ski recommendations

Hello,
This is my first post here so if my question is an often asked one, please
feel free to refer me to any existing archive of posts.
I'm going to buy my first pair of skis and am unsure of what to get. My 11
year old son taught me to ski about 10 weeks ago and I've been going once a
week (at least) since then until the snow gave out this week. I'm 52 Y.O.,
6' and 185 lbs. I don't do the wedge at all (skis remain parallel) and am
comfortable on the circle and square slopes at Windham, NY. I really am not
a speed demon. I prefer lots of turns to stay at a moderate pace. I've been
renting 140s, which I understand are really too short for my height and
weight. An experienced skier suggested I get 165s. My question is: should I
get an intermediate ski like the Atomic R:10 or should I content myself with
one of the models designed for beginners like the Rossi Freeride X. I'm
hoping to find something used (read cheap) on ebay. Any sage words of advice
will be greatly appreciated.
My only regret regarding skiing is that I didn't learn 40 years ago. I'm way
hooked.
Thanks,
Tom G

DrTom wrote:
Hello,
This is my first post here so if my question is an often asked one, please
feel free to refer me to any existing archive of posts.
I'm going to buy my first pair of skis and am unsure of what to get. My 11
year old son taught me to ski about 10 weeks ago and I've been going once a
week (at least) since then until the snow gave out this week. I'm 52 Y.O.,
6' and 185 lbs. I don't do the wedge at all (skis remain parallel) and am
comfortable on the circle and square slopes at Windham, NY. I really am not
a speed demon. I prefer lots of turns to stay at a moderate pace. I've been
renting 140s, which I understand are really too short for my height and
weight. An experienced skier suggested I get 165s. My question is: should I
get an intermediate ski like the Atomic R:10 or should I content myself with
one of the models designed for beginners like the Rossi Freeride X. I'm
hoping to find something used (read cheap) on ebay. Any sage words of advice
will be greatly appreciated.
My only regret regarding skiing is that I didn't learn 40 years ago. I'm way
hooked.
Thanks,
Tom G

You'll get a bunch of answers here, but generally they will
all say stick with renting skis for a while. Maybe for the
next whole season. You will progress rapidly enough so that
you will "outgrow" anything you buy at this point and the
skis will then begin to hold you back. It sounds like you
will be skiing enough to make it worthwhile to eventually
buy, but now is not the time.

A second option might be to get into a "lease" deal with a
shop which would allow you to upgrade as the season progresses.

What I will recommend it that you buy yourself a good pair
of boots THAT FIT from a professional ski shop with a good
reputation for boot fitting. If you extremely hard to fit
feet, we can make further recommendations for that.

DO NOT buy boots on ebay.

Go to a reputable shop. Now is a good time and you will
probably find decent boots at about half price. You may
need to shop a bit to find the right fit as stocks will
be down, especially if you have a popular size.

Once you get your boots, make a habit of carrying them to
the lodge and put them on there. Don't put them on in the
parking lot and then walk a half mile in them. You'll
ruin them quickly and maybe damage your feet in the process.

For ski poles, buy cheap used ones. You'll break a few
until you get used to carrying them around.

VtSkier

"VtSkier" wrote in message
...
You'll get a bunch of answers here, but generally they will
all say stick with renting skis for a while. Maybe for the
next whole season. You will progress rapidly enough so that
you will "outgrow" anything you buy at this point and the
skis will then begin to hold you back. It sounds like you
will be skiing enough to make it worthwhile to eventually
buy, but now is not the time.

A second option might be to get into a "lease" deal with a
shop which would allow you to upgrade as the season progresses.

What I will recommend it that you buy yourself a good pair
of boots THAT FIT from a professional ski shop with a good
reputation for boot fitting. If you extremely hard to fit
feet, we can make further recommendations for that.

DO NOT buy boots on ebay.

Go to a reputable shop. Now is a good time and you will
probably find decent boots at about half price. You may
need to shop a bit to find the right fit as stocks will
be down, especially if you have a popular size.

Once you get your boots, make a habit of carrying them to
the lodge and put them on there. Don't put them on in the
parking lot and then walk a half mile in them. You'll
ruin them quickly and maybe damage your feet in the process.

For ski poles, buy cheap used ones. You'll break a few
until you get used to carrying them around.

VtSkier

Excellent advice as usual. The first thing to buy are your boots. When you
go to buy your boots bring the ski socks with you and the foot bed or
orthodics that you will be wearing. Allow yourself a good 30 minutes
wearing the boots that you think you might be buying. Try on several pairs
and the two that feels the best try the best fitting boot on first for about
30 minutes then the other. Walk, jump, stand,and sit with them on. Let
your feet adjust to them, this time will allow your feet to adjust to all
the hot spots (pressure points) that causes discomfort. The boot fitter
will let you know whether or not the boot will be the one you should wear
and that he/she can adjust to accommodate to your feet.. Make sure you do
not get boots too big.

I would recommend the Atomic R:10 in the 170cm length with bindings. If
they are not rental bindings make sure they fit the same size boot sole that
you wear. If they are one size up or down they should be able to adjust to
your boot without needing to be remounted.

My son and I skied Windham 2 weeks ago, it was a little on the soft side but
we had a great time all the same. It seems to be a great little mountain.

Glad to see another one hooked on skiing.

By the way VtSkier how's the conditions up there at Killington, is it worth
a 7.5 hour drive up there for this coming weekend?

