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Pow ski rentals: Worth it?

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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
Iight, so I'm from the east coast, and i'll be skiing at kicking horse for 3 days during my reading week. so basically, i only have a pair of center mounted park skis and i was just wondering if i should just stick with those or if i should really drop some cash and rent some pow skis? is it really worth it?
Feb 13 2011 7:30PM
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Yinzer
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 73
center mount park skis are disasters in pow. I think you will be thanking yourself if the pow is that deep there, im not familier
Feb 13 2011 7:33PM
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AMcCraw
Posts: 845 - Karma: 703
depends on the snow conditions. right now we are doing pretty good out here. But center mounted park skis are pretty shit at everything other then park. Skis arent that expensive to rent so you may as well try something new. Good excuse to try a rockered pow ski, they are tons of fun. I would do it, but if your tight on cash im sure you can get along fine with yours
Feb 13 2011 7:34PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Honestly, last year my friends dad paid for us to go heli skiing I rented hell bents for the day.... Funniest thing ever. i could not imagine skiing on anything but pow skis.
it was legit i highly recommend it
Feb 13 2011 7:37PM
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Gharf
Posts: 1390 - Karma: 983
you ll have the time of your life on pow skis.

do it.

it ll change your whole perspective on powder skiing.
Feb 13 2011 7:38PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
i doubt it, i already love skiing the pow.

im asking cus i already went to kicking horse a few years ago and i didnt rent or anything and i used my park skis and i still had a great fuckin time and i dont remember it being that sketchy, so i was wondering if pow skis would really make that much of a difference. but listening to you guys i think im gonna do it, ive wanted to try some rockered skis for a while now so this is my chance i guess
Feb 13 2011 7:41PM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
if there is a bunch of fresh yes, if not then fuck it.
Feb 13 2011 7:46PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 717
I would................
Feb 13 2011 7:48PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
and can any locals tell me what skis i'd be able to rent and which ones i should rent?
Feb 13 2011 7:54PM
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Big_Willy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 6
Of course you had a great time on park skis, I would too. Buuuut, pow skis are super fun, I think it will change your perspective on powder. When I skied my park skis in pow I always had to think about balance and landing a certain way, etc. When I got some rockered big boy skis all I had to think about was going as fast as possible, no worries about tip dive or washing out.
Feb 13 2011 8:04PM
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Chompo.
Posts: 4952 - Karma: 88
RENT POW SKIS..... I skied a pow day on center mounted volkl walls and it sucked... The next day we got 10 more inches i i rented obsethed's and it was the best day of my life.
Feb 13 2011 8:32PM
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ChrisSkisChronic
Posts: 1128 - Karma: 230
...holy shit




Feb 13 2011 8:34PM
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T_orageskiier
Posts: 580 - Karma: 13
rent skis man last year I went to whistler and rented fat skis for the whole week cause they got dumped on and it was the most fun I have ever had. You can ski lines that you would have no chance doing on park skis. This year went to Big White and they got dumped on the last day and I didn't bother renting so I skied my walls and it was so much more difficult as well as your legs get very sore from trying to keep your tips above the snow.
Feb 13 2011 9:06PM
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Static
Posts: 8561 - Karma: 4,139
.
Feb 13 2011 9:08PM
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P-HAGAR
Posts: 608 - Karma: 159
i was also curious about renting pow skis..im thinking of hellbents or jah loves. are they fun center mounted or what?
Feb 13 2011 9:10PM
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skiskate
Posts: 787 - Karma: 823
Id say yes do it judging by how much snow there had been up there lately. When is your reading week? Ill be rolling through for a week for a little road trip.
Feb 13 2011 10:48PM
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TylerS
Posts: 2720 - Karma: 49
definitely gotta rent pow skis. skiing utah pow last year with Ninthward HH centermounted wasn't ideal haha
Feb 13 2011 10:53PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Yea, i bought powder ski for my trip in utah and worth every , and now i rent them to my friend fir like 50$ for a week ahah or a bottle of grey goose, kinda funny.
Feb 13 2011 10:57PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
yes
Feb 13 2011 10:57PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
So yea rent some powder ski, sorry for dub post
Feb 13 2011 10:57PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
thats cause you are leaning back. you dont want to ever lean back period...unless you are buttering.

You can still ski through your shins in powder on park skis, its just a little more work to carve your turns.

