Member of the Month

partyandBS
December, 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!

First pow skis!

profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
Hey.

I know i'm just one of many asking for ski advice, but i will give it a go anyways.

At first i thought i would be getting an all mountain ski that i could bring all over the mountain, but a friend of mine and my local dealer strongly recommended a 2 ski quiver. Luckily, our sister-company had a clearance(birthday)sale the other day, and i managed to get some frontside skis (Elan Amphibio 82 xti 13/14) for almost no money. This was a huge upgrade i believe from my 7 year old-ish salomon equipe skis (cambered carvingski).

So what i need now is a pow ski to do what my Frontside ski won't do, surf and play! Do you have any suggestions? My local dealer only had some k2 SideStash 102. Since we don't have many dealers around i might be forced to buy from an european online store (a friend recommended this: http://www.sport-conrad.com/big_mountain___powder_ski/18/ ). I did do the research on different technologies etc., but i think it's harder to seperate powder skis than it is to seperate all mountain skis since i've never tried any. Looked at the völkl one, some Armadas (jj, TST), atomic automatic etc. How wide do i wanna go? Do i want a fully rockered ski like the völkl instead of rocker-camber-rocker like the TST?

About me:
6'5, 170 pounds, 20 years.
I can ski any piste.
I love the off piste, but this is where i lack experience. My old salomon equipes (approx 70 waist, no tip rocker) weren't really build for it, but i had fun and had some okay runs anyways.
This year i will be skiing a full season for the first time. This will be in France.
I want to spend the money needed to get the right ski (although there is a limit of course).

Thanks in advantage!!
Oct 13 2014 6:56PM
15 2
profile picture
toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 6,793
If your into a pow ski with all mountain capabilites, all while super light and a low swing weight, check out the Soul 7's from rossignol.
Oct 13 2014 8:55PM
3 0
profile picture
shin-bang
Posts: 4103 - Karma: 7,001
toastyteenagersIf your into a pow ski with all mountain capabilites, all while super light and a low swing weight, check out the Soul 7's from rossignol.


good option^ but since im 4FRNT biased i would have to say, check out the wrenegades, hojis, and devastators, maybeeeee the crj (which i love) and if your a pow/freestyler check out the yle - all depending on how much pow you ski
Oct 13 2014 9:53PM
1 1
profile picture
.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,191
a_shaky_gifgood option^ but since im 4FRNT biased i would have to say, check out the wrenegades, hojis, and devastators, maybeeeee the crj (which i love) and if your a pow/freestyler check out the yle - all depending on how much pow you ski


He seems like a directional skiier so probs no YLE. But also check out the raven from 4frnt as well. And the other rossignol s series skis are great too.
Oct 13 2014 11:05PM
1 0
profile picture
.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,191
a_shaky_gifgood option^ but since im 4FRNT biased i would have to say, check out the wrenegades, hojis, and devastators, maybeeeee the crj (which i love) and if your a pow/freestyler check out the yle - all depending on how much pow you ski


He seems like a directional skiier so probs no YLE. But also check out the raven from 4frnt as well. And the other rossignol s series skis are great too.
Oct 13 2014 11:05PM
0 0
profile picture
suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,367
checkout kitten factory;full blown carbon skis.
Oct 14 2014 1:28AM
0 1
profile picture
tonido
Posts: 6 - Karma: 14
hey i'm in France, where will you go ?
Maybe the kind of resort can help your choice
Oct 14 2014 1:37AM
2 0
profile picture
RobWatson
Posts: 124 - Karma: 426
The TST's aren't rocker camber rocker. They have rocker in the tip but camber in the tail. The JJ's are rocker camber rocker however.

If you want to be able to ski effectively on groomers back to the lifts/around the resort, which I imagine you will being in France, I would get something with camber under foot. The JJ will give you great float in powder and still allow you to hold an edge on the groomers. They are super light and playful, I'll be skiing my JJ's in Chamonix this winter.

If you want something that you can really charge the groomers on then look more towards the TST, a friend of mine has them. They are skinnier under foot (102mm as opposed to the JJ's 115mm) and have camber in the tail so really hold a strong edge but still playful and handle well in powder due to the increased width and rocker in the tip.
Oct 14 2014 6:04AM
2 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
Thanks everyone, all answers are useful!