JQ
Dancing on the edge

On 2006-04-05, JQ penned:
When you go to buy your boots bring the ski socks with you and the
foot bed or orthodics that you will be wearing.

As for ski socks, they don't need to be super thick. In fact, super
thin is usually the way to go. The point is, ski boots are very
form-fit, so you definitely want to try the boots on with the socks
you will wear when skiing.

--
monique
Longmont, CO

VtSkier wrote:
DrTom wrote:
Hello,
This is my first post here so if my question is an often asked one,
please feel free to refer me to any existing archive of posts.
I'm going to buy my first pair of skis and am unsure of what to get

....


What I will recommend it that you buy yourself a good pair
of boots THAT FIT from a professional ski shop with a good
reputation for boot fitting.

Good boots first. Absolutely.

Rental skis for flexibility. To make new skis pay off you have to ski
more than you apparently have been - good ski prices are astronomical.
Two thoughts to consider - garage sales in the spring and summer; and
ski swaps in the fall. Sometimes real bargains can be obtained that
changes the equation sufficiently to make purchase reasonable. (Like $50
mounted for good skis and bindings.) But you have to know, or have a
friend who can advise you, your prospective ski and binding purchase.

BTW, garage sales are selling skis the wife wants out of the house - no
way are they going back in the garage, so offer $10.

Thank you all for the words of wisdom. I am very appreciative. It sounds
like a unanimous call for a good pair of boots. I have a pair a friend gave
me that fit reasonably well (much better than any of the rentals I was
using), but certainly not the most comfortable footwear I've ever come
across. That's where I'll spend the money. However, I'm still thinking I'll
pick up some used skis. They're so cheap these days that I figure if I
outgrow them I'll put them back on ebay and buy something else. Eventually I
think the investment in a brand new set will be justified. I can get a lift
ticket through my son's school that will put me on the hill two or three
times a week next season so I do plan on getting some use out of them. If
this summer's garage sale season proves productive, who knows, I could wind
up with several varieties.
Never thought I'd be looking forward to winter.
Thanks again,
Tom G

JQ wrote:

(snip)


By the way VtSkier how's the conditions up there at Killington, is it worth
a 7.5 hour drive up there for this coming weekend?

JQ
Dancing on the edge

We just had a foot of snow on the mountain:
Saturday: chance showers, high near 36 (in the valley)
Sunday: sunny, high near 37 (valley)

Leading up to that, all precip until later on Friday
is forecast to be snow, with showers in the PM (valley).

All precip could be snow above 2000 feet.

It's spring, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

RW

"DrTom" wrote in message
...
Hello,
This is my first post here so if my question is an often asked one,
please feel free to refer me to any existing archive of posts.
I'm going to buy my first pair of skis and am unsure of what to
get. My 11 year old son taught me to ski about 10 weeks ago and
I've been going once a week (at least) since then until the snow
gave out this week. I'm 52 Y.O., 6' and 185 lbs. I don't do the
wedge at all (skis remain parallel) and am comfortable on the
circle and square slopes at Windham, NY. I really am not a speed
demon. I prefer lots of turns to stay at a moderate pace. I've been
renting 140s, which I understand are really too short for my height
and weight. An experienced skier suggested I get 165s. My question
is: should I get an intermediate ski like the Atomic R:10 or should
I content myself with one of the models designed for beginners like
the Rossi Freeride X. I'm hoping to find something used (read
cheap) on ebay. Any sage words of advice will be greatly
appreciated.
My only regret regarding skiing is that I didn't learn 40 years
ago. I'm way hooked.
Thanks,
Tom G

It's miles on skis more than skis at this point. Boots are more
important. You don't need to get an expensive pair of boots but you
need to have them fit right. A mid to upper mid range boot would be
fine but mid to lower mid ski would probably be fine too. There's a
huge convenience factor is having all your own stuff, ready to go in
one bag. Good luck.

"VtSkier" wrote in message
...
JQ wrote:

(snip)


By the way VtSkier how's the conditions up there at Killington, is it
worth a 7.5 hour drive up there for this coming weekend?

JQ
Dancing on the edge

We just had a foot of snow on the mountain:
Saturday: chance showers, high near 36 (in the valley)
Sunday: sunny, high near 37 (valley)

Leading up to that, all precip until later on Friday
is forecast to be snow, with showers in the PM (valley).

All precip could be snow above 2000 feet.

It's spring, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

RW


Thanks for the heads up.

JQ
Dancing on the edge

On 2006-04-05, DrTom penned:
sounds like a unanimous call for a good pair of boots. I have a pair
a friend gave me that fit reasonably well (much better than any of
the rentals I was using), but certainly not the most comfortable
footwear I've ever come across.

I've never had comfortable ski boots. The best I've been able to
achieve is effective (in transmitting what I want to the ski) and
mostly not painful.

But I seem to have trouble with shoe fit in every aspect of life, so
maybe that's just me.

One warning: If it's comfortable in the shop, it may be way too loose
by the time you break it in. This is where a good boot fitter is
important. They should help you figure out what fit is appropriate
(usually using the shell as the guide, not the liner, which as I
mentioned packs down).

That being said, the typical advice that "oh, it feels tight now, but
it'll pack in and be perfect later" never did work for me.
Unfortunately, it's hard to really know what's right until you have
lots of experience trying on boots. Unless you're lucky, like my
husband, who can buy boots off the discount rack and be perfectly
happy.

--
monique
Longmont, CO