Getting back into skiing after many years off. I already have boots but after renting the past few years want to get my own skis. I've done hours upon hours of reading. I've talked with people at shops, got conflicting advice (I didn't tell anyone what another shop said or recommended, I didn't want to bias anyone) and done more reading. I have narrowed down my choices but I feel like now I'm down to a point where I have analysis paralysis and can't make a final decision. I also need a little help with final length.
I'm 5' 9' and 220-230 lbs (depending on the day). Skiing location is northeast (New England so mostly VT/ME). I am a lower intermediate skier. I stay on the groomers (greens and blues) for now as I'm getting my confidence back. I may work my way up to following friends onto diamonds or off trail that isn't too tightly packed with trees. I'm mostly a pivot/slarve/skid type turner but want to get better. Since it's the northeast, something that can handle the varied conditions from groomed trails, the inevitable steeper section on the blues that is icy, and the end of the day chop and slush. On steeper sections, I definitely skid to kill speed. I'm not looking to go fast anymore, so something that is stable at moderate speed down those steeper sections until I can either reduce some speed or get to the end of that section and slow when it flattens out/widens is all I need. While at some point diamond trails may happen, doubles and moguls hold no interest for me.
Because I'm heavier and on the shorter side, I've gotten a bunch of varying advice about the type of ski such as: 1. You're heavier, so even though you aren't aggressive get something with titinal in it otherwise you might over power the ski; 2. Don't get Ti versions, they'll be too stiff for you; 3. With your weight and style width should be 88-90mm; 4. You should go with something narrower like 82 - 88mm; 5. stay in the 165-176 range for length; and 6. You should be in a 180 cm ski.
The final contenders (at one point there were more than 20 that I researched and eliminated) basically boil down to a couple different Elan models in varying widths, and two other skis. Meet the contenders on "these could be your skis":
1. 2023 Elan Wingman 82 Ti or 86 Ti (both in 166cm);
2. 2022 Elan Ripstick 88 or 96 (both in 172 cm although 180 was recommended by one place).
3. 2022 Dynastar M-Pro 90 (170cm) and
4. 2022 SALOMON QST 92 SKIS (169cm or 177cm - again one place recommended shorter and one said longer).
The lengths are not set in stone. If I should go up or down, and they're available, I can but based on what I was told/read these are the sizes.
At one point or another in the last three days, I have decided on each of these and then backed off my decision. The way I have tried, unsuccessfully to view it is narrow the Elans down by deciding on Ripstick vs Wingman, narrow that choice to one width and then decide the last Elan standing vs the Dynastar and Salomon. Unfortunately, making that decision has proved impossible for me.
Reviews make it seem like the Salomon could be a great ski for me and then one place said it would be too stiff. One place recommended the Ripstick 96 over the 88, another said 88 over 96. Some reviews and one shop make it seem like the Wingman would be perfect, but the same place that said the Salomon's would be too stiff said the same thing about either width Wingman Ti (i.e. they'd be too stiff).
Despite all this, apparently, I decided the cure for my information overload was more information.
Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-D
I'm 5' 9' and 220-230 lbs (depending on the day). Skiing location is northeast (New England so mostly VT/ME). I am a lower intermediate skier. I stay on the groomers (greens and blues) for now as I'm getting my confidence back. I may work my way up to following friends onto diamonds or off trail that isn't too tightly packed with trees. I'm mostly a pivot/slarve/skid type turner but want to get better. Since it's the northeast, something that can handle the varied conditions from groomed trails, the inevitable steeper section on the blues that is icy, and the end of the day chop and slush. On steeper sections, I definitely skid to kill speed. I'm not looking to go fast anymore, so something that is stable at moderate speed down those steeper sections until I can either reduce some speed or get to the end of that section and slow when it flattens out/widens is all I need. While at some point diamond trails may happen, doubles and moguls hold no interest for me.
Because I'm heavier and on the shorter side, I've gotten a bunch of varying advice about the type of ski such as: 1. You're heavier, so even though you aren't aggressive get something with titinal in it otherwise you might over power the ski; 2. Don't get Ti versions, they'll be too stiff for you; 3. With your weight and style width should be 88-90mm; 4. You should go with something narrower like 82 - 88mm; 5. stay in the 165-176 range for length; and 6. You should be in a 180 cm ski.
The final contenders (at one point there were more than 20 that I researched and eliminated) basically boil down to a couple different Elan models in varying widths, and two other skis. Meet the contenders on "these could be your skis":
1. 2023 Elan Wingman 82 Ti or 86 Ti (both in 166cm);
2. 2022 Elan Ripstick 88 or 96 (both in 172 cm although 180 was recommended by one place).
3. 2022 Dynastar M-Pro 90 (170cm) and
4. 2022 SALOMON QST 92 SKIS (169cm or 177cm - again one place recommended shorter and one said longer).
The lengths are not set in stone. If I should go up or down, and they're available, I can but based on what I was told/read these are the sizes.
At one point or another in the last three days, I have decided on each of these and then backed off my decision. The way I have tried, unsuccessfully to view it is narrow the Elans down by deciding on Ripstick vs Wingman, narrow that choice to one width and then decide the last Elan standing vs the Dynastar and Salomon. Unfortunately, making that decision has proved impossible for me.
Reviews make it seem like the Salomon could be a great ski for me and then one place said it would be too stiff. One place recommended the Ripstick 96 over the 88, another said 88 over 96. Some reviews and one shop make it seem like the Wingman would be perfect, but the same place that said the Salomon's would be too stiff said the same thing about either width Wingman Ti (i.e. they'd be too stiff).
Despite all this, apparently, I decided the cure for my information overload was more information.
Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
-D