 Poster: A snowHead
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Since I learned to ski in 2006 I've always rented skis, but am going to Whistler for 4 weeks in January so now seems a good time to bite the bullet. Had looked into buying once we get there - new or used - but the new prices are scary and we've decided we don't really want to faff around looking for skis when we could be up the mountain. Especially since I'm not really good enough to be fussy and my wife (who is much better than I am) knows exactly what she wants.
So. I'm a level 5 or 6 depending on whether I've had my Weetabix or not, currently ski 80% on piste but would like to venture off piste more - which is inevitable in Whistler anyway. I'm 6 foot 1, 70kg without gear. Would like something that will take me anywhere, be a relaxed ride when I want to cruise, and rewarding when I want to push (not asking for much, then).
I've been considering the following:
Dynastar Legend Sultan 80 - rented Legend 4800s in Les Arcs this year and loved them
K2 Shockwave - great reviews, good price and my wife swears by K2 (she'll be getting some Lotta Luvs)
Head i.Peak 78 - good reviews and prices, seems to be a ski I could progress with
Would appreciate any opinions, other recommendations, etc.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get the Sultan 85's, awesome skis. Still carve really well on piste with good edge hold, very versatile off. As well as being fatter than the 80's, they are also stiffer, which makes them better at speed on piste.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Hmm, most of the reviews I've read suggest that the Sultan 85s will be too much ski for me. And they're too expensive, I'm not going to pay more than £500.
I had a chat to a sales guy at Ellis Brigham who recommended the Atomic Nomad Blackeye Ti, also a tad on the expensive side but a proper go-anywhere ski and impressively lightweight. They're pretty stiff, though, a little further reseach suggests I might be better off with Nomad Smoke Tis.
The Ellis Brigham guy also recommended Fischer Watea 78s, not a ski I'd previously considered.
Think I might flip a coin...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I love my Sultans (85's,) much more verstile than the 80's but I also need the stiffer ski.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh yeah, I wouldn't actually buy skis from Brighams or Snow and Rock - they just happen to have big, conveniently located shops with lots of gear to look at. Thanks for the Severnsports tip, that's a good price for the Head 78s. Cheapest I've seen, in fact.
Filarinskis have the Smoke Tis for £387 which I'd pick over the standard Smokes - I want a ski to progress on, so they're a bit too intermediate-oriented for me.
It's fun deliberating over all the different specs and prices, but I suspect that any of them will do the job, really. They're all good skis.
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| ajrduff wrote: |
It's fun deliberating over all the different specs and prices, but I suspect that any of them will do the job, really. They're all good skis. |
Decisions decisions. It is fun looking for sure, gets me out of doing mass DIY  . Hope you find what you want.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Okay, after a little more research I'm half-convinced about the Sultan 85s, and have seen them for under £500 in a couple of places.
Does anyone have any advice on length? I'm getting a lot of conflicting information because I'm tall (183cm) and light (71kg). According to the length charts (such as you might find in the Snow and Rock brochure), around 170cm is right. I skied Legend 4800s at 172cm in Les Arcs this year, and was happy on them.
But a couple of ski technicians have suggested I go longer, and I've seen a lot of threads on here recommending the same to other people with a similar dilemma. I've never skied anything as long as 178cm - but am still developing and will be skiing for 4 weeks this season. Help!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Get 178, 6cms doesn't make that much difference, may take an hour or two to get used to it. The extra length will really help offpiste though.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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After much deliberation - I came very close to buying a pair of Sultan 85s - I've decided not to buy. At least not yet.
We'll rent for the first week in Whistler and see how it goes. I'll do some demos, try a couple of different rental skis, maybe even buy a pair of used skis from the clearance centre.
But I always come back to the same issues: I'd rather have the freedom of trying different skis at will, swapping if the conditions change, etc. And I'm not sure I can be bothered with the faff/cost of having to transport, service and store my own skis.
I am going to look into some new boots, because I got mine after my first trip, as a virtual beginner, and have moved on since then.
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