Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Super Beginner

profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
Hey all you guys, I have a couple questions. I haven't skied since I was young (I'm 22 now). Since recently getting laid off my job in September, I'm thinking about skiing all winter since I live next to a ski hill and don't have to work as I have enough money saved up.

1. What is an easy ski to ride? Or does it matter? I want a ski that will help me get good/decent as quickly as possible.

2. I want a ski that can ski both powder and groomers.

3. What's the proper size of ski I should ride? I'm 5'11'' and about 180 lbs. I read somewhere that since I am a beginner I would need < 180 cm ski. I don't know if I should have on the closer to 170 cm side or closer to 180 cm side.

4. How do I get more steez?

Basically, I'm a ski noob and asking for help. The internet is not the best place to do it, but thanks.
Oct 18 2013 4:41AM
22 2
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
To add on to what I want to know -- I really like LINE Skis, and would really love a pair of them.

I think I want a park ski, but I also want a ski that I can ride in the powder easily.

Basically, what's the difference between the Freestyle and Freeride skis? Can you ride Freestyle skis in the pow pow or do they suck?
Oct 18 2013 6:00AM
0 0
profile picture
triss
Posts: 1293 - Karma: 2,916
Text me homie 609 513 4767 ill help u out
Oct 18 2013 7:12AM
0 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
First buy good boots. Nothing sucks more in the skiing world then trying to ski in poor fitting boots.
Get some good fitting boots with custom foot beds. That should be your first step. Next decide what kind of skiing your planning to do. Are your going to ski powder? Are you gonna hit park at all? Ect. These kinda of things well help you decide what kinda of ski you need.
If I was you I would go make a thread in the regionals of your area and ask who is the best bootfitter in your area. Be prepared to travel. Finding a good boot fitter is like trying get congress to run America. It's gonna take some time and work.
Once you get your boots set then worry about your gear.
I could ski all day on shitty used skis and not care. 5 mins in ill fitting ski boots turn me into a whiny little bitch who has to go inside.
Oct 18 2013 7:23AM
3 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
Thanks.

I've heard about the importance of boot fit to reduce shinbang and circulation loss.

My friend has an extra pair of Dalbellos but I know I should probably just get fitted by a pro, especially if I'm going to be actually ski-bumming all winter long.
Oct 18 2013 7:37AM
0 0
profile picture
hbryan
Posts: 26 - Karma: 22
i suggest the line blend 178 if you are willing to throw down for nice skis
Oct 18 2013 1:49PM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
That is exactly what I was thinking.
Oct 18 2013 10:12PM
0 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
Op has skied before and is 5'11'' 180lbs.
Go 185. the rocker in the ski will make feel small. Line bend isn't a bad ski but deftly go with the 185 op.
Oct 19 2013 12:55AM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
I have skied but this is the first time in about ten years so it might be like getting on skis for the first time. I don't even know if I should go for 185s.
Oct 19 2013 2:20PM
0 0
profile picture
MartianMan
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 2,099
"Freestyle" refers to more than park. It basically skis meant for doing tricks. These have twin tips, and/or twin rocker. All park skis are freestyle, but they also make freestyle powder/big mtn skis for ppl who like to tricks in the deep but still want floatation and great skiablility. So yes, you can ride freestyle skis in the powder, if they are meant for it.
Freeride skis are usually for people who are more focused on skiing straight, and not usually doing tricks. There are all mtn, big mtn, and powder freeride skis, each built for different purposes.
Oct 19 2013 2:43PM
0 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
Four big reasons to get the 185:
1. Line skis are shorter than Advertised. It is common these days that ski sizes are not accurate. The 178 is proably like 175 and the 185 is proably like 183-182.
2. Rocker technology. Rocker tech means better pow performance, less ski on the ground. This allows you to float in powder but then when your skiing on groomers it feels like a shorter ski than it is.
3.Progression. If your skiing every other day your going to get good fast. Grow into a ski not out of it.
If at the beginning of the season your really are struggling in your abilities I would say rent some shorter skis and take some lessons.
4.Powder. Once your good enough and are hitting powder, you'll thank me. 185 at your size will great in the powder. 178 is usable but it will slow you down in the pow a lot.
I would highly recommend a guy your size to go with the 185.
Oct 19 2013 2:58PM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
All very good reasons. I will most likely end up getting the 185. Thanks for the help, guys.
Oct 19 2013 3:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
ON3P Jeffrey in 186 would blow your mind.
Oct 19 2013 4:50PM
1 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
They're about $150 more than the Blend though.
Oct 19 2013 5:49PM
0 1
profile picture
MartianMan
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 2,099
I would go with the ON3P Jeronimo, more durable than the Blends, and are only $50 more. If you want to ski bum, you need durability.
Oct 20 2013 5:01PM
3 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
False. you need a bed, booze, boots, bitches and a pass. You line those up everything else will line up in a season.
Oct 20 2013 5:29PM
4 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
Yeah. Passes at my home mountain are only $425 as long as I buy one before Halloween.
Oct 20 2013 7:11PM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
So I'm bringing this thread back, I bought my ski pass yesterday.

