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December, 2024

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Powder Skis for Beginners

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KyrgyzSchnitzel
Posts: 7 - Karma: 106
I want to buy some powder noodles for my girl and need an advice.

She is rather comfortable on groomers but absolutely hates powder and deep soft snow. She's also super tiny like 165cm 50kg.

I am looking for something fairly forgiving with an easy deep snow turn initiation at low speeds and preferably powder-dedicated rocker/shape (no "turn the whole mountain into your playground" type of skis that are bad for everything). Up to now she has been skiing on some 58mm carving Head skis and Volkl Revolt 86.

TLDR: Any advice on the easiest skis to get that powder feeling with a minimum effort/skill.

Thanks!
Nov 5 2024 8:55AM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1709 - Karma: 11,064
check out ‘tweener’ or ‘shorty’ skis.
Nov 5 2024 10:12AM
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jimbobs
Posts: 356 - Karma: 3,410
Was with a homie and his girl on a trip, got a 3 foot dump, she was struggling with her full camber skinny east-coast skis, so we rented her some Salomon QST's (I think Lux 92) and she had waayyyy more fun on those.

I'd look at the Salomon QST Lumen 98. Hybrid touring women's ski, so should be pretty lightweight. Very rockered profile, tight turn radius, and comes in a 152 length. On paper, a very approachable, easy to ride ski. Lots of good feedback from people I know who've tried various skis in the QST line.

You could maybe even go wider depending on how much powder you're talking.
Nov 5 2024 10:22AM
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officechair
Posts: 281 - Karma: 2,390
How deep of powder? Evo has a zag slap 112 in 164 and 170 on sale, but that might be too wide. The slap 104 would probably be better overall but I didn’t see any on sale in that size.

Also a blizzard sheeva 10 might be worth looking at.
Nov 5 2024 12:18PM
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4954 - Karma: 17,718
Icelantic Maiden 101 or wider. Powder7 has some decent prices on last year's 101 and 111.
Nov 5 2024 12:27PM
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migidimigi
Posts: 443 - Karma: 3,207
jimbobsWas with a homie and his girl on a trip, got a 3 foot dump, she was struggling with her full camber skinny east-coast skis, so we rented her some Salomon QST's (I think Lux 92) and she had waayyyy more fun on those.

I'd look at the Salomon QST Lumen 98. Hybrid touring women's ski, so should be pretty lightweight. Very rockered profile, tight turn radius, and comes in a 152 length. On paper, a very approachable, easy to ride ski. Lots of good feedback from people I know who've tried various skis in the QST line.

You could maybe even go wider depending on how much powder you're talking.

My girlfriend has the qst lux92 and she has been very happy with them as a do-everything skis.
For dedicated pow skis I would look for the qst98 or even the qst106. Whole series has plenty rocker and easy to turn so should be pretty safe bet to make her happy.
Nov 5 2024 12:33PM
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PartyBullshiit
Posts: 4340 - Karma: 19,788
Moment Bella. Smallest size is onsale too

https://www.momentskis.com/collections/on-sale/products/23-24-bella-blem
Nov 5 2024 1:46PM
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BallClapper
Posts: 3333 - Karma: 14,800
The Big Horn makes the whole mountain your playground. We designed a new layup for the Big Horn with Freeride World Tour Champion Isaac Freeland that preserves its playful nature while improving its ability to hold up to the highest speeds and largest airs on the mountain. What we’ve developed is the perfect balance between the confidence to shred anything and the playfulness to jib to your heart’s content. Available in 96, 106, and 114mm widths the Big Horn has a full poplar wood core with layers of biaxial carbon fiber wrapped in vibration dampening rubber sandwiching the core.
KyrgyzSchnitzel(no "turn the whole mountain into your playground" type of skis that are bad for everything)

In all seriousness bacon shorty could be good. Comes in a 165. Seems like durability isn't a big concern so they'll be fine. (why no one say 189 wet. 😢)
Nov 5 2024 2:31PM
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elm.
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 13,601
189 wet
Nov 5 2024 2:40PM
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9432 - Karma: 69,231
BallClapperThe Big Horn makes the whole mountain your playground. We designed a new layup for the Big Horn with Freeride World Tour Champion Isaac Freeland that preserves its playful nature while improving its ability to hold up to the highest speeds and largest airs on the mountain. What we’ve developed is the perfect balance between the confidence to shred anything and the playfulness to jib to your heart’s content. Available in 96, 106, and 114mm widths the Big Horn has a full poplar wood core with layers of biaxial carbon fiber wrapped in vibration dampening rubber sandwiching the core.

In all seriousness bacon shorty could be good. Comes in a 165. Seems like durability isn't a big concern so they'll be fine. (why no one say 189 wet. 😢)


see the post above me :)
Nov 5 2024 5:16PM
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BayAreaJerry
Posts: 332 - Karma: 1,139
I got my gf on some arw 98's coming off of some skinny blizzards. she loves them for more float and also cruising the mountain snd skiing bumps and stuff. She is pretty short and light so 98 is great. being on a more freestyle orientated twin also massivly upped her confidence in the park (she can hit boxes sideways but not much else)She loves the pink colors as well which is a great bonus
Nov 5 2024 5:17PM
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Twig
Posts: 6430 - Karma: 60,416
Bear in mind that 165cm isn't actually that short, it's 5ft5 which is pretty average. A lot of all mountain freestyle-y skis are very easy to ski in powder for someone that light. ARV 100 might be an option, it's nice and soft, a K2 Reckoner 102W would work too. But my tip would be the Line Bacon 108. It's super soft, easy to ski (laughably easy), and it comes in 166 or 172.
Nov 5 2024 6:49PM
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ZenyattaKick
Posts: 413 - Karma: 3,093
False new schooler accounts can’t have girlfriends, didn’t you read that in the terms and agreements?
Nov 6 2024 1:30AM
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WittyCong
Posts: 211 - Karma: 744
Fatypus d light
Nov 7 2024 4:41PM
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Kbob94
Posts: 1296 - Karma: 8,340
The other two skis to consider are last years or years before that armada arw 106 and 116 since both have the Caruba core it makes them really light weight and forgiving and the smeartech in the tip and tail are like cheat codes for getting up on top of the soft snow.
Nov 8 2024 7:08AM
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