What do you look for/notice in a ski?

To me, durability is important because skis are expensive!

1. simple, or looks like its painted on the ski, like e.p. art or my atomic patents, hell i like most skis.

2. factory detuned edges would be nice for park

3. wide symetrical park, like 95 under foot

4.medium soft with slightly stiffer tails

5.medium weight, best of both worlds

6.if its a good ski, im willing to pay like 400-450, but the reno rockers i want i need to want to go on clearence as they are 850 at my shop

7.i like a durable ski, durable bases and topsheet are a must, and side wall i like my atomics, because they have sidewall underfoot,  and cap in the tips and tails.

the end

oops i skipped 6. technoledgy i dont realy care about that much as long as it holds up, and its not like mega outdated

do you mind elaborating a bit more and filling out the form?

ideally everyone will copy the op and respond to the questions

thanks

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?

I have 3 pairs of skis that look like they were spawned in the depths of hell (skulls and whatnot), but I also like neon colored skis (disorderly, anthems).  Simple designs can also look really good I think.  I care what the ski looks like, but it is only secondary.  But I think there is a place for all kinds of designs. 



2. ski finishing - ie awesome structure, ceramic edge, flat/railed? matched camber/rocker & flex? do you know how to actually check for this stuff? if it was off, would you notice or care?

Yeah, it just kinda depends on what kind of ski I am looking for.  I like a pretty wide quiver so one ski might be totally different from another. 


3. shaping? prefered sidecut/shape? rocker lines? etc.

Once again I like variance in a line from a company.  I usually will buy a ski if the sidecut isnt what I want if it has flex that I want.  I can usually find a way to enjoy a ski as long as there is some aspect of it that I like, like camber. 

4. flex and flex options? stiff, medium or soft? does it matter if there are countless options?

I like a stiffer ski for park and most things, and a little softer, but not the softest.  I love the hellbent was not super stoked on the EP pro.

5. weight? do you like a super heavy ski (damp)? super light ski (reactive), do you tour? do you care?

I like heavier skis that are poppy, but powerful.  I don't tour.  I won't usually base my decision on weight.  if I like a ski for other reasons, I won't care about weight, unless it is something exceptional.


6. technology? do you care about pushing the design envelope? do you specifically like to support companies that are doing something cool/new/different?

I think newer technologies are good, but most of the times I will wait for a season or two before investing in something to see how it turns out. 

7. price? how price motivated are you? will you only buy on mad closeout? will you pay full pop for something truly lust-worthy? how many skis do you buy a year? how long do you expect them to last?

I pretty much refuse to pay full price on anything.  I'm a graduate student so I have no money.  I buy about one pair of skis a year, usually proform prices.  I expect park skis to last 1-2 years, but powder and other skis to last maybe 4 years.

8. durability? do you care about the hardness of your bases? do you like or not like die-cuts underfoot? sidewall or cap - care?

I won't buy capped skis.  They have all fallen apart on me eventually, I don't like how they ski, they are not as responsive.  I prefer die cut bases for sure, they seem to hold up so much better, but I'll get silk-screened bases.  Once again I won't base my decision on it, but if I had a choice between the two I will go with die-cut.

in addition to my #7. i buy a new pair of park skis every year and a half and a pair of powder skis every 3

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?
Something dark like the hellbents or 08/09 Ninthward Rorys.. purely because it shows some of my personality (im into the whole metal/hardcore scene)

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?

i really like the low key, painted looking stuff, ala recent volkl freeride line

2. ski finishing - ie awesome structure, ceramic edge, flat/railed? matched camber/rocker & flex? do you know how to actually check for this stuff? if it was off, would you notice or care?

i do know, and i do care.
serious business here.

3. shaping? prefered sidecut/shape? rocker lines? etc.
i like a fairly straight ski, i like big long turns, and i appreciate stability.
on rockered sticks i like a longer/shallower rocker

4. flex and flex options? stiff, medium or soft? does it matter if there are countless options?

stiff stiff stiff

5. weight? do you like a super heavy ski (damp)? super light ski (reactive), do you tour? do you care?

about medium, i do tour

6. technology? do you care about pushing the design envelope? do you specifically like to support companies that are doing something cool/new/different?

i do care, but i dislike binding systems

7. price? how price motivated are you? will you only buy on mad closeout? will you pay full pop for something truly lust-worthy? how many skis do you buy a year? how long do you expect them to last?

ive paid alot for skis.
i buy about 1-2 pairs ayear
they last naybe 2-3 years on wood core, less than that on foam

8. durability? do you care about the hardness of your bases? do you like or not like die-cuts underfoot? sidewall or cap - care?

this is important.

no die cuts
sidewall
hard bases

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?

i really dont care that much, if its a pow ski that will be covered by snow, why does it matter

2. ski finishing - ie awesome structure, ceramic edge, flat/railed? matched camber/rocker & flex? do you know how to actually check for this stuff? if it was off, would you notice or care?

im really anal about these things, i measure and way all my gear, if its off by a mm or 2 i dont care, if its off by and inch or something, time for a fast warranty

3. shaping? prefered sidecut/shape? rocker lines? etc.

rocker is a must for me on everything, its just more fun, good amount of side cut also

4. flex and flex options? stiff, medium or soft? does it matter if there are countless options?

