A wealth of information right there. Where are you located? I'd like to book a lesson right now.Welcome to the sport. We have been waiting for you.
A wealth of information right there. Where are you located? I'd like to book a lesson right now.Welcome to the sport. We have been waiting for you.
Not one. Unfortunately, I live in South Louisiana. My friends bitch and moan when the temperature drops below 60. They won't even entertain a ski trip. Currently in the market for new friends.Do you have some actually good (not they think they are good) skiiing buddies? if so bribe them to help.
I'm about 5'9" and 215 lbs (athletic build)
Thats because they didn't touch your foot. Very well you will will drop 3 to 4 shell sized initially. Be open minded when going into a ski shop, note NOT a sporting goods store when you buy your boots.My last rental boot was 30.5 with an 80 flex and 104 last. Probably the most comfortable boot I've worn but no doubt they were too big.
My first rentals may have been closer the right size. 29.5 but not sure what the last or flex was. They definitely were not comfortable but when I leaned forward... they weren't so uncomfortable if that makes sense. Being my first day I had no idea what boots were supposed to feel like. My initial impressions were 'Get these dam things off of me'. They gave me a wider boot which made my first day more tolerable. My foot is between 11 and 11.5 US (normal width). That 30.5 with 104 last was definitely too big.Thats because they didn't touch your foot. Very well you will will drop 3 to 4 shell sized initially. Be open minded when going into a ski shop, note NOT a sporting goods store when you buy your boots.
You will be amazed the difference a properly fit boot will accelerate your skiing process. I am not sure what other activities or work you might use a glove for, but imagine doing it in 2XL puffy mittens like these...
Post where you're going to be in the various applicable resort/regional threads next season and it's pretty likely that you can meet up with folks for a few runs (or beers after if that suits better).Currently in the market for new friends.
You have lots of new friends who think they ski well now (there are some very skilled and talented people in this group). Welcome to the neighborhood, we are glad to have you with us. Here is more free advice, please take it in relation to what you paid for it.Not one. Unfortunately, I live in South Louisiana. My friends bitch and moan when the temperature drops below 60. They won't even entertain a ski trip. Currently in the market for new friends.
I've been looking at boots that have adjustable flex. I think this may eliminate having to buy another pair down the line. 20% Flex adjustment sounds perfect. A 110 would range from around 90 to 130.
Modern snow skis are pretty much complete rubbish for anything other than snow skiing. Not a multi-use tool at all. Agree with pretty much everything else.@BobBeau this is what I would suggest.
A modern parabolic ski is a marvelously designed multi-use tool.
As @dbostedo mentioned, ski weeks are an affordable way to get lots of lessons with the same and experienced instructors. I went to Sunday River in Maine two years straight and it really helped me out. I have continued taking lessons at Killington. I am planning on attending the Taos Mini-Gathering next year (Jan 22-26) for more intensive instruction in their ski week. That seems pretty convenient for Louisiana (I'm originally from Texas).40 days of lessons would cost me nearly $40 grand . I didn't realize a full day private lesson was so expensive. My initial response to a lesson was, "I'll just youtube some 'How to' ski videos and enjoy my time on the slope". I quickly came to the realization that in order to enjoy my time on the slope, I should first get a lesson. In your opinion, should I break the lessons up? I was going to get 1 full day lesson. I have a 5 day trip planned and was going to get a lesson our first ski day. Now I'm leaning more towards getting 2 or 3 half day lessons, that way I can practice what I've learned the second half of the day. Thoughts?
My first rentals may have been closer the right size. 29.5 but not sure what the last or flex was. They definitely were not comfortable but when I leaned forward... they weren't so uncomfortable if that makes sense. Being my first day I had no idea what boots were supposed to feel like. My initial impressions were 'Get these dam things off of me'. They gave me a wider boot which made my first day more tolerable. My foot is between 11 and 11.5 US (normal width). That 30.5 with 104 last was definitely too big.
I prefer half day lessons to full day lessons. I’ve done both. With a half day lesson, you will learn a manageable set of skills (maybe just 1 or 2 things to work on) and practice those. You won’t get overloaded with information, and after the lesson, can practice at your own pace.40 days of lessons would cost me nearly $40 grand . I didn't realize a full day private lesson was so expensive. My initial response to a lesson was, "I'll just youtube some 'How to' ski videos and enjoy my time on the slope". I quickly came to the realization that in order to enjoy my time on the slope, I should first get a lesson. In your opinion, should I break the lessons up? I was going to get 1 full day lesson. I have a 5 day trip planned and was going to get a lesson our first ski day. Now I'm leaning more towards getting 2 or 3 half day lessons, that way I can practice what I've learned the second half of the day. Thoughts?
Great info!! Much appreciated. I did mention in my first post that I had a bootfitting and lesson scheduled. Was just looking for advice on underfoot and length for my size.@BobBeau, you are probably by now noticing a pattern in the responses you are getting. People are now focusing on boots, not on skis (boots are the most important piece of gear, and big purchasing mistakes are rampant). And you are hearing about lessons, which you also did not ask about in your first post. Some of the recommenders talking about skis are telling you to do a season rental of skis for your first season.
These knowledgeable folk are all talking to you out of concern that you will make the usual (expensive in time and $$) mistakes beginners frequently make. Here are some of those mistakes.
