Help picking good skis ?

Question

So im off to college soon in vermont and i wanted to start skiing when i get there. (its not like ive never seen snow or anything, i live in NH and yes its sad that ive never tried skiing or snow boarding..). I was planning on buying a pair of skis but i need help with picking good quality skis. and what to look for, how much it would cost, and ect.. oh yeah and any tips on using them? Thanks!

Answer 1

After you buy some ski/snowboard clothing, the boots are the most critical purchase you can make.  They must fit TIGHT around your foot and ankle, your foot should not move in the boot at all. You should be able to wiggle your toes, after you find the right boot for you, add a set of footbeds, and boot cants and ramping.  This will put you in a good athletic balance for your skiing.  When you go shopping for boots, allow at least 4 hours of time to check for proper fit. A good ski boot will last an instructor about 200 days, a racer 150, a recreational skier will last 4-8 years.  Expect to pay about $400, new, retail,  with the footbeds.  After you have the boots on your feet, spend time checking the ski inventory and discuss a season lease for the skiis.  This will let you improve and modify the package as you improve.  

  There is no such thing as the "Best Ski"  each type is good or they would not be on the market very long.  You should purchase your first pair at the end of the  season when the sales are on going.  Presidents Day is typical in the Puget Sound area for the sales to be on. The selection is more limited but the prices are much better.  

   Take a series of lessons from a qualified professional instructor. Friends may be well meaning, but unless they are professional instructors the techniques and methodology are obsolete.  Learn to take care of your own equipment, sharpen the edges, and wax the bases, every 2-3 days of use.  Do a web search on ski tuning, Tognar tools is very good.   This is a great social sport as well as a snow sport.  Have fun, let us know how you like it.  

   For clothing, check the resolved questions in this section.  

    For a total budget for equipment for your first season $1000  is on the low side, but careful shopping will do it.  The boots are the most important part.

  Your skiis should be about nose high and stiff enough to support your weight,  the bindings should be in the DIN range of 6-12.  Try to find a friend who skiis and have them take you window shopping for equipment.  ASK QUestions, go to the local ski shops  in the next month. The first sales will start Labor Day.  Ask again for more specific advice, message me if you wish.

Answer 2

I can defintly help with this, i have been skiing for 10 years, and i ski race. Because you are a begginer you dont want something with alot of sidecut, go talk to a salesperson at a ski shop they will be able to tell you what works best for their area, because where i live its icy alot, so u want something w/ a lot of grip, but out west, you wouldnt want that, so go for some head skis maybe, or you might be able to find some fishers, but a good one would be rosignol, i had a pair of those when i was kinda starting out..

hope this helps

if you need more help post another ? and email it to me!

Answer 3

Don't be in a rush to buy. Since you're new to skiing, rent skiis and get lessons first. I highly recommend a professional instructor and if possible getting lessons for several days in a row. Don't just head up there with friends and hope that they will show you the ropes. This rarely works out.

Once you're confidently skiing and if at that point you trhink you would like to buy skis - don't. Buy boots. Having your own ski boots is much more important. Once you have boots, if you still feel you want to buy skiis rather than rent then take your time. Find a good shop. Many will let you rent several pairs to try them out and deduct the rental price from the retail price if you buy. You need to be able to ski reasonably well to appreciate the difference between different skiis and to know what style of skiing (and so what skiis) you like.

Answer 4

I used to live in Kittery, ME and was always impressed with Putnam's on HWY 1 just south of Portsmouth. I know every year they have a big ski swap where you can get some great deals on entry level skis. I believe they have the swap in October sometime, but check their website or give them a call to be sure.

Costs are going to vary, but you should be able to get set up with boots, bindings, ski's and poles for under $400 if you're patient. As for when to go skiing, i would recommend  starting with night skiing mid-week and look for places that have student discounts. Most importantly, don't be to proud to take a lesson. It's money very well spent.

Answer 5

Jim W always has great advice...although I wouldn't worry too much yet about maintaining your own equipment. If you get into it, then absolutely, yes.

Most importantly, you want to remain whole after your first day on skis. To do this, get a lesson. Some resorts offer college discounts, call around maybe. I taught skiing for 5 years (and race coached as well). It is very, very important to get those fundamentals right at the beginning. After your first lesson, you could probably go on your own a few times and just have fun with it, but you will want at least a few more lessons to get you comfortable with the green and blue runs. Do not, I repeat do not, follow a friend to the top of the nearest black on your first day...you will end up walking down (or running into a tree), and really end up disliking the sport...which would be unfortunate, because it is the greatest sport on Earth!!

Your first year in VT, I would just rent gear for the times you go. Your first day call around for "beginner specials". Often times resorts will bundle a rental, lesson, and lift ticket into one decent price. No need to buy equipment your first year, except for the standard pants, jacket, hat (helmet), goggles, and such.

If you like the sport, then plunk down the moola for the next year. If you have money to burn, buy new stuff. Nothing wrong with that! Make sure you buy from a ski shop...not a gigantic "big box" sports store. The advice and expertise will be worth the extra cost.

If you don't have extra money, then look around for the ski swaps. As a beginner, you can get away with buying everything used. As you get better, you will probably want brand new boots. I have skied for 30+ years, and I still buy my skis and poles used, and boots new. Well, once in a while I will buy new skis...but only three times now in the last 15 years!