depends on the use of the ski, park=mid flex pow=stiff

5. weight? do you like a super heavy ski (damp)? super light ski (reactive), do you tour? do you care?

i dont tour, but dont want some 11.5lbs pair of skis(aka hellbents)

6. technology? do you care about pushing the design envelope? do you specifically like to support companies that are doing something cool/new/different?

i love being on the front off new tech so i can give people good descriptions of the gear

7. price? how price motivated are you? will you only buy on mad closeout? will you pay full pop for something truly lust-worthy? how many skis do you buy a year? how long do you expect them to last?

price doesnt matter that much to me, i know that when im paying for a pair of skis ive done my research on them and will enjoy my purchase

8. durability? do you care about the hardness of your bases? do you like or not like die-cuts underfoot? sidewall or cap - care?

side wall all the way, rase bases are a plus, and they need to hold up well or im not buying

1. Design wise I'd like to see more abstract art. I've only seen one ski that has abstract art and I thought it looked dope. But of the designs that are out there rght now? I would have to say most of moments designs are sick, although shitty skis last years salomon suspect was sex, and The surface watch lifes are super I'll also.

2.Must be durable. For me I don't know much in this section but I really like how camber looks on most park skis.

3. Symmetrical, I hate that a lot of ski companies don't support this but I like having symmetrical skis a lot. Also I like wide park skis so 110/95/110 is probably the most narrow I would buy.

4. I get really annoyed with super noodle skis but I prefer somewhere in between soft and medium.

5. Medium weight skis for the same reason as #4

6. Tech Is only nice if it has been tested and proven. No cheap "we think" kind of deals.

7. Price. Well it depends on the company. The prices that are out right now are pretty reasonable but I wouldn't mind seeing a 50-100 dollar price drop on every ski in the industry.

8. Durability is key. Nobody wants a ski that has edges that blow out after only 7-10 ski days.

Hope this info helps. Peace

Here are the things I look for in order of Importance

1. Shape (Cut/Rocker/Camber/Length)

2. Technology (What is the core? how big are the edges?)

3. Durability


Topsheet graphics are way down on my list.

 Just consider this: when are you having the most fun with skis? - When you are riding them; and when you are on them you are not looking at them

also please rank these in order of most important to least important, so for me it'd be:

Shaping
Flex
Durability
Technology
Price
Weight
Finishing
Graphics

Weight goes near the top if these are touring skis

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?
-- The graphic is the first thing I see, so if it's a cool graphic I will check it out first as opposed to a ski with a mediocre graphic.  But the graphic will have no effect on what ski I buy.  The graphic draws me in, but will have no deciding factor over other parts of the ski.

2. ski finishing - ie awesome structure, ceramic edge, flat/railed? matched camber/rocker & flex? do you know how to actually check for this stuff? if it was off, would you notice or care?
--I have never even checked so I guess it does not matter too much to me.  It probably is not even noticeable if each ski is a little different.

3. shaping? prefered sidecut/shape? rocker lines? etc.
--The shape is the most important factor.  I always look for the underfoot width that I want.  Then I look at the tip and tail and decide if it is wide enough/ skinny enough and has the turn radius that I am looking for.  This is the most important aspect of the ski.

4. flex and flex options? stiff, medium or soft? does it matter if there are countless options?
--Flex is the second most important aspect of the ski.  I have no preference as to stiff or soft, I like both, but when I am in the market for a new ski I generally have an idea of what flex I want.  I always go to a shop and hand flex both the tip and tails. 

5. weight? do you like a super heavy ski (damp)? super light ski (reactive), do you tour? do you care?
--I do not care at all about weight.  I can care less if it is a heavy ski, just like I can care less about binding weight.

6. technology? do you care about pushing the design envelope? do you specifically like to support companies that are doing something cool/new/different?
-- Everyone likes new ideas.  I love new ideas.  I like the idea of the Afterbang, I like the idea of edge armor even though it seems not to work.  I will probably not buy a ski just because it is a new idea or technologically advanced, it has to fall into the shape and flex that I want for me to consider it.

7. price? how price motivated are you? will you only buy on mad closeout? will you pay full pop for something truly lust-worthy? how many skis do you buy a year? how long do you expect them to last?
--I always buy left over skis.  I always buy at the end of the season becasue that is when the prices are the best.  I cannot afford the current years skis haha.  I have been buying a new pair of skis every season lately even though I don't need them.  But I still sue my old ones.  I expect my skis to last for 3 or 4 seasons, but I am starting to see that as I progress, especially on rails, that this is not plausible.

8. durability? do you care about the hardness of your bases? do you like or not like die-cuts underfoot? sidewall or cap - care?
-- I like sidewall, but I have nothing against capped construction.  I love skis like the JJ and all the rossignol which have like a capped sidewall construction, they seem to be the most durable.  I don't care about the base of the ski, as long as it is thick (same with edges, that is why I almsot always buy Line). 

What I look for is: Has to be light, Soft, around 85mm give or take a little underfoot, Symetrical, responsivness, and durability means a lot, all i can do is ski rails so i beat the shit out of my skis. 

1. Graphics aren't a big deal at all

Sorry, here's the fixed one

1. graphics? do you prefer pucking blood skulls ala hellbent, hand paint ala 4frnt, crazy neon colors ala new ks stuff, techy graphic designs ala lhasa pows, or simple designs ala dps? do you care?