Thinking of buying some skis

[Powerkiter]

After many years of hiring skis I'm thinking of purchasing some. I just don't know where to start. I would say I am an intermediate and can get down most runs. I've only had lessons when I went skiing with the school 30 odd years ago and should imagine I've have picked up some bad habits in the last 20 years I've been skiing. I am considering doing a 3 hour improvers course at Tamworth before I go to Morzine next February.

Is buying skis in the UK okay or should I buy some in the resort where I can try some demo skis.

Also not sure on all the different types.

I was considering getting some backcountry skis/ bindings. I'm tempted to put some skins on the climb sometimes using this method. Would these type of skis be okay for general on piste skiing?

I like to look of the Lonely Mountain Skis but not sure about buying from such a small manufacturer. Not exactly cheap either!

[Marcellus]

I would always try before you buy, i don't think you can really try skis indoors.

[Burrow01]

Definitely try before you buy, ski's vary so much in "feel" depending on your physical stature and skiing style that you need to give them a go before deciding which ones suit you best.

Most shops in ski resorts will do some kind of hire/buy deal, where they refund the hire price if you buy them, or just try lots of hire skis and look online

[malks222]

how often do you ski??? If these ski's are only really going to be used abroad in resort for 1/2wks a year, then I'd seriously consider just renting.

if you are going to use the for 1/2wks abroad plus days in the uk (touring/ in Scotland) then I would definitely consider getting some. the ease of being able to just decide to head north for the odd day and not having to put up with rubbish rental gear has made me always have my own stuff. but the added expensive of taking skis on flights/ storing/ ski bags/ waxing/ edging........ to only be used once a year would make me think twice.

indoor slopes are not great for getting a feel for new skis, but its better than nothing. depending where you go abroad- you might have a few different options in resort, or you might be stuck with only one shops expensive prices..... I'd maybe get over to the 'snowheads forum' and have a look around there for hints/ tips

[NRS]

Powerkiter said:

Also not sure on all the different types.

I was considering getting some backcountry skis/ bindings. I'm tempted to put some skins on the climb sometimes using this method. Would these type of skis be okay for general on piste skiing?

I like to look of the Lonely Mountain Skis but not sure about buying from such a small manufacturer. Not exactly cheap either!

Backcountry skis will be fine for piste skiing, but they will be generally quite different from what you'd ideally want from a piste ski. The light setup for going uphill will mean they are a lot more flexible going down pistes and so you can't push as much. You also have more risk of popping out of tech bindings. You'd also likely want different widths - if you're just piste skiing then narrow carving skis will be best, but if you will do off-piste then you'd be looking around the 95-100mm waist to be a good all round ski.

I have 4 sets of downhill skis; 1 set of fat powder skis, 2 sets of "all round" skis for touring, and the cheap piste skis I learned on. Even the 2 "all round" skis behave quite differently, so try before you buy is best. Or just buy some on sale at the end of the season for 50-70% discount and buy another set with the money saved if you don't like them,

[oddman]

Back country skis and boots are absolutely superb now

I use nothing else for all my skiing

My set up is Scarpa Maestrale RS, Black Crows Orb Freebird and Fritschi Vipecs. Ridiculously light and 95% of British skiers would not be limited by this set up on piste or any frontside resort snow. That is unless you are 'powerfully built' ± clumsy. This is ridiculously light compared with alpine gear but at the 'heavy' end of touring gear. The boots are super comfortable and have a vibram sole which makes walking and climbing easy.

Need to be careful with bindings - you'll need boots with pin holes for some bindings.

Skis can be anything from skinny super light carbon jobs for racing to beefy 110mm + powder skis.

Specialist lightweight gear doesn't come cheap. With skins you'll be getting little change from £1500

Edited by oddman on Wednesday 25th October 07:41

[NRS]

oddman said:

Back country skis and boots are absolutely superb now

I use nothing else for all my skiing

My set up is Scarpa Maestrale RS, Black Crows Orb Freebird and Fritschi Vipecs. Ridiculously light and 95% of British skiers would not be limited by this set up on piste or any frontside resort snow. That is unless you are 'powerfully built' ± clumsy. This is ridiculously light compared with alpine gear but at the 'heavy' end of touring gear. The boots are super comfortable and have a vibram sole which makes walking and climbing easy.

Need to be careful with bindings - you'll need boots with pin holes for some bindings.

Skis can be anything from skinny super light carbon jobs for racing to beefy 110mm + powder skis.

Specialist lightweight gear doesn't come cheap. With skins you'll be getting little change from £1500

Edited by oddman on Wednesday 25th October 07:41

I wouldn't say your set up is towards the heavy end, more intermediate/all round. The frame bindings, wider/fatter skis and downhill oriented touring boots would be towards the heavy end. Anything lighter and you're going to be suffering in deeper snow/ missing height adjusters on bindings etc. It will do most people fine, but if you're doing almost all piste you'll lose out on piste in terms of the equipment being in it's best range/most enjoyable. As you said, it's expensive stuff.

