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My first pair of Skis.

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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263

Hey guys & Girls,

As many others have in the past I am calling on the NS members in my search for skis. I am a long term lerker on this forum and it's taken me a couple of years to register and make my first post.

I have been skiing for a few years and consider myself to be a pretty decent skier. I get down most runs and my poor skiing tends to come from laziness. I am a semi professional BMX rider therefore will no doubt spend a lot of time in the park on skis.

There isn't many stores that stock a lot of skis in the UK also I'm not entirely confident in the sales staff. Therefore I am relying on you guys to help me out :)

Location - Majority of my skiing is in the French Alps and tends to range from groomed piste to fluffy powder.

I'm 181cm (5ft 11') - 175 pounds (76kg)(12.5 stone) - and I'm 27 years old.

Ability - I consider myself to be above average in terms of ability. I enjoy skiing both on and off piste and have recently dabbled more in park skiing. At the moment I spend 50% of my time on piste, 25% off piste and 25% in the park.

Budget - isn't the most important thing for me. I just want a set of skis that will suit me and help my skiing.

As mentioned I ride BMX so I'm more than likely going to be spending more and more time in the park as that enviroment feels right to me. With that in mind I am keen to get some twin tips that are going to allow me to ride switch and have some fun. HOWEVER - I will still be spending a lot of time on piste so want something that I can carve on - ALSO.. Having a ski that is decent off piste would be nice also. I know I can't have it all.. But I'm keen to get as close as possible.

I looked at the AR7's however it's impossible to get 181cm in the UK and I think 176 would be too small.

Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Apr 19 2013 1:08PM
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_Garagely_
Posts: 1948 - Karma: 3,251
It seems like your're looking for a one ski quiver. Most brands make a twin tipped one ski quiver like the Moment PB&J, the K2 Kung Fujas, ect. do some research and you'll find the right ski. As far as my personal experience goes I rode a pair of K2 Kung Fujas' and liked them on everything.
Apr 19 2013 6:18PM
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Tacocat
Posts: 658 - Karma: 356
I'd take a look at the ON3P Filthy Riches. I never skied them but the reviews sound great. They are made for park but will also handle powder very well.
Apr 19 2013 6:22PM
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Freeskier_boi
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 3,099
K2 domains have a very low base to start park skiing and are rockers so it helps to start to do some tricks on rails! Love them, very durable!
Apr 19 2013 6:34PM
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Bertrand
Posts: 423 - Karma: 457
Something in the 100mm waisted category seems like it would be perfect for you. Skis like that include the Line Blend, ON3P Jeronimo, Moment PB&J, K2 Kung Fujas, Noridca Soul Rider.

Every single one of these skis is twin tip, with varying amounts of tip and tail rocker. Flex and turn radius are personal preference with all of these.

Personally I would go with either the Line Blends or ON3P Jeronimos. The blends because I have seen tons of people rip park on them, and the Jeronimos because of my great experience with ON3P skis. Line skis should be super easy for you to find in the UK, ON3P not so much.

Hope that helps!
Apr 19 2013 6:37PM
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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
Thanks for all the help so far. More suggestions are welcome.

How will these skis hold up at speed?
Apr 20 2013 4:40AM
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Tacocat
Posts: 658 - Karma: 356
If you spend most time in the park and if you're new to it, don't take 100mm waist. Around 90 should be fine. I ski a 85 in pow and of course it isn't great but it works. Pretty much all skis mentioned above hold up at speed. They will all work fine.
Apr 20 2013 9:50AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534

Skis that might be avalable in Europe that fit the bill.

Armada ARV, Atomic Panic, Line Blend, Kastle XX90 james, Volkl brige, K2 Kung Fujas.

Of this list and what you want I'd highly reccomend looking at the Volkl Bridge or Armada ARV. The Bridge is proably the stiffer in this group. 

Apr 20 2013 2:23PM
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JWeinstock
Posts: 3439 - Karma: 1,352
i feel like the jeronimo would be a better fit just because they are much better on groomers and still great in the park. never had either of those skis but that is from reviews. also, i love my chronics and they kill groomers and and the park
Apr 20 2013 5:33PM
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Dorf.
Posts: 765 - Karma: 1,631
Blends should do the job.
Apr 20 2013 6:49PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
Then clearly you haven't skied a rockered powder-oriented ski in said snow conditions. I thought VCTs (104 underfoot) were more than adequate right up until the first powder day I used Caylors.

To the OP, if you're looking for a one-ski quiver, I recommend not going below 95 underfoot. Like what was said earlier, there are plenty of options from companies that fit the bill. I have not skied the ON3P Jeronimo personally, but I own the Caylor and Jeffrey. If they are any indication of the quality of the brand, those would suit you pretty well. Otherwise, there are other similar options of course!
Apr 20 2013 9:37PM
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Tacocat
Posts: 658 - Karma: 356
Sadly :(
Apr 21 2013 9:48AM
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triss
Posts: 1293 - Karma: 2,916
rossi s5...98 i think under foot
Apr 21 2013 9:56AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Most companies now make at least one ski that fits your description of what you wan't. Personally I would go for something around 107mm underfoot, as I perfer wider skis. However for europe, you could probably get away with something around 100mm underfoot quite comfortably. Regardless I shall list both skis around 107 and 100 underfoot; as you yourself may prefer wider or skinnier skis, I don't know.