But if you havnt been exposed to a variety of conditions, and feel comfortable, fat skis will make you a much better skier in the deep, regardless of your skill level. they are Confidence Inspiring.
Feb 13 2011 11:03PM
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Triple_Strum
Posts: 6384 - Karma: 953
You are already spending hundreds of dollars to make the trip, why ski on center mounted park skis in pow? You said you had fun on your park skis before, but that is like saying "I have fun driving my minivan around the racetrack, why should I drive the BMW?" Because if you can, you should, it is that much better.
Feb 13 2011 11:06PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
1st week of march. im gonna be there from the 28th of feb til the 4th of march.

and thanks everyone, im definitely gonna rent some, at first i just thought it would be more expensive than it actually is. i checked out the prices online and ya its not too bad. ^like he said, im already dropping mad dough for the trip, might as well throw a bit more into the pot and make it even better
Feb 13 2011 11:15PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
definitely yes, i went out west last year and rented some fatties and it was amazing
Feb 13 2011 11:46PM
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Ian.D
Posts: 1254 - Karma: 1,093
Last season I skied knee deep pow in Montana with my short, center mounted invaders and I had a blast so I wouldnt say its impossible or wouldnt be fun but im sure fat skis are better
Feb 14 2011 12:52AM
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Roy
Posts: 1982 - Karma: 1,240
Just did wrangle the chutes on a pair of center mount S5's (they 98 under foot and reguler camber) and had an unreal time. If your a good skier and don't want to drop alot of cash on rentals you should be fine. If you want to try some out or need a little help in the pow they have S7's for rent and they are siiiiiiick!
Feb 14 2011 3:15AM
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benk
Posts: 1342 - Karma: 988
do it if the conditions warrant pow skis.

on a similar note, last spring I went to utah and NOAA was predicting over a foot for the day I arrived. Like an idiot I only brought my Moment Comi's and didn't have rack space for my Chronics. needless to say, They only got a few inches and my Comi's sucked balls. So I demoed some Gotamas and had a blast, well worth the $30-40
Feb 14 2011 3:48AM
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BobYohan
Posts: 3001 - Karma: 375
i spent last winter at the horse.  if you want to explore the best that that mountain has to offer, which is gnarly ass steeps and chutes, you want something bigger and more stable than a park ski regardless of the snow conditions.  Canyon Creek at the gondola base stocks a few bigger skis including Rossi S7s and Volkl Mantras, but on big days and especially weekend pow days they sometimes  run out so best to call ahead.
Feb 14 2011 6:30AM
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T_orageskiier
Posts: 580 - Karma: 13
I dont think you understand.. with centre mounted park skis if you dont lean back you face plant no matter how good you are, some leaning back is required, this is when the snow is above the knees. With pow skis no leaning is required cause they float and they are mounted in a more optimal position depending on the design. I have skied pow skis and park skis in deep snow a lot and you have to lean back a bit with park skis.. thats just the way the physics works.
Feb 15 2011 7:46PM
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Jenser
Posts: 375 - Karma: 16
Wow, your friends dad sounds dope as fuck

But seriously, pow skis are the most awesome machines ever. Picked up a pair of hellbents this year and certainly the best purchase I've ever made. If the snow's falling, if I was you I wouldn't even hesitate to rent a pair of fat rockered skis, you will certainly not regret it
Feb 15 2011 8:14PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
at kicking horse, yes you 100% should. KH is a very large mountain with mostly steep open bowls and steep trees, riding park skis would be very hindering there.
Feb 15 2011 8:15PM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
absolutely. did two days at breck on anthems had a decent time then did vail on jj's one day and obsethed another. both lifechanging experiences and well worth it. the obsethed place did demos for 30 bucks a day too. shop around a lot of the places have great deals and might do discounts based on how long you rent em for.
Feb 15 2011 8:22PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
its settled, i went on the website and reserved some S7's. comes up to about 125$ with tax and warranty and the whole bit for the 3 days ill be there. im pretty fuckin pumped boys, read a few reviews on tgr about the S7 and they sound like pretty dope skis.
Feb 15 2011 8:37PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
so fucking worth it, youre not gonna regret that at all. have fun
Feb 16 2011 2:03PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
thanks man
Feb 16 2011 2:05PM
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rossiskier93
Posts: 781 - Karma: 103
i have a pair. literally the best ski ever made.
Feb 16 2011 2:08PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
idk how to tell you this, but you are just wrong. leaning back puts you in a position where you cannot control your skis. True, you cant ski skinny skis like you would pow skis, and it is much harder to ski skinny skis in pow. but you should always be pressuring your shin. it is much more of a bouncy carve with skinny skis in pow, as opposed to a traditional carve, or slarve that you get with pow skis. pow skis allow you to control the skis in ways you could only do on hardpack with skinny skis.

You dont have to have your tips above the snow to ski pow, you do know this right? the only time you NEED to lean back is when hitting drops, and there you dont so much lean back as you just land through your heels.