[Zod]

A timely thread. I need new boots and skis. My current kit is old, but has been great: Salomon 2004 model stiff (just sub-race) boots and Kastle MX88s from 2012 (one has a crack in the shovel from a mishap with a tree).

I ski off and on-piste and would ideally like one pair of skis, renting powder skis for powder days. In 2012 an 88mm waist seemed wide to me, but most of my mates have gone wider recently.

Recommendations?

[Steve Campbell]

Powerkiter said:

After many years of hiring skis I'm thinking of purchasing some. I just don't know where to start. I would say I am an intermediate and can get down most runs. I've only had lessons when I went skiing with the school 30 odd years ago and should imagine I've have picked up some bad habits in the last 20 years I've been skiing.

Depending on how often you ski, but if it's only 1 week a year I wouldn't bother buying. I'd also get yourself some in resort lessons. I was in the same boat couple of years ago and really wanted to know how to use the "modern" equipment as I just couldn't get the hang of carving.

3hr private lesson was a revelation. To be honest, he spent half the time unpicking bad habits before getting to the point he could teach me to carve.

This is where I'd spend my money before investing in any new kit.

[telford_mike]

Zod said:

A timely thread. I need new boots and skis. My current kit is old, but has been great: Salomon 2004 model stiff (just sub-race) boots and Kastle MX88s from 2012 (one has a crack in the shovel from a mishap with a tree).

I ski off and on-piste and would ideally like one pair of skis, renting powder skis for powder days. In 2012 an 88mm waist seemed wide to me, but most of my mates have gone wider recently.

Recommendations?

I bought Atomic Vantage 90s last season - loved them. Great on piste and off.

[Cheburator mk2]

Zod said:

A timely thread. I need new boots and skis. My current kit is old, but has been great: Salomon 2004 model stiff (just sub-race) boots and Kastle MX88s from 2012 (one has a crack in the shovel from a mishap with a tree).

I ski off and on-piste and would ideally like one pair of skis, renting powder skis for powder days. In 2012 an 88mm waist seemed wide to me, but most of my mates have gone wider recently.

Recommendations?

Things have moved on substantially in both ski and boot technology. I usually take my race skis for piste work and my trusty Atomic Sugar Daddy 193 with Marker Duke for playing off piste because I am old school . However, If I was to limit myself to one pair of skis, that would be a 2017 Dynastar Cham 2.0 97

Skied with them in Flaine this year as my wife has the ladies equivalent. Was blown away by its ability on piste, and was more than adequate off piste. It absolutely blew away my Atomic when the going got tough in crusty/cruddy snow. I am almost in denial refusing to replace the Atomic out of nostalgia and the fact that is extremely light weight, so good for the odd excursion/climb on the back of my rucksack. Otherwise, the Dynastar would have been acquired.

New boots - I bought a pair of Tecnica Cochise 130 - stiff as anything and very lightweight at 1950gr each, which is a saving of at least 500gr vs a comparable full race boot. Probably the best cross-over boot on the market at the moment. Super comfortable fit, requiring only minor work (15mins) by the Boot room in Chamonix

[S100HP]

Why on earth would you buy your own skis? Ski carriage with EJ is now £74! You can hire for less.

[Zod]

S100HP said:

Why on earth would you buy your own skis? Ski carriage with EJ is now £74! You can hire for less.

I’ve never paid that much. They’re free on Swiss, in any case.

[S100HP]

Zod said:

S100HP said:

Why on earth would you buy your own skis? Ski carriage with EJ is now £74! You can hire for less.

I’ve never paid that much. They’re free on Swiss, in any case.

It's recently increased from £70. Fair point about Swiss. That 23kg made up of skis/clothing.

[telford_mike]

S100HP said:

Why on earth would you buy your own skis? Ski carriage with EJ is now £74! You can hire for less.

I spend all winter (and most of the summer) in Switzerland. Plus, it’s nice to have your own, even if it doesn’t make financial sense.

[aeropilot]

NRS said:

Or just buy some on sale at the end of the season for 50-70% discount and buy another set with the money saved if you don't like them,

I did that at the end of the season after my last ski trip.......only I didn't know then that I wouldn't ever go skiing again.

18 years later, and I still have a brand new pair of never used ski's and bindings in the loft

[NRS]

I actually have to get some new skis shortly. I presume they will be the same as last time though - my Dynafit Daughaliri's or however you spell them ended up with a split in one. However no reason for it I can think of, and no impact damage anywhere so they'll replace it. So well done to Dynafit's customer service.

[Zod]

S100HP said:

Zod said:

S100HP said:

Why on earth would you buy your own skis? Ski carriage with EJ is now £74! You can hire for less.

I’ve never paid that much. They’re free on Swiss, in any case.

It's recently increased from £70. Fair point about Swiss. That 23kg made up of skis/clothing.

I have a six foot bag. When I pack skis, boots and everything else into it, including clothes for a week, it magically weighs 23kg.

[Powerkiter]

Thanks for all your comments. Decided to hire. I have booked on to the Tamworth parallel performance lesson though so lets hope my skiing improves.