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-   -   New skis: I must do it right this time! (Was: new tools for this coming winter) (http://www.skibanter.com/showthread.php?t=10668)

[email protected] August 12th 05 07:25 PM

New skis: I must do it right this time! (Was: new tools for this coming winter)
 
I want a new pair of skate warm RCSs, and I *must* do it the absolutely
perfect way this time. This means:

No lame hand squeeze tests (my 1998 skis);
No lame "Oh, this is out last pair of 193s, but I am sure it will fit
you" (my 2000 skis)
No lame "Oh, we are out of RCSs, wanna give Hypersonics a try?" (my
2001 pair)

No, I need *my* skate warm RCSs which will *fit* and which will *kick
ass*.


FITZGERALD August 12th 05 08:42 PM

Call Zach
wrote in message
ups.com...
I want a new pair of skate warm RCSs, and I *must* do it the absolutely
perfect way this time. This means:

No lame hand squeeze tests (my 1998 skis);
No lame "Oh, this is out last pair of 193s, but I am sure it will fit
you" (my 2000 skis)
No lame "Oh, we are out of RCSs, wanna give Hypersonics a try?" (my
2001 pair)

No, I need *my* skate warm RCSs which will *fit* and which will *kick
ass*.




[email protected] August 12th 05 09:02 PM

FITZGERALD wrote:
Call Zach


.. . . no, I think he maybe should make a phone call to "Herr
Fischer", in der Homeland. (just kidding!)

wrote in message
ups.com...
I want a new pair of skate warm RCSs, and I *must* do it the absolutely
perfect way this time. This means:

No lame hand squeeze tests (my 1998 skis);
No lame "Oh, this is out last pair of 193s, but I am sure it will fit
you" (my 2000 skis)
No lame "Oh, we are out of RCSs, wanna give Hypersonics a try?" (my
2001 pair)

No, I need *my* skate warm RCSs which will *fit* and which will *kick
ass*.

In reality, I thinks it's very difficult to pick an optimum/ideal pair
of skis, because of the weather/snow variables.
In surfing, if one keeps their eyes & ears open for the opportunity,
it's possible to demo ride an actual contest/pro board, at least if you
live near let's say, Santa Cruz.
Perhaps maybe Salomon will do a demo day of the actual skis used by
their team members. Ha!
mark


nordvind August 13th 05 09:10 AM



In reality, I thinks it's very difficult to pick an optimum/ideal pair
of skis, because of the weather/snow variables.
In surfing, if one keeps their eyes & ears open for the opportunity,
it's possible to demo ride an actual contest/pro board, at least if you
live near let's say, Santa Cruz.
Perhaps maybe Salomon will do a demo day of the actual skis used by
their team members. Ha!
mark



Why not? Every points race I ever competed in for windsurfing had the
demo boards and sails (some were even experimental) laying on the
beach......So why can't we demo skis?


[email protected] August 13th 05 12:05 PM



nordvind wrote:

In reality, I thinks it's very difficult to pick an optimum/ideal pair
of skis, because of the weather/snow variables.
In surfing, if one keeps their eyes & ears open for the opportunity,
it's possible to demo ride an actual contest/pro board, at least if you
live near let's say, Santa Cruz.
Perhaps maybe Salomon will do a demo day of the actual skis used by
their team members. Ha!
mark


Why not? Every points race I ever competed in for windsurfing had the
demo boards and sails (some were even experimental) laying on the
beach......So why can't we demo skis?


The past two years Fischer has had a tent on Vasagatan in Mora where one
could test Fischer skis. I think that Atomic also had an arrangement
there with Fliesbergs store for a day or two where you could test Atomic
skis on the Vasalopps tracks. I think you needed your own boots. And my
wife purchased Fischers one year that were no so good fit to her and she
went back to the store after Tjejvasan and the store exchanged them for
a better (just a smidgen softer) fit.


32 degrees August 13th 05 04:01 PM

Rev - BUY EARLY when they have selection. Don't wait for sales in March.
JK



[email protected] August 15th 05 01:50 PM

I have heard this before!
Some shops are like that and some not:
- No lame hand squeeze tests (my 1998 skis);
- No lame "Oh, this is out last pair of 193s, but I am sure it will fit
you" (my 2000 skis)
- No lame "Oh, we are out of RCSs, wanna give Hypersonics a try?" (my
2001 pair)


I feel lucky when I know it will take the local shop 4-5 days to get a
new hand picked pair directly from the factory. If it looks perfect in
shop too then I'll buy it. (yes this is for Madshus skis sold in Norway)


Zach Caldwell August 15th 05 06:41 PM

Sorry to hear that your previous ski buying experiences haven't been
that great. I hope it goes better for you this year. I think you've
gotten some good suggestions from the group.

