Hey NS, first post here. Have most of my gear picked out for the upcoming season and just looking for any other suggestions or advice.
I'm 5'11 and around 140lbs. Still growing so that explains if the gear I have picked it a little big. I want to have it for a while. Last season I was on some cheap K2 twin tips with Markers, cheap Nordica boots, and no name suit. This year I'm looking to step it up and get some real gear that can last me for at least 2/3 seasons.
My local ski spots are hills, not mountains, so they don't have much more than groomers and of course huge parks. That being said I will ski about 95% park and 5% groomers. Thing is that I make the trip to Marmot Basin every few weeks and when I'm there I do more like 60% pow, 20% groomers and 20% park. I'd say my skill level is advanced/expert with turns etc. and intermediate in park. I want a ski that withstand a beating in the park locally, also something that doesn't weigh me down with spins and grabs, but at the same time I don't want to be struggling when I tackle the big mountain pow.
I've been looking at the Line Blend ski, the 2012 ones. My budget is around $500 for skis and bindings. I found a pretty good deal where I can get some new Blends 173mm plus some Marker Squires for $500 shipped. Bindings don't matter so much to me, as long as they're reliable and light. With the blends I think I'd be totally fine with the pow part, but the thing holding me back is the wideness of the ski for park etc. Not sure how they'd do in the park especially since that's almost all I do locally. I also looked at the Line Masterminds 2013 although correct me if I'm wrong but they seem to be more of a beginner ski. The Line Chronics also crossed my mind, however the 2013 ones are a bit costy, I guess the 2012 Chronics are a possibility. For length I'm looking for anywhere from 173-178. Don't want them so short that they'll be too short in a few years, but don't want them so long that they're too much to swing around in the park. Other brand recommendations are appreciated.
Boots aren't such a big deal, I might just get something like a 2012 Full Tilt Booter. I'm a size 29.5/30 and don't want to spend more than $250/$300.
For a suit I'm thinking of going with Virtika V4 jacket and V4 pants. Jacket in purple/blue and pants in black/grey. Probably going to go with a L jacket so it'll last for a long time and M pants. Not interested in the whole gangster/swag/loride/talltee look.
Goggles I already have some Electric EGB2's and I have a decent Monster Capix helmet. Poles I'll probably grab some Line Pollard's Paintbrush or something.
