Will it be more difficult to use straight (not parabolic) snow skis in powder than on groomed slopes?

Question

I'm skiing out west for the first time, and I'm wondering if I need to move on to parabolic skis. My old straight skis work OK in the East, but I don't know if the conditions out west will render them more difficult (at least enough to justify buying parabolics).

Answer 1

It depends on the ski width. People skied pow for years before parabolics came on the scene...but they were wider skis.

Chances are, if you own a straight pair of planks and bought them 10+ years ago and mostly used them in the East...then they won't be good in pow.

If you are going to buy strictly powder skis, then go as fat as you can get. However, if you plan to use those boards back east, I'd go for a mid-fat, all mountian ski. (There are a ton to choose from.)

While I don't disagree that it is most likely a good time to upgrade, I would tell you that your best course of action is to find a ski shop where you are going to ski and demo a few styles before you commit to a ski you've never used in powder.

Similarly, I've found very few ski shops in the east...and especially anywhere south of New England, where the sales clerks REALLY know anything about how the skis they sell perform in powder. The simply don't have the access to powder and time to demo thier own skis in REAL powder. They have to rely on what the ski reps tell them, what they read in reviews, and take from thier own experience with other skis. The last year I worked in a shop, I had about 20 styles to be familiar with. I skied all of them...but never had any of them in powder. A sales clerk out west with the same stock would most likely have tried all of them out in pow.

Answer 2

you should be fine

Answer 3

At long as your on steep terrain and going fast you'll be alright....

But if you're going to be picking your way through glades and whatnot get something shaped and fatty bro.