Demos area great way to test skis, and all companies love an
opportunity to demo their skis. West Yellowstone is the best place that
I'm aware of to demo skis because the companies all put a lot of
resources in to being there. And it's early enough so that you've got
decent shot at finding some good skis after figuring out what you like.

Regardless of whether you've been on demos, you've still got to get
some help finding an appropriate pair. You want to find somebody who
understands ski construction, what the various companies are ding with
their current models, and what will best complement your
characteristics as a skier. I've just posted a skate ski flex sheet
(PDF) on my website that outlines most of the qualities that are
relatively easy to measure in skate skis, and how they relate to
performance. You can find that at http://www.engineeredtuning.net/ .
There should be a link from the front page - otherwise go to the Flex
Evaluation page.

The good news is that most companies have struck a really good balance
in their ski design, and it is certainly possible to find skis that
handle a broad range of track and snow conditions. It would be nice to
start with a goal of finding three pairs of skis to cover the whole
range, but you can get ninety percent of the way there with a single
pair.

Best of luck!

Zach


Zach Caldwell August 15th 05 06:41 PM

Sorry to hear that your previous ski buying experiences haven't been
that great. I hope it goes better for you this year. I think you've
gotten some good suggestions from the group.

Demos area great way to test skis, and all companies love an
opportunity to demo their skis. West Yellowstone is the best place that
I'm aware of to demo skis because the companies all put a lot of
resources in to being there. And it's early enough so that you've got
decent shot at finding some good skis after figuring out what you like.

Regardless of whether you've been on demos, you've still got to get
some help finding an appropriate pair. You want to find somebody who
understands ski construction, what the various companies are ding with
their current models, and what will best complement your
characteristics as a skier. I've just posted a skate ski flex sheet
(PDF) on my website that outlines most of the qualities that are
relatively easy to measure in skate skis, and how they relate to
performance. You can find that at http://www.engineeredtuning.net/ .
There should be a link from the front page - otherwise go to the Flex
Evaluation page.

The good news is that most companies have struck a really good balance
in their ski design, and it is certainly possible to find skis that
handle a broad range of track and snow conditions. It would be nice to
start with a goal of finding three pairs of skis to cover the whole
range, but you can get ninety percent of the way there with a single
pair.

Best of luck!

Zach


Norski August 16th 05 02:22 AM

The Fischer shops here in the midwest, such as 'ABR Ski Trails' in Ironwood,
MI, 'New Moon' in Hayward, WI. and 'Ski Hut' in Duluth, MN. have demo skis
and boots you can try. The trails are near by to test. If you'd like to try
skis for several days, they also have rental skis available. Some of the
bigger races, such as the Birkie, have an expo and Fischer, along with the
other companies have equipment demos.
The demos, expos or rental could help you narrow down the length you'd feel
the most comfortable on.
Zach is right, once you have an idea of what you'd like, it is best to go
with a reputable dealer with a large stock of skis and have the skis fitted
to you using a bench or Zach's ski picking service.
I learned the hard way over 20+ years of racing, trying to 'save money'
purchasing discounted skis at shops going out of business, end of year close
outs and such. The very best skis and bindings cost about $550. A good pair
of skis that fit can last 10 years of racing. That works out to $55.00 for a
whole year of enjoyment.
Most of the shops these days are really honest. I've been in some that would
not sell me a pair of skis, as they said they didn't have any that fit.

--
Paul Haltvick
Bay Design and Build - LLC
Ashland, WI



"Zach Caldwell" wrote in message
ps.com...
Sorry to hear that your previous ski buying experiences haven't been
that great. I hope it goes better for you this year. I think you've
gotten some good suggestions from the group.

Demos area great way to test skis, and all companies love an
opportunity to demo their skis. West Yellowstone is the best place that
I'm aware of to demo skis because the companies all put a lot of
resources in to being there. And it's early enough so that you've got
decent shot at finding some good skis after figuring out what you like.

Regardless of whether you've been on demos, you've still got to get
some help finding an appropriate pair. You want to find somebody who
understands ski construction, what the various companies are ding with
their current models, and what will best complement your
characteristics as a skier. I've just posted a skate ski flex sheet
(PDF) on my website that outlines most of the qualities that are
relatively easy to measure in skate skis, and how they relate to
performance. You can find that at
http://www.engineeredtuning.net/ .
There should be a link from the front page - otherwise go to the Flex
Evaluation page.

The good news is that most companies have struck a really good balance
in their ski design, and it is certainly possible to find skis that
handle a broad range of track and snow conditions. It would be nice to
start with a goal of finding three pairs of skis to cover the whole
range, but you can get ninety percent of the way there with a single
pair.

Best of luck!

Zach





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