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Park on a Unidirectional Ski?

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Superkrill
Posts: 4 - Karma: 11
So I've been skiing a couple times before, but this year I have a season pass to sunapee, so I'm planning on going every weekend at least. I got a really great deal on some volkl rtm 78s, bindings and boots ($325 total) and I was wondering if once i get around to park I can start on those and eventually get around to buying park skis, or if I should just get park skis as soon as I am ready.
Thanks
Sep 6 2016 8:14AM
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Slush
Posts: 1915 - Karma: 12,945
You can do pretty well on normal skis in the park. It's what I did for the longest time. Make sure you can actually rip groomers before you start trying out the park, it'll really help
Sep 6 2016 8:35AM
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Newschoolers55
Posts: 851 - Karma: 4,792
If you want to progress at Park, buy Park skis
Sep 6 2016 9:23AM
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Lonely
Posts: 6742 - Karma: 61,669
Vk-47If you want to progress at Park, buy Park skis


Absolutely not necessary.
Sep 6 2016 10:29AM
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SammyDubz
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 7,222
landers3123Absolutely not necessary.


Agreed but if I could do it all over again I would have worked on skiing switch from the day I stepped in the park. I waited and regretted it later.
Sep 6 2016 10:56AM
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Newschoolers55
Posts: 851 - Karma: 4,792
landers3123Absolutely not necessary.


Its not necessary but it sure helps alot, trying to ski switch and hit some rails on völkl race skis doesnt sound like a Best idea haha
Sep 6 2016 2:17PM
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
Vk-47If you want to progress at Park, buy Park skis


I rode park on Blizzard Peacemakers at 179, while they aren't unidirectional, they also arent meant for park. Buying a park ski isnt necessary but this year I wanted to get into park so I bought some cheap volkl kinks
Sep 6 2016 2:37PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4226 - Karma: 10,626
Vk-47If you want to progress at Park, buy Park skis


Not if you're a beginner. Obviously don't do it on race skis, but groomer / carver skis work just fine as park skis. I'm looking at a poster of Shay Lee hitting urban on carver skis right now.
Sep 6 2016 2:46PM
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MomentaryMuon
Posts: 237 - Karma: 2,604
I randomly picked up a pair of lib techs as warranty replacements for my soul riders. After i got em mounted i realized directional that they were barely even twin tips which really scared me. For a bit i was scared of catching an edge when popping switch tricks. It actually felt the same as all my other park skis and just took some getting used to. Now they are my main park skis and can also carve hard!!!
Sep 6 2016 2:52PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,816
I learned 540s on directional skis. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Sep 6 2016 3:15PM
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brotherdad
Posts: 2076 - Karma: 13,067
You'll be fine while just learning the basics of park. I grew up with a kid who rode some old race skis held together by duct tape when he was getting started.

Next season buy some twin tips
Sep 6 2016 3:59PM
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Newschoolers55
Posts: 851 - Karma: 4,792
chiefclulI rode park on Blizzard Peacemakers at 179, while they aren't unidirectional, they also arent meant for park. Buying a park ski isnt necessary but this year I wanted to get into park so I bought some cheap volkl kinks
atleast those are made for all mountain freestyle witch are really better for park than völkl race sticks op has

hot.pocketNot if you're a beginner. Obviously don't do it on race skis, but groomer / carver skis work just fine as park skis. I'm looking at a poster of Shay Lee hitting urban on carver skis right now.


Well op has race skis so they are not groomer/carver skis but yeah my park skis for park statement was a bit misleading. I meant that Ops race skis arent really good for park skiing haha.
Sep 6 2016 4:39PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 61,002
HolteI learned 540s on directional skis. Desperate times call for desperate measures.


in my experience from when i was a little beginner, landing switch on unidirectional skis is okay sometimes (only ever tried it on small stuff cause i was 12...) but taking off switch without them is a bad idea

OP, it depends what youre asking about exactly. for anything within reason that a beginner might do-- hitting jumps and rails while landing forward, maybe landing switch off of small jumps and rails-- groomer skis are just fine, as are race skis...they'll just probably be skinnier and stiffer than park skis, and lack the back tip of course

after that, id say you should be looking for some twins. the nice thing about park skis is you can def find some decent ones for cheap
Sep 6 2016 5:15PM
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Superkrill
Posts: 4 - Karma: 11
DINKLEBERGYou'll be fine while just learning the basics of park. I grew up with a kid who rode some old race skis held together by duct tape when he was getting started.