Speed helps, but you shouldnt be leaning back. watch any old ski movies if you dont believe me, and tell me if they are leaning back.
Feb 16 2011 2:24PM
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DGski
Posts: 3491 - Karma: 2,328
do it for maximum fun
Feb 16 2011 2:42PM
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PANDA_SWAGGA
Posts: 490 - Karma: 16
Definetly worth it. Pow skiing is much more fun with fat rocker. Almost feels effortless. If you have unrockered centermounted skis best of luck....
Feb 16 2011 2:55PM
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Mike.Steezze
Posts: 407 - Karma: 17
Just curious as to where you rented em from and if it was a place in Calgary (which is where I am), or a place in BC? The snow out at KHO has been soo sick lately, I was there two weeks ago and had a blast, defs recommend some pow skis. I know not far away Fernie, where I was last weekend, has been getting dumped on. I have my reading week starting friday and will be out there so if you pm me Ill be able to let you know what its like, or just try posting in this thread. Anyways seems like you rented some dope skis and I wish you more fun than you can imagine
Feb 16 2011 3:15PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10582 - Karma: 11,183
I was skeptical when I only had skinnier skis, but then I decided to shell out 20 bucks for rentals at loveland one day... safe to say changed my perspective on pow for sure.
Feb 16 2011 3:17PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
i rented em from this shop right at the base of the resort itself. and ya im pretty pumped about the conditions, should be a good time. i'd defs be pumped if you let me know how everything was down at fernie
Feb 16 2011 3:24PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9217 - Karma: 5,399
i'd do it. i went out to colorado in january and din't bring my skis cause of all the hassle it is with the plane, and they're disorderly's. i rented some JJ's a few days, and icelantics the other. it was fun, my skis probably would have sucked in real snow.

bring your boots though.
Feb 16 2011 3:25PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
shut up retard. i want to see you pressure your shins and drive your center mounted park skis through a foot and a half of fresh sierra cement, or for that matter 3 feet of nice pow. have fun tomahawking around all day. why don't you pressure your calves when you ski switch through deep pow? the same reason. unless you want to rag doll every 30 feet you physically have to pressure the back of your boot. Just because you read an article in ski magazine about how middle aged men on their rear mounted slalom skis should ski the 3 inches that just got dumped on deer valley doesn't mean it has any significance towards a kid skiing on centered park skis.

and you're right, skiers didn't lean back in old ski movies. they practically sat on their tails when skiing deep pow.


Feb 16 2011 3:37PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
^ that being said, rent pow skis. my newlifes have changed me for ever and i find myself taking them out even when we just get an inch or two because they're so much damn fun.
Feb 16 2011 3:38PM
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Mike.Steezze
Posts: 407 - Karma: 17
Ok cool. Kicking horse has had so much development in the last few years that I can never keep track of what is there and where everything is. I remember when they put in the new gondola.
Feb 16 2011 4:02PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
ya so ive been skiing at alpine for 3 years now with OG chronic blends, mounted -2 from dead center. ive have a few pow days with them. your right , your tips do dive sometimes, but thats how it goes with skinnier skis, if you are balanced through your turns, and actively bouncing and linking turns, you have no problem.


this is the issue with pow skis. gapers get on them when they have no idea how to ski pow with skinier skis, and think that slarving, and slashing turns, and always floating is the only way to ski pow. People should learn to ski pow on skinny skis first, to lock down the fundamentals, then move on to fat rockered skis.


but keep riding in the backseat...nancy
Feb 16 2011 5:03PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
hes actually right man. first time i went out west, one night it dumped a shitload of snow, so i took a lesson since i had never skied that much pow before. anyways, the guy told us exactly what this guy is saying, even though everyone says to lean back and you have to instinct to lean back, the way to do it is to have even pressure on your shin and calf in your boot. i was riding center mounted park skis at the time and that advice actually worked... as soon as you lean back, ya your tips get out of the snow but you lose so much control. anyways im not trying to get into an argument here so take it or leave it
Feb 16 2011 5:06PM
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GuerillaInDaMist
Posts: 546 - Karma: 47
lol you just got owned
Feb 16 2011 5:07PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
you've been skiing for three years? until you provide some sort of evidence that you can actually ski your argument is still invalid. I'm not saying to ski in the backseat, i'm just saying no matter how much you think you're pressuring your shins you still have your weight back, or else you would eat shit everywhere. you ski pow balanced and centered, with your weight slightly back when you're on park skis.

if you are making gay little bounce turns, well then i feel sorry for you. i'm sure warren miller and your mom love that they can keep up with you. I on the other hand prefer to ski pow lines aggressively, which when i'm not on my new lifes, requires being weighted slightly behind center. I'M NOT SAYING LEAN BACK AND AFTERBANG SO YOUR TIPS ARE OUT OF THE SNOW.

and as for the nancy comment, i 100% guarantee i slay harder than you. enjoy your riveting discussions of ski technique with your grandfather because i'm done with this argument.
Feb 16 2011 5:24PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
your reading comprehension skills suck. i have been skiing for 3 years at Alpine meadows with OG chronic blends. I have been on skis for 15 years total.

your right i would be shocked if i was better than you at park, pow skiing pretty sure ive got you.

any who, the fact that you think you can ski aggressivly while "physically pressuring the back of your boot" shows how redic your statements are.

btw you ski in the PA...lots o pow there
Feb 16 2011 5:33PM
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