Another newbie (sort of) contemplating purchase

Here's the data--

Second-year skier. Female. Cascades, mostly Timberline but probably
eventually Ski Bowl and Mt. Hood Meadows as well as Bachelor.
(although it'd be cool to get the experience to ski Palmer and go
through August, reality sets in and the Mile is as high up as I'll
probably get on Hood).

Late middle-age. Skied five times first year, 10-11 times second year
and may still get a few more days in, seeing as there's still fresh
snow at Timberline. Tired of renting. Still need lessons for mental
stuff, managing with middle-age body, but have found a sweet rental
package that I wouldn't mind owning. Parallel turn level skier, can
handle moderate difficulty slopes such as the Magic Mile (blue) in
decent spring snow.

I like the looks of the Rossignol Exalt K10 boots, which is what I've
been wearing in lessons and rentals at Timberline. I'm picky about
boot fit, which is a carryover from my other major sport--horseback
riding. Boot fit I'm not too worried about. I've done it enough to
know what I like and what I can/can't live with. The Rossignols work
well for me at Timberline,

The ski I really love right now, though, is the Salomon X wing 4 +610
package. It's different from the ski I rented for my first year
lessons, and I like the feel of it on the snow a lot better. It's a
beginner-intermediate all purpose recreational ski, and that's
probably the level I'll stay at. I'm a recreational skier but I'd
like to have my own just to save time in the rental line.

The biggest issue I do have is that I have an old hip injury (from
jogging) which sometimes interferes with my ability to bring my tails
over, especially when turning left and the injured hip is on the
downhill side. That also seems to be my preferred braking side. It
doesn't become an issue except when I hit the fatigue point, and then
I take a break. Is there a better ski to address that issue?

Am I crazy to be thinking about these skis? I've had 10-11 runs on
them, including long runs on the Magic Mile. I really, really like
their feel. Or is there a better ski I should be looking at?

jrw

On Apr 14, 12:00 am, Joyce Reynolds-Ward wrote:
Here's the data--

Second-year skier. Female. Cascades, mostly Timberline but probably
eventually Ski Bowl and Mt. Hood Meadows as well as Bachelor.
(although it'd be cool to get the experience to ski Palmer and go
through August, reality sets in and the Mile is as high up as I'll
probably get on Hood).

Late middle-age. Skied five times first year, 10-11 times second year
and may still get a few more days in, seeing as there's still fresh
snow at Timberline. Tired of renting. Still need lessons for mental
stuff, managing with middle-age body, but have found a sweet rental
package that I wouldn't mind owning. Parallel turn level skier, can
handle moderate difficulty slopes such as the Magic Mile (blue) in
decent spring snow.

I like the looks of the Rossignol Exalt K10 boots, which is what I've
been wearing in lessons and rentals at Timberline. I'm picky about
boot fit, which is a carryover from my other major sport--horseback
riding. Boot fit I'm not too worried about. I've done it enough to
know what I like and what I can/can't live with. The Rossignols work
well for me at Timberline,

The ski I really love right now, though, is the Salomon X wing 4 +610
package. It's different from the ski I rented for my first year
lessons, and I like the feel of it on the snow a lot better. It's a
beginner-intermediate all purpose recreational ski, and that's
probably the level I'll stay at. I'm a recreational skier but I'd
like to have my own just to save time in the rental line.

The biggest issue I do have is that I have an old hip injury (from
jogging) which sometimes interferes with my ability to bring my tails
over, especially when turning left and the injured hip is on the
downhill side. That also seems to be my preferred braking side. It
doesn't become an issue except when I hit the fatigue point, and then
I take a break. Is there a better ski to address that issue?

Am I crazy to be thinking about these skis? I've had 10-11 runs on
them, including long runs on the Magic Mile. I really, really like
their feel. Or is there a better ski I should be looking at?

jrw

Salomon's have always had a light zippy responsive feel to them. I've
always been a huge fan. Try a few more demo's of the Salomon,
hopefully in varied snow conditions. See what you think. If you're
still diggin' em, go for it !

On Apr 14, 2:00 am, Joyce Reynolds-Ward wrote:
Here's the data--

snip

I'm 55 and have arthritis in every joint from the waist down. I've
spent a lot of time at Meadows and Timberline. My advice is this-
Spend a lot of time shopping for boots and getting them to fit right.
Nothing else matters as much and they have far more bearing on your
hip pain then the skis. Due to physiology differences, women's boots
generally have lower cuffs and higher ramp angle to get the weight
more forward-makes things alot easier. If you purchase the right set
of boots-you'll be able to ski on lumber.