Next season buy some twin tips

That was my plan
Vk-47atleast those are made for all mountain freestyle witch are really better for park than völkl race sticks op has



Well op has race skis so they are not groomer/carver skis but yeah my park skis for park statement was a bit misleading. I meant that Ops race skis arent really good for park skiing haha.

Are they really race skis? I was lead to believe theywere just carvers that excel on hardpack and ice
Titsandwich11in my experience from when i was a little beginner, landing switch on unidirectional skis is okay sometimes (only ever tried it on small stuff cause i was 12...) but taking off switch without them is a bad idea

OP, it depends what youre asking about exactly. for anything within reason that a beginner might do-- hitting jumps and rails while landing forward, maybe landing switch off of small jumps and rails-- groomer skis are just fine, as are race skis...they'll just probably be skinnier and stiffer than park skis, and lack the back tip of course

after that, id say you should be looking for some twins. the nice thing about park skis is you can def find some decent ones for cheap


Yeah, I was just planning on doing some simple beginner type stuff around the end of the season, so I was planning on looking at some twins next off season.
Sep 6 2016 7:59PM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
SuperkrillThat was my plan

Are they really race skis? I was lead to believe theywere just carvers that excel on hardpack and ice


Yeah, I was just planning on doing some simple beginner type stuff around the end of the season, so I was planning on looking at some twins next off season.


They are not race skis. They are just some nice piste carving skis.

If you want to ride park on them you have to willing to potentially fuck them up beyond repair, especially if you plan on hitting boxes and rails and if you are going to hit rails and boxes you should detune the edges underfoot because if you hit rails with sharp edges you'll either fuck the skis, yourself, or both.

If I was in your position I would look at getting a pair of second hand park skis for cheap. Look at ski trading places and on the Sell and Trade forum on Newschoolers. Usually you'll be able to find a pretty decent park setup for a really reasonable price.
Sep 7 2016 2:50AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 61,002
SuperkrillThat was my plan

Are they really race skis? I was lead to believe theywere just carvers that excel on hardpack and ice


Yeah, I was just planning on doing some simple beginner type stuff around the end of the season, so I was planning on looking at some twins next off season.


yeah i think that's a solid plan. those will be fine for now, learning the basics of park, judging speed and hitting jumps and stuff. it's worth noting, though, that if you hit rails, it will dull the edges on your skis considerably-- which means your carving skis will perform worse on ice etc

also, though, i'd keep my eyes open for some used park skis as the season comes around. like i said, you can find some great deals on them and you wouldnt wanna miss a great deal just because you havent started looking yet

let me know if you have any more questions, im more than happy to answer them
Sep 7 2016 8:43AM
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Superkrill
Posts: 4 - Karma: 11
Titsandwich11yeah i think that's a solid plan. those will be fine for now, learning the basics of park, judging speed and hitting jumps and stuff. it's worth noting, though, that if you hit rails, it will dull the edges on your skis considerably-- which means your carving skis will perform worse on ice etc

also, though, i'd keep my eyes open for some used park skis as the season comes around. like i said, you can find some great deals on them and you wouldnt wanna miss a great deal just because you havent started looking yet

let me know if you have any more questions, im more than happy to answer them


Ok sounds good. Do you have any recommendations on skis to look out for?
Sep 7 2016 5:58PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 61,002
SuperkrillOk sounds good. Do you have any recommendations on skis to look out for?


not really. for a beginner park skier, there are soo many decent park skis out there nowadays so id just keep an eye out for good deals on skis in decent condition with some decent bindings. i can't really give a list of everything that falls into that category (though some people on here prob could haha) but feel free to ask me about any offer that comes up and i can give my input

but for now, yeah youre fine! you can def start hittin up the park on regular skis. have fun
Sep 8 2016 8:27AM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
SuperkrillOk sounds good. Do you have any recommendations on skis to look out for?


Any park ski that is cheap will do the trick.
$250 Elan Puzzle TBT
https://www.levelninesports.com/elan-puzzle-tbt-skis
$150 Look SPX 12 bindings
https://www.levelninesports.com/look-spx-12-dual-wtr-ski-bindings-2016

They'll also mount them for free. For $400 that's a great setup to get started in the park.
Sep 9 2016 5:36PM
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