I will be skiing in Val D'isere!

I've really considered going for the soul 7. The hype has been huge, and the people at blistergearreview seem to love them aswell. Also, they are available at that european website in the 188 length.

I've also heard tons of good stuff about the different atomic models and the hoji's.


So now i just gotta decide if i want to yolo order a pair of the soul 7's or i want to wait till i hit my destination and demo a couple of skis. However, i'm just afraid i won't have time due to work etc. Also, will i easily be able to feel a difference if i demo them, although the powder ski world is all new to me?

And in the end, this is going to leave me without a good option for the park isn't it? However, not having a good park ski at all is no problem, but if the rest of my group will be there would i then use the stiff elans or the long, softer soul 7's? I really do not want a third ski hahahahaha. Then i'll rather sacrifice the park performance. It isn't really that important to me.
Oct 14 2014 7:00AM
0 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
ValDThanks everyone, all answers are useful!

I will be skiing in Val D'isere!

I've really considered going for the soul 7. The hype has been huge, and the people at blistergearreview seem to love them aswell. Also, they are available at that european website in the 188 length.

I've also heard tons of good stuff about the different atomic models and the hoji's.


So now i just gotta decide if i want to yolo order a pair of the soul 7's or i want to wait till i hit my destination and demo a couple of skis. However, i'm just afraid i won't have time due to work etc. Also, will i easily be able to feel a difference if i demo them, although the powder ski world is all new to me?

And in the end, this is going to leave me without a good option for the park isn't it? However, not having a good park ski at all is no problem, but if the rest of my group will be there would i then use the stiff elans or the long, softer soul 7's? I really do not want a third ski hahahahaha. Then i'll rather sacrifice the park performance. It isn't really that important to me.


I guess i obviously will prefer the soul 7, as the elan's doesn't have tail rocker, but will the soul 7 last? I read something about the durability of the honeycomb tip.

Also, as someone pointed out, i am mainly a directional skier.
Oct 14 2014 7:05AM
0 0
profile picture
Bum.Life
Posts: 507 - Karma: 2,608
If you're used to the feel of a carving ski, I'd reccomend going with the Icelantic Shaman. Icelantic calls it their "powder carver." They're 110 underfoot, and even though they're considered to be an all mountain ski, they definitely perform best in pow. I got my first pair last season and put them through the ringer, and just got another pair this season.
Oct 14 2014 10:52AM
0 0
profile picture
tomPietrowski
Posts: 7220 - Karma: 18,098
Op for sure wait an demo. You will find huge variations in how they ski. Even if you don't have much powder experience it will still be valuable. You will find certain skis will suit your beginer style much better then others. I would think that a ski only with tip rocker will suit you best. The automatics are awsome as are th salomon q skis, line sick days and Rossi s range skis. Those are what I would look at.
Oct 14 2014 3:39PM
3 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
tomPietrowskiOp for sure wait an demo. You will find huge variations in how they ski. Even if you don't have much powder experience it will still be valuable. You will find certain skis will suit your beginer style much better then others. I would think that a ski only with tip rocker will suit you best. The automatics are awsome as are th salomon q skis, line sick days and Rossi s range skis. Those are what I would look at.


Thanks, i will deffo demo the automatics, the soul 7 and probably a salomon ski aswell. Departure might also be 1 month earlier than first expected, so the waiting-time is soon over!!
Oct 14 2014 5:13PM
0 0
profile picture
MartianMan
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 2,099
OP definitely demo, but add the Salomon Rocker2 108 and the new Black Crows Atris to your list. Both are playful and relatively easy off piste skis that will still be comfortable on groomers and maybe even in the park.
Oct 14 2014 5:23PM
0 0
profile picture
ValD
Posts: 65 - Karma: 126
MartianManOP definitely demo, but add the Salomon Rocker2 108 and the new Black Crows Atris to your list. Both are playful and relatively easy off piste skis that will still be comfortable on groomers and maybe even in the park.


Will do, will do!
Oct 14 2014 5:42PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)