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Mtns2Skies

Final Approach
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Mtns2Skies
So I've been hard charging at aviation for the last decade and have put a lot of other hobbies by the wayside. As I near the end of my rating goals and airplane goals it's time to get back into some of my other hobbies. Once upon a time I was a competitive skier competing in nationals for Giant Slalom, and taking on large Backcountry mountains but after those days I've really only skied a few times a year to know that I still got it.

So my gear is old. I need new skis boots and bindings and I have no idea what brands are good any more and what the hot build styles are. I would still consider myself an expert skier, and I'm looking for an all mountain ski that isn't going to bore me.

I was looking at Fischer all mountain skis since that's what my race skis are, but I'm not sold.

Thoughts? School me on this decades skis.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
I'm looking for an all mountain ski that isn't going to bore me.

Thoughts?
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Right here, this is what you want.
https://www.barnstormers.com/classified-1759969-Skis!.html
medium_image_1759969_1_1659222161.jpeg
 
I've always used Atomics and never been disappointed. Bindings are Marker, traditionally I always used Solomon for boots but lately I find the nordicas to be more comfortable and generally better for the type of scene I do (piste, slolom)

My skis are 185, I like to go fast and hate glades/moguls

I also don't care for the super wide fat skis you see a lot of. Probably good for powder as I mentioned I generally ski on piste (well groomed)..

That probably wasn't super inciteful.. sorry.

I might recommend you rent a few times and demo different brands to see what fits your overall skiing style and what feels good for you for the type of runs you do

#bodemillerisawesome
 
Boots are all I care about and with my foot shape, Salomon and Nordica are best.

I tend to favor Dynastar or Volkl for my high speed cruising (50 mph+) and have for many years. Bindings have always been Look as I like their release. Never venture into mogul land anymore and the width and shape are OK for powder.

IMNSHO, any modern ski will perform more than any but World Cup level Racers can use.

Enjoy.

PS I live in Steamboat Springs in the winter so if you come there, drop me a PM.
 
It’s going to really depend on what type of skiing you’ll be doing. So I’ve found all mountain is quite the big category. I’m similar (not the competitive bit) and wanted gear to allow maximum versatility. As such, I recently* fully refreshed all of my kit at Evo Denver https://www.evo.com/locations/denver. They are a fantastic shop for building your platform, boots, skis, and all. Their employees are experts and were able to help me refine my mission and select the best gear, weighing pros/cons, etc.

I ended up with Blizzard Rustler 10s, 180cm. With 102mm underfoot, they are nice and wide so that I may hit some fresh pow pow and float real nicely - yet the twin rockers help me manage groomers as well.

Newer version of my ski -> https://www.evo.com/skis/blizzard-rustler-10#image=216620/902901/blizzard-rustler-10-skis-2023-.jpg

* it’s actually a funny story. I was so angry at my local Chicago shop after they jerked me around, I rented a Diamond DA40 and flew myself to Denver last minute to go ski shopping.
67172CCC-AD05-4EED-A2AB-2D71A16E0EE9.jpeg
 
kaiser said:
It’s going to really depend on what type of skiing you’ll be doing. So I’ve found all mountain is quite the big category. I’m similar (not the competitive bit) and wanted gear to allow maximum versatility. As such, I recently* fully refreshed all of my kit at Evo Denver https://www.evo.com/locations/denver. They are a fantastic shop for building your platform, boots, skis, and all. Their employees are experts and were able to help me refine my mission and select the best gear, weighing pros/cons, etc.

I ended up with Blizzard Rustler 10s, 180cm. With 102mm underfoot, they are nice and wide so that I may hit some fresh pow pow and float real nicely - yet the twin rockers help me manage groomers as well.

Newer version of my ski -> https://www.evo.com/skis/blizzard-rustler-10#image=216620/902901/blizzard-rustler-10-skis-2023-.jpg

* it’s actually a funny story. I was so angry at my local Chicago shop after they jerked me around, I rented a Diamond DA40 and flew myself to Denver last minute to go ski shopping.
View attachment 110453
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I hope you don’t ever have nightmares about how many years of season passes and après-ski time you could have had for the rental cost of the DA-40:p.

Cheers
 
X3 Skier said:
I hope you don’t ever have nightmares about how many years of season passes and après-ski time you could have had for the rental cost of the DA-40:p.

Cheers
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Me? Heck I’d fly to Denver for groceries!
 
Don't ask me, my skis still have the old Look-Nevada turntable bindings. :eek: I think I still have a pair of Head 360s somewhere, too...

But for the past 15 years for me it's been only backcountry XC skiing.
 
Looks like my non-stop ski research over the last few days has landed me on some Volkl Kendo 88's. Skis sure have gotten a LOT wider than when I was last in it - my current Skis are Rossignol Phantom SC80's and that was wide for a ski back then. Now time to hunt down a deal or wait for the upcoming year's ski model.
 
The K2s I have are like 215s and teal. That should give you an idea of when I acquired them.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Once upon a time I was a competitive skier competing in nationals for Giant Slalom, and taking on large Backcountry mountains but after those days I've really only skied a few times a year to know that I still got it.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you were better than I ever was. I still default to my old (2004) Fischer slalom skis. I've been debating a new pair, but can't see myself being happy with anything other than a new pair of slalom skis. I feel like I'd be bored on most other options.
 
respectful request to change title to "[NA]Skis" so that readers don't think this is going to be about aircraft skis?
 
So because I bought Shaggys, I'm on their email list. Look at these bad boys they sent out today:

skiis.jpg
skiis 2.jpg
 
I skied on Hexcels, back in the '70s when they made aluminum honeycomb bonded polymer skis. They changed names after a buyout, but eventually disappeared and Hexcel is now an aerospace composites manufacturer. They were stiff and short and I bashed through moguls and rough slopes like a wild man on them.

Years later, I wore a set of Rossignol 210s (!) and was amazed at how a big, long noodle could dig in and carve, if you had patience.

Head, Rossignol, Dynastar and Salomon are all still making skis and they are expensive. The Chinese alternatives are one quarter the price and will only last one season, but the performance will still be good enough.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Looks like my non-stop ski research over the last few days has landed me on some Volkl Kendo 88's. Skis sure have gotten a LOT wider than when I was last in it - my current Skis are Rossignol Phantom SC80's and that was wide for a ski back then. Now time to hunt down a deal or wait for the upcoming year's ski model.
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Volkl were extremely expensive when they first appeared on the market, but things have evened out and the better brands are all about the same. I like how they have curved and cambered the sides to match the surface profile in a turn. That makes them skinny in the middle and fat at the tips. They have also realized the importance of the rocker and the upturned tail. That makes spinning around and skiing backwards so much effortless.
 
Demo’d the Kendo when it first came out. Really nice. Might be the next pair if I can get them on a pro form.
 
My intro to skiing took place before there was snow.

The first “ Ski-dek “.
 
IK04 said:
That makes them skinny in the middle and fat at the tips.
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When I said it's "been a while" I meant 10 years, not 50! :D

Shape skis have existed longer than I've been alive. :p
 
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