I'm buying my friends Dalbello boots, but I'm getting a new liner for them. Now, it's coming down to decide which ski/bindings to buy.

Like I said earlier, I prefer LINE skis, so I'm either going with the Bacon or the Blend...

What are NSers thoughts on the SFB for a super beginner? I mean, I'm going to be skiing every day. I'm going to get relatively good, relatively quickly. The SFB just seems like much more for everywhere rather than the Blend, but I have no idea why I even get that idea.

And also, I've been looking at LOOK bindings, as well as Markers.

Help!!!
Oct 30 2013 11:06PM
0 0
profile picture
ermz
Posts: 79 - Karma: 294
As said above, boots are prob most important. Get good boots. The skis that you seem to be looking for are similar to what I ski. If you want something that will take on groomers, powder and park, I recommend something with a 90-100 waist. I've felt that this has always been good for me. Length I'm not too sure for you but I'm 5'8 and I ski 184cm.

As for bindings I highly recommend Look. More specifically Look Pivot 14. They are much more durable than marker, safer and look better. Marker are all plastic shitty bindings in my opinion. Look Pivots or Rossignol FKS, they are the same binding made by diff companies.
Oct 30 2013 11:46PM
1 0
profile picture
50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
Blend is more allmnt than SFB. SFB is wider, more for powder.
you wont need more than a 12 din this year. Griffon, PX 12 or rossi axial 12, tyrolia 13, Salomon STH 12 driver would all be good choices.
FKS or pivot would be over kill at your level.
Oct 31 2013 8:57PM
1 0
profile picture
gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
Honestly I would look into some smaller companies. You say you have some money saved up so you would have a lot more fun on a better quality ski made by a smaller company even though they may be a little more pricey. I would look into icelantics, on3ps, or moment. Trust me you will have more fun on them than a more mainstream company
Oct 31 2013 11:51PM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
Do you like the new jskis?

Jason Levinthal is making them and they seem legit.
Nov 1 2013 8:03PM
0 0
profile picture
gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
nah i cant afford them i just bought a $200 pair of designer suspenders
Nov 2 2013 4:53PM
2 0
profile picture
imakestickerz
Posts: 477 - Karma: 673
get something with 100mm waist at least. your gonna want fat skis for all the LT pow. cade's skis are 120 mm and he can slay rails. check out armada too
Nov 7 2013 10:05PM
1 0
profile picture
AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
GO GET FITTED FOR BOOTS BUY A PROFESSIONAL BOOTFITTER. It is not possible for me to emphasize that enough, even if your buddy says that his boots are the greatest boots of all time he is not skiing them anymore for a reason. Plus you will probably need some work done to them, and once you get the work done necessary to fit your feet it is likely that you will have spent enough money to go get a proper fit in the first place. Unless of course if the BOOTFITTER recommends the boot that your buddy is trying to sell you, then get custom footbeds from the fitter and the boots from your buddy. Think of it this way, if you were an athlete that played a sport everyday for six hours a day for an entire season (100-150) days a season would you buy some shoes that fit or buy some off of your buddy cause they were cheap. Also think about any uncomfortable shoes that you have had, now imagine if they were hard plastic and the discomfort was actual damn near crippling pain. Finally, whatever you decide to do, go to a good BOOTFITTER and spend $180 on full custom insoles as they along with properly fit boots are the most important purchases that you can make in the ski world.
Nov 8 2013 1:28AM
1 0
profile picture
AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
Sorry for the double post, but ask specifically for sodas or instaprint customs
Nov 8 2013 1:31AM
0 0
profile picture
nick.maitland.96
Posts: 39 - Karma: 48
I would get atomics or volklos
Nov 8 2013 8:00AM
0 0
profile picture
wzrdtrx
Posts: 276 - Karma: 211
blends have 100 mm waist. cade is also a freak. i still think bacons.... 108 mm waist would be clutch in LT pow pow
Nov 8 2013 9:42AM
0 0
profile picture
brend
Posts: 779 - Karma: 3,608
Blend if you want park and pow performance. SFB if you wont be skiing much park at all.
Nov 11 2013 2:27AM
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5)