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Not Another 'What Ski?' Thread?! (Whistler Ski)

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AL7
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
Hey guys,

I'm new to the whole Newschoolers thing but was recommended by a friend so I thought I'd check it out.

I'm from Australia about 2000 kilometres from any snow, but at the end of the year I am shipping out to Whistler and doing a season there (working at the Salomon store in the Pan Pacific, name is Angus, say hi!). At the moment I go to NZ every year and have skiied Japan twice and Colorado once, so I'm fairly experianced (well as experianced as someone who gets 1 or 2 weeks in every year can be). At the moment I have a set of 2011 K2 Revivals that I bought a few months ago and skiied 2 weeks in NZ this year on, they were perfect for the warm, early season conditions, great on groomers and great off pieste too. Now I'm thinking I will take the K2s over to Whistler with me and learn how to ski a bit of park (little park experiance) and maybe hit up some groomers and days when I just wanna ski around jibbing and having some fun. But I also am in the market for another ski, more big mountain, powder ski. I like going fast and skiing steep stuff but I dont have a heap of freestyle experiance (definitely something I want to develop though). I want a ski that will rip up in powder, but not one that I will only get to ski a handful of days when its super deep and will still handle crud, chopped up stuff, windblown and a bit of moguls. At the moment I was thinking along the lines of a K2 Obsethed, Armada JJ or Salomon Rocker 2 (should be able to get this cheaper through work, but thoughts on Salomon?), but lacking the ski culture/knowledge that comes with living in winter climates I am a little lost at the moment. I'm 180cms (5'11") and 185 pounds (not sure on ski length) and also need a boot reccommendation (for use with my Revivals as well)
Cheers!
Aug 20 2011 12:05AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7144 - Karma: 17,447
Hey there Angus, Im the hardgoods lead at the salomon shop in whistler. Nice to hear there are allready people set to come out here. I presume you will be a rentel tech, so I will be teaching you to fit boots, its a good shop to work in so nice work getting a job there.

Ski wise you will get the salomon pro deel which means good prices on all there stuff. Most of the techs last year went for the Shogun, as its a good 1 ski quiver. It can do the park, carve well and also ride the powder. Most of us techs rode the Rocker 2's they really are an awsome ski, so much float in the pow we get here and there super light for such a big ski. If you allready have a park ski Rocker 2's would be a good pow ski. There fairly soft though so if you prefer a stiifer big mountain ski you could look at the El Dictator. Its stiff and only comes in one size, 192. Jim one of our other boot fitters had them and he loved them. Personly I prefer teh Rocker 2 as there more freestyley then the Dictator.

Ryan the rep gives a good PK once you guys all start so you can ask him, and of course Im here to help train you guys up, so any questions let me know. You will get the option of 25% off any other skis WB sell, such as K2, Rossi, Head, Atomic, Lib tech, surface but you will not get as good a deel so unless you have lots of money get the pro deel from salomon.

You can of course take our rentel skis out so you can try everything we sell before you order anything, and I like you all to ski everything so you know what your giving customers.

Any way hope that helps, and ill see you later in teh year.
Aug 20 2011 12:26AM
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Chilly.
Posts: 930 - Karma: 24
Check out Rossignol S7s...probably in either 178 or 188 depending on how you intend to ski them. As for boots just see a bootfitter at the base of your moutain
Aug 20 2011 12:30AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7144 - Karma: 17,447
Oh yeah forgot about boots, dont even bother looking untill you get her, Ill fit you some up once your here, you can pro deel them, then Ill fit them once you have them.

And by the way, you probably end up ridding your pow skis more then anything here, at least untill about april. Yes there was that much snow last year, lets hope this season is the same.
Aug 20 2011 12:34AM
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AL7
Posts: 25 - Karma: 10
Thanks for your help Tom!! I actually snagged a job as a retail sales clerk but I'm sure I will most likely be in contact with all you guys on a regular basis (actually I have no idea haha, I'm sure you know the deal), but the whole Salomon Pro deal sounds amazing and getting my boots fitted up with you guys would be great. I think I'm leaning toward the Rocker 2, as I do have the park ski so I'm wanting something a little wider then the Shogun and the freestyley nature of the Rocker sounds like something I would be into!
Thanks for your help again! hearing any information about what its like over there is very exciting!
Aug 20 2011 12:51AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7144 - Karma: 17,447
Cool a sales job is much better then being a rentel tech, you will be selling outerwear and shoes mainly. You will still get some training in rentals as its usefull if you can help when needed. Its a good shop to be in, one of the better WB shops. Hours are good you will either work the morning or afternoon. Afternoons are better as you can ski, but days shifts can be good too.

Yeah you really will like the Rocker 2's I had them all last season and loved them. They are cheap on pro deel too. We always get new and protoype skis in so its fairly cool to see whats coming up in the next few years. Salomon are now using whistler as one ofthere testing grounds for new products and having the likes of Mike D and Mark Abma on the doorstep helps too.

Well enjoy the next few months and we will see you soon.
Aug 20 2011 1:01AM
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Legoman
Posts: 533 - Karma: 13
Go with the Rocker2s on the deal, they are a really fun ski I don't think Iv been on anything that is that buttery in the tips but its a very snappy feel. To me they were what I would want hellbents to be, yet there still got enough stability to do some real skiing (on real mountains).

There will be plenty of days for you to use them and I feel you'll be found wanting something more if you go with the shoguns and you have the revivals for the rest of the time anyway.

There are skis I preferred more out of next years gear and if money isn't and issue try them, but the Rocker2 is a good ski and with the deal it will be a fair price compared to retail.

Personally I would get the 192s as the 184s feel very short but its what you feel comfortable with, best thing to do is just wait till your out there and enjoy the good times and the snow.
Aug 20 2011 3:48PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Salomon rocker for sure. You have pro deal so you will same money, i dont think you should pay 700$ for another ski when you can have tje rocker for like 400$.
Aug 20 2011 5:01PM
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