Advice on buying skis

cocopop

Hi,

I am going away to Verbier next week for a 10 week instructor course with Peak Leaders and need to buy a pair of skis for the course. I have been looking around but would love some advice.

Peak leaders have advised me not to get twin tips, to get piste oriented skis, no more than 75mm under foot, between 11-15m radius and no longer than 175cms in length. I am a 24 year old woman, 5 foot 7 and roughly 155 lbs.

If anyone could give me any options on brands and models and lengths that would be amazing. I am willing to spend a good bit of money on them but just don't want to get board of them, I know for the instructor course they need to be very technical.

The boots I have are atomic medusa 90 flex.

Thanks for any help at all.

Cheers
Xo

flikflak

You can go on to the various brand websites and narrow down and search for what you need. You can then compare and see what might suit you best.

Once you have a few pairs narrowed down that you might be interested in then could you maybe go to a shop in resort and explain that you would like to try some of them out over the first week with a view to purchasing at the end of the week?

For me to spend money on a decent pair of skis I would at least have a try of a few pairs to see which I felt comfortable on.

What do you ski on now? Maybe an updated version of your current pair would suit? Or a pair you have skied on recently while renting you liked the feel of?

cocopop

Thanks, I haven't skiied in ages now apart from a few nights up in Kilternan but I think I will maybe wait until I am out there. The course recommend you have them before you get out but I don't see the difference really. If anyone could recommend a brand or model which would suit an instructor course I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again

a148pro

Get them out there and try them first, some shops will refund you one or two days rental if you buy. People running the course will be able to help you choose. You may pay a bit over the measure because of the euro / swiss franc but realistically you need to try the skis first to see what you like. Otherwise you'd prob get them cheaper on line.

rjp123

lucky you. I alos wouldnt buy a new set of skis now just to have them the first week over there. its a bit weird that the course have given you dims and spec of a ski but actually havent taken the first step in recommending a couple of suitable brands and models that fit the dims.

i see that peak leaders have some sort of affiliation on their site with a brand called faction skis which seem to be local to verbier. maybe ask course to have a pair of them ready for you for week one and then just go into loads of shops and ask the same question you asked here and demo loads of pairs before buying.

buy asking people on course, other instructors, people in shops and trying loads youll get the best solution. dont be pressurised into buying pair now. youll get through first day or so on a pair of rentals i reckon.

class resort, enjoy.

robinph

I did a Peak Leaders course in NZ a few years ago. You should be fine turning up and buying there, go to shop ask to try some out for the first week, get the instructors opinion on what exactly would be suitable for you.

You may find that there is some discount available for you in one of the local stores as well, but worst case just get any rental on arrival and then after the first day once the instructor has criticised your rubbish skis you'll get an idea of where and what to buy.

Fattes

Try before you buy, you will ne around the 158-164 length based on your height. I would think the 75 underfoot is horse ****. Look at skis up to 84 underfoot as the will still be under the 15 m radius required.

Try before you buy but the below skis are perfect for instructor courses. Verbier is epic!!

Atomic infinity storm

Salomon 24 hour

Scott crusades

I would also look at some of the movement ski stuff

The reason the don't recommend anything is because the choice is huge. Most of the renttal places in verbs do rental deals with servicing for gap courses

Faction are one of the wolds best free ride/ freestyle ski makers nothing local about them!!

rjp123

Fattes wrote: »

Faction are one of the wolds best free ride/ freestyle ski makers nothing local about them!!

based in verbier = local no?

Fattes

based in verbier = local no?

Kind of like saying that Starbucks is the local coffee shop in Seattle.

rjp123

ah now you surely cant compare them to more mainstream brands. if faction = starbucks, what are the likes of volkl?

anyway im sure they are solid and ill keep an eye out for them but have my mind set on trying a pair of RTM's this year. T minus 3 weeks.

Fattes

faction = starbucks Well know often viewed as the preserve of pompus douches who own Mac's

Salomon / Atomic = Eddie Rocket ( You know what you are getting but could always be better.

Vokl = Brown Thomas Overpriced and can get stuff that does the same job elswhere for cheaper

Rossingol = KFC Just **** (Except for the S7/8)

rjp123

so whats your brand of choice (restricted to one ski), your nespresso shall we call it,

Fattes

rjp 123 I actually work for one of the big ski companies so am spoilt rotten will post a pic of the current quiver later.

If I only have one its currently Shogun 192 (132-102-122) - Soon to be replaced by the Rocker 90 for 2012/2013

For Canada powder highway in March its the Rocker 2 192 ( 144-122-134) but that is more to do with the conditions I am expecting

coddlesangers

cocopop wrote: »

Thanks, I haven't skiied in ages now apart from a few nights up in Kilternan but I think I will maybe wait until I am out there. The course recommend you have them before you get out but I don't see the difference really. If anyone could recommend a brand or model which would suit an instructor course I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again

Dynastar Legend Idyll. Great all purpose womens ski, my wife got a pair this season. Pretty much exactly the spec you were asking about.