I have marked skis in bold, which from experience, I think you should be able to get hold of in europe/the UK fairly easily.

Skis around 107 Underfoot

Line Sir Francis Bacon

Atomic Blog

Salomon Rocker2 108

Rossignol Sickle Open

Moment Deathwish (they have a few dealers in Europe)

ON3P Jefferey (they have one dealer in Europe, check the details of ON3P's dealers in their site)

K2 Shredditor 112 (not available untill next season, but come autumn quite a few places in the UK should be carrying them)

Skis around 100 Underfoot

Rossignol Scimitar Open

Rossignol Scimitar

Line Blend

ON3P Jeronimo (they have one dealer in Europe, check the details of ON3P's dealers in their site)

Moment PB&J (they have a few dealers in Europe)

K2 Kung Fujas

Praxis Mountain Jib (you'd have to order from the US for these)

Fat -ypus L-Toro (again from the US)

As you mentioned finding good shops in the UK can be hard. But personally I've always had good experiences with FreezeProShop, SkiBartlett and Snowtrax Online Store.

Apr 21 2013 3:49PM
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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
Thanks again for your advice.

There is a lot of skis being recommended that I wouldn't have thought of.

Out of curiousity.. why hasn't anyone recommended the AR7? They seem to have good reviews.
Apr 21 2013 6:19PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
I would get wider skis than that, personally. I'm never buying a pair of skis skinnier than ~108 underfoot anymore.
Apr 21 2013 7:12PM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
ar7s in 176 is not small at all. I am 6ft and I run 176 ar7s.
Apr 21 2013 8:19PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
Only 86 underfoot, though.
Apr 21 2013 11:05PM
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JonasJuhler
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,351
The ARv's would defo do the job for you! Also the Blends sound like a good option with 100 underfoot. And the AR7's really are a bit to narrow, even though Armada says that it is a complete allround ski. Back in the days Pep Fujas rode in X-games slopestyle on his Hell Bents... and they are well... pretty wide, and he was well.... pretty good
Apr 22 2013 6:33AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
The AR7 is a really good park/all mnt ski but if you want more performance in the powder I'd say go wider.
I can say the AR7 does slay everything under 15cm of snow. Park it rocks. I even took it out in some really steep stuff for closing day Highlands in Aspen. It slays. But for deep snow use (30cm +) I say get something wider.
Apr 22 2013 10:45AM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
good point.
Apr 22 2013 3:36PM
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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
I haven't ski'd a lot of powder but its hard to believe 5-7mm makes so much difference!

I would feel uneasy buying something 100mm. I dont think my on piste skiing is strong enough. probbly down to the fact I havent ski'd Nything that wide. Especially seen as I wouldn't have an opportunity to test it.

It seems something similar to the AR7 but 95mmnunderfoot would be perfect.

Thanks again for everyone's input.
Apr 22 2013 3:44PM
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_Garagely_
Posts: 1948 - Karma: 3,251
You'll be fine with 100mm underfoot. I had Kung Fujas' which are 102 underfoot and they were stupidly easy to carve.
Apr 22 2013 4:16PM
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IDMT_BC024
Posts: 224 - Karma: 129
A lot of people are recommending fairly fat skis for someone who's focused more on park and groomers. Fatter skis can't match the performance of skinner skis on piste (although some people prefer fatter in the park) and if you're not skiing very much pow there's not a lot of reason to get something over 100 underfoot (and this is coming from someone who's daily driver is 116 mm). I'd look for a ski between 80- 95 underfoot with camber and some rocker thats a least medium stiff and no less than 180 cm or so long.
Apr 22 2013 4:54PM
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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
Apologies for the poor grammar in my last post. It was written in the early morning from my phone.

Any recommendations for. 90-95mm - 180+cm with camber and rocker?

Once again. Thanks for your help and patience.
Apr 23 2013 7:21AM
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Tacocat
Posts: 658 - Karma: 356
Epic Planks Vaporizer seems to be the perfect ski. Don't know where to get them in Europe though
Apr 23 2013 2:39PM
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HungryHypocrite
Posts: 765 - Karma: 939
Fujas for days!

also check sport-conrad.com sick deals
Apr 23 2013 3:35PM
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xnickGT
Posts: 79 - Karma: 263
It's irritating I can't test any of these skis.
Apr 24 2013 1:17PM
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HungryHypocrite
Posts: 765 - Karma: 939
i never tested any skis.. i just burrowed myself into my modified fapcave with enough frozen lasagna and cereals to stay in there and read reviews on them for 2 straight weeks.

really though, If you cant test any skis, read/watch every single goddamn review there is on the internet on them and also check for prices
Apr 26 2013 2:40PM
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