Boots: Beginners buy boots assuming they can figure out which ones fit well from standing in them while in the shop. They also assume they know what flex they need. This does not work. Beginners have no idea how a well-fitting boot should feel. They also don't know what custom work their purchase includes (you'll be amazed). The flex you'll need may be stiffer than you expect; you need to know that flex can always be softened by a good bootfitter, but it can't be stiffened. The forward lean of the cuff also needs to match the skier's range of forward motion at the ankle. For these reasons, buying boots influenced by the reviews you've read and by the manufacturers' descriptions just doesn't work. A boot is a prosthetic device that determines how much control you have over your skis. Let me repeat: your control over your skis is determined by your boot fit. Because everyone's feet are different, every boot needs to fit extremely well the shape of the individual's smallest foot -- in three dimensions, volume, length, and width. The boot on the bigger foot will be altered to make room for its excess size by the bootfitter. A GOOD bootfitter will figure all these things out for you by handling your bare feet and applying years of boot-fitting experience. So go to a good bootfitter who has years of experience. If people here know where you'll be skiing, they can recommend a person. A person, not a shop, is what you need. Call ahead and make an appointment.
Skis: Beginners buy skis before they know enough to choose well. A seasonal rental is an excellent way to avoid this pitfall. An instructor that you've worked with all season can recommend what kind of skis you'd do best on for the following season. Look for this advice mid-February as the season's skis go on sale.
Lessons: Beginners don't take enough lessons. Once they figure out how to "get down" a blue, they think they "know how to ski" are done with lessons. But there are many ways of getting down a blue trail. Often beginner lessons serve the purpose of getting the skier out onto the mountain beyond the beginner terrain. For this reason some instructors teach whatever movement patterns the skier can learn most easily during the time frame of the lesson. This produces a happy client, but it may not produce a client who skis well and is ready for blue terrain. If you stop taking lessons before those limited-functionality movement patterns have been replaced by better ones that someone taught you, you may be setting yourself up for years of frustration because your knowledge of fundamentals is flawed. Once habits are deeply set, it will be very difficult to replace them when you realize you don't really know how to ski well. This is too, too common. Take lessons frequently, leaving some time in between so you can practice.
Learning efficiently: After taking a lesson, skiers often think they can embed newly taught skills on more difficult terrain than what they have been skiing on during the lesson. Excited beginners are no exception. Two things happen when a skier does this after a lesson. They go up the mountain onto higher pitches that force them to deal with higher speeds and pressures. It's thrilling, because it's intimidating. Success getting down is exhilarating. But no one can embed new movement patterns at the same time as seeking thrills. Deeply embedded self-preservation tactics previously learned on dry land kick into play when people are scaring themselves for thrills. New movements that require focused attention get distorted or just plain thrown out in such environments. My point is do not practice your new stuff on steeper terrain than you were taught on. Stay on low-pitch terrain going slow, focusing intensely on what you are trying to embed. Move up the mountain slowly, in steps, checking that you can continue to use the newly developed skills as they were taught. Delayed gratification is important when learning to ski. Many defensive and dysfunctional habits get embedded when people do this. It's quite common.
TIP YOUR INSTRUCTOR. In the US, instructors get paid a tiny, tiny percentage of what you pay the ski school. You'd be amazed. It seems criminal. Of course the ski school doesn't tell you this. Instructors need tips to pay for vacation-land lodging and food. Tip generously.
Lesson cost: If you are on a budget, lessons at smaller hills can be a great choice because prices may be lower. Group lessons during non-holiday weekdays may be empty, so your group lesson might end up being private lessons.
Best of luck on your new venture, and welcome to the club.
Hahaha not exactly 5 @ 32 off but sure can throw some water and have a great time on a slalom ski. I didn't think shopping for snow skis would be an overwhelming task. Like others have suggested, I'm going to demo different skis and figure out what fits best for me. The Amphibio on the Elan Wingman looks good but the resort I'm going to doesn't offer them. I'm sure I'll find something that suits me well. Thanks for the adviceHow's your slalom technique? 5 @ 32 off? You're probably already accustomed to turning forces most skiers can only dream about. And at 215, I'd stick with 130 and above. The usual suspects are Lange RX 130, Tecnica Mach1 130, Nordica Promachine 130, Fischer RC4 The Curv GT 130, K2 Recon Pro, and a few others. Maybe even a race boot: Head Raptor 140, Lange RS 130, Atomic Redster Club Sport 130, ... Again, it's the fit not the brand.
Assuming you like the grunt of a hip-on-the-water slalom turn, here's a few all mountain skis that could be good (go a shorter length the first year or two): Blizzard Brahma 88, Völkl Kendo 88, K2 Mindbender 90Ti, Salomon Stance 90, Fischer RC One 86 GT, Dynastar M-Pro 90, Liberty Evolv 90, Nordica Enforcer 88, ...
Lessons: My advice is to take the first day just to get used to it, and then get a private full-day or half-day morning lesson on your 2nd day. You don't want too much time before the lesson to ingrain bad habits, and you want some time to practice what you've learned.40 days of lessons would cost me nearly $40 grand . I didn't realize a full day private lesson was so expensive. My initial response to a lesson was, "I'll just youtube some 'How to' ski videos and enjoy my time on the slope". I quickly came to the realization that in order to enjoy my time on the slope, I should first get a lesson. In your opinion, should I break the lessons up? I was going to get 1 full day lesson. I have a 5 day trip planned and was going to get a lesson our first ski day. Now I'm leaning more towards getting 2 or 3 half day lessons, that way I can practice what I've learned the second half of the day. Thoughts?