As far as the skis go, everybody is an individual. I ski on Stockli,
mainly because of my size and weight. You would not like them. Let
me say this, look at the side cut - A carving ski with a greater side
cut will allow you to let the ski do the work on the groomed runs. One
of the things about Hood snow-it can be prodigous, wet and heavy even
on regularly groomed runs - very light skis can get bounced around a
lot. Salomons are known for being light. Both Salomon and Rossi have
synthetic cores-I might just want to demo a ski that has a composite
core with a little wood in it - say Dynastar or Elan. They may feel a
little heavier but if you have the right side cut, that weight will be
advantageous.

Finally-get some lessons, I suspect, with your description of things,
you're working too hard. A lesson or two will get the skis working for
you.

PS: Meadows is the place to ski on Hood. The terrain is far more
varied. You can find everything to very gentle bowls to steeps.

On 13 Apr 2007 23:51:17 -0700, "Yabahoobs"
wrote:

snip

Salomon's have always had a light zippy responsive feel to them. I've
always been a huge fan. Try a few more demo's of the Salomon,
hopefully in varied snow conditions. See what you think. If you're
still diggin' em, go for it !

Hood tends to give one varied conditions, sometimes in the same
session ;-.

But yeah, I'm into zippy and responsive and light. I've done these on
icy conditions (Cascade concrete with rain), powder (such as we get
here), slush and icy slush. I've liked them.

Thanks!

jrw

On 14 Apr 2007 04:38:39 -0700, "Clarencedarrow"
wrote:

On Apr 14, 2:00 am, Joyce Reynolds-Ward wrote:
Here's the data--

snip

I'm 55 and have arthritis in every joint from the waist down. I've
spent a lot of time at Meadows and Timberline. My advice is this-
Spend a lot of time shopping for boots and getting them to fit right.
Nothing else matters as much and they have far more bearing on your
hip pain then the skis. Due to physiology differences, women's boots
generally have lower cuffs and higher ramp angle to get the weight
more forward-makes things alot easier. If you purchase the right set
of boots-you'll be able to ski on lumber.

It's not so much pain as it is fatigue and lack of responsiveness when
I ask that muscle to do the work as fatigue sets in. Weight becomes
an issue at that point. I do know what I like in a boot, and that
Timberline rental boot is the right one--especially in the correct
size for me. They have two types, and one of those I'll reject unless
that's the only thing available in my size.

The problem I've seen with women's boots is that the lines I like that
have the features I like are designed for more advanced skiers. I'm
not into the concept of paying the higher price for an advanced
woman's boot when there's a man's boot that fits me equally well in a
smaller size for a lesser price.

I'm recreationally skiing, not going for high performance. Blue is
probably as high as I'm going to ski level-wise, in part due to the
ski level of my partners. So I'm reluctant to pay the price for
performance I'm not going to need. I don't ski all day, I tend to ski
for 3-4 hours at a time, perhaps take a break and go back out but more
likely call it a day.

I'm happy with that Rossignol boot and I've spent some time in the
other boots they rent to know that that's the one I want. Similar
things happen in riding boots, especially Western riding boots. I've
gone up and down in sizes for women's and I've even resorted to men's
boots to get a fit right (calf size is also an issue in English riding
boots, even more than it is in ski boots because the boots rise
higher).

I mean, I could get by with rental boots and skis. I have so far. I
don't forsee any major performance advancement in my future, really.

I'm just burned out on the rental lines and it'd be nice to be able to
toss the ski bag in the car and take advantage of a pass.

As far as the skis go, everybody is an individual. I ski on Stockli,
mainly because of my size and weight. You would not like them. Let
me say this, look at the side cut - A carving ski with a greater side
cut will allow you to let the ski do the work on the groomed runs. One
of the things about Hood snow-it can be prodigous, wet and heavy even
on regularly groomed runs - very light skis can get bounced around a
lot. Salomons are known for being light. Both Salomon and Rossi have
synthetic cores-I might just want to demo a ski that has a composite
core with a little wood in it - say Dynastar or Elan. They may feel a
little heavier but if you have the right side cut, that weight will be
advantageous.

