread looking for Fuegos in that size recently.

Demoing is way too much fun! Just gotta know how to fight the temptation to buy skis that rock when you're not in the market for new sticks, or have unlimited funds. Right now I'm in the first category, but hopefully I'll grow into the second :D

 

[veggielasagna]

Congrats! Just made the very same purchase myself : ) Hoping to try them out maybe.......TODAY! Woohoo, be sure to post how you like them after a day or two out

-veggielasagna

 

[Lefty Lucy]

Veggielasagna, cool, be sure to let us know how your first day goes on the new skis! Exciting!

 

[Lefty Lucy]

I tried the Fuegos out today! Wow, I can't believe the difference! I'm not going to have any regrets with these.

I started out on the bunny slope so I could get used to them. Right away, before I even got on the lift, I noticed they just slid faster than my old skis. Maybe that's because it's been 8 or so days of skiing since I waxed my old ones, but whatever the reason, it took me one push with the poles to get on the lift when before it would have taken 3 or 4. It was almost disconcerting! Then as I went up the lift, I could feel how much lighter my Fuegos were. They just felt like nothing on my feet.

Going down the green slope, I could not believe the edge on these things! Where before I had to aggressively weight my downhill ski to keep my speed under control, now I just had to roll my foot a tiny bit and had all the control I could want. Wow! They felt faster, yet more controlled, more nimble, and just generally more solid all around than my old skis. I was really surprised that they could feel so different, and it was all good.

Moving on to the blue slope, I started going faster on an easy upper part of the slope and suddenly, AIGGGHHH! I caught an edge and nearly plummeted off the side of the mountain! That was scary! Not quite sure what happened. Continuing, I got to a pretty steep part and couldn't decide how I felt about the skis there, because it seemed like on every turn, there was this scary moment right at the beginning of the turn when I felt I could lose control (more on that below). But once I got past that moment, the skis were just slope tamers, with the edge really holding and giving me a confidence I have never ever had before. So mixed feelings at that point.

I hit a fast gentle part of the slope, allowed myself to pick up an unusual amount of speed because I felt more confident, and noticed that bumps and irregularities did nothing to upset these skis. I could hold my line through rough terrain like I never could on my old skis. However, I also noticed that these skis would rather turn than go in a straight line. They felt more stable in a gentle arc than when completely straight. I found myself making these graceful long turns, and had a moment of pure perfect pleasure.

Returning to the top of the same blue run, I didn't catch any nasty edges on the top part but felt trepidation when I got to the steep part. What am I doing wrong, these things are hard to start turns! Part of it seemed to be that the edges held so well that it was harder to skid to initiate the turn. They would rather carve than skid. That was no big deal, just had to exert a little more effort to break them loose and then all was good. But there was still this one scary moment at the top of each turn.

Coming around one more time to the same slope, I finally figured it out: OHHHH, LEAN FORWARD, STUPID! That was the missing element. I guess I had been fighting the turn a little, in the back seat due to not wanting to pitch myself headlong down the mountain. As soon as I started attacking each turn, leaning forward and just letting myself "fall" down the slope for those first few feet of the turn, it all came together. These skis will not tolerate being tentative and in the back seat like my old skis did. They want you to act like you know what you're doing and just go for it. And once you do, the reward comes in spades as suddenly you have a little more skill, look a little better in your positioning, go a little faster, and feel less afraid. Sweet!! Once I figured that out, everything was great and I really enjoyed myself for the rest of the day. I can now make smaller tighter turns than I was able to before, and that's worth a lot when you get on steep stuff.

So yes, these skis are more demanding, but they respond so nicely to that added care that it's 100% worth it! They are already teaching me to be a better skier. I didn't go ripping down any black diamond runs or anything today, but I could tell that these skis will help me get to that next level in a way that my old skis would not have been able to. I really couldn't be happier overall. I will no doubt continue to have to get used to them and adjust my style to suit their different feel, but I think I'm going to notice some big improvements in my skiing. My partner says I already looked better today than "pre-Fuego." So yay! I'm so relieved I didn't make the wrong choice!