Weight is an issue for me, which is why I like the Salomon. The
Rossingol Timberline rented last year was a heavier ski and not as
comfortable for me as the lighter Salomon. When the fatigue sets in
it's hard for me to do the skids with my tails with the Salomon. A
heavier ski really trips me up, though, and I fatigue faster. I'm a
smaller woman but I've not really liked what I've seen of
woman-specific skis (it also doesn't help that most are marketed as
for the intermediate and advanced skier and priced accordingly. I've
yet to see any good prices on women's skis for the beginning and
developing skier. Maybe it's too much of a niche market, or the
assumption is that the female developing skier learned at a young age
and wants woman-specific skis as she reaches my age).

Finally-get some lessons, I suspect, with your description of things,
you're working too hard. A lesson or two will get the skis working for
you.

I've been lessoning. Group lessons every January, sets of five. I
haven't moved off of the hills in lessons, though--in part keeping
company with a newer partner skier, in part a confidence issue. My
more experienced partners tell me I have good form for someone of my
experience level on slopes like the Mile, so it's time for me to move
on to the steeps with an instructor to deal with my issues. A
private, perhaps. It is getting easier with practice, but four runs
down the Mile is my physical limit at the moment.


PS: Meadows is the place to ski on Hood. The terrain is far more
varied. You can find everything to very gentle bowls to steeps.


Nah, Meadows is too busy and crowded for my liking. I like the
Timberline atmosphere, especially the Friday night skis in January.
Although if I get my own equipment, I might join some friends for
night passes at Meadows.

Thanks for your help! It's given me food for thought as to why I like
the set I'm working with now, and clarified some things I've been
thinking about. I tend to be a thinker about physical stuff, whether
it's skiing or schooling horses, and this sort of commentary helps.

jrw

On 14 Apr 2007 20:29:34 GMT, Sven Golly
wrote:

snip

I would seriously see if you can't demo some better boots from a ski
shop just to see if it helps.

Well, I put on a pair at the shop I and moaning in sheer delight
because they fit so nice--Salomon Ellipses, at a ridiculously cheap
end of the season price. So I bought them. I've learned the feel
from years of horseback riding that when a boot fits my calf a certain
way, buy it. I've noticed similar issues with ski boots so far. Plus
I can walk in the dang things, they're lighter than the rental boots,
and they just feel right.

Also, I agree with you on the women's fit vs. men's provided you have
narrow calves. Most women don't which is why a fem-specific boot can
make a lot of sense. In addition, most women carry more relative weight
in the caboose than guys so women's boots are generally ramped more
forward to compensate. Foot shape is also an issue -- narrow + low
volume vs. wide + med-high volume. Your mileage may vary. If the shoe
fits, wear it.

I have a wide front and a narrow back. Men's boots often work well
for me. And while I have wide hips, I have a small behind so the ramp
isn't that big an issue.


Dalbello makes very good mid-performance boots at good prices. I
personally ski on Salomon XScreams because they're light and super
responsive. I got them a few years ago at one of those huge ski sales
for something ridiculous like $129 -- they were originally $450 or
something. You can find those kinds of deals in October just before the
season starts and now as it's coming to and end.

And I ended up with women's skis--the Salomon Siam 5, basically one
step up from the X-4s, obscenely cheap package.

Geez. Cost me more to buy my horse tack than this basic ski package
(which I can actually grow into a little).

jrw

If there is a Surefoot location somewhere near you, they are extremely
good at getting you boots that feel right and will give you the
performance you want. http://www.surefoot.com/

That said, if you like the boots you've been renting, great!

www.backcountry.com has some good spring deals on skis. If you know
what you want, mebbe you could find them cheap.

My only advice on which ski to get is that the tighter the turning
radius on the ski (nowadays all skis' specs include their turning
radius) the more you will probably like it, based on what you're
saying about the way you ski.

Others here may chime in more info on that, but I would think you'd
want a ski with a 15-20 meter turn radius, at longest. (Smaller number
means the ski wants to turn more. Bigger number means you have to make
it turn more.)

I personally buy my skis based on the width underfoot that I want, and
then turn radius. My skiing will adjust to the little differences in
whatever model ski I get, but you can't change the turn radius or the
width.

Cheers!

Chris