Carving ski advice

I need some help finding the right ski. I appreciate if the experts can provide input.

I know that:
* I will be skiing mostly on the groomed slopes, no deep snow or moguls.
* I prefer short and frequent turns. So carving ski (~13m radius?)
* I am not an expert but I believe I am above intermediate level.
* Budget is around 700€

I need suggestions on:
* With 180cm, 72 kg. All the ski size calculators say 165cm is the right ski length for me. Do you agree?
* Which ski do you suggest for carving? I found this list [removed link] Any brand/model that you suggest from this list or any other list?
* Do you know of a website that I can order the ski which can be shipped to Zurich and has reasonable prices compared to the stores here?

Thanks a lot in advance!

http://www.xlsportshop.ch/shop/de/head-i.-supershape-rally-14-15-inkl.-prx-12-s

Rallys or Magnums. Last season't model, hasn't been changed. And delivery will probably be free since you are in Switzerland. 170 cm for you I think will be good.

The Head Magnum and Rally are too wide, you need something that is <70mm under foot. The Head iSupershape Speed would be a better choice, but make sure you get them with PRD 14 bindings and not PRX 12 bindings (the PRX has a 7mm delta which is too much for most people). There are lots of shops in Germany that will ship them to you, they won't charge German VAT, but you will have to pay shipping costs, a customs fee and Swiss VAT
http://www.ski-outdoor-shop.de/produkte/head-isupershape-speed-2015-16#

They would cost CHF 729 if you bought them here http://www.albanisport.ch/balsthal/balsthal-ski-men-15-16/head-supershape-i-speed

Isn't iSpeed more of a big-turning GS ski? probably not the best for short and frequent turns. Magnums would be ideal.

Might I suggest you get a list of suitable options, then head off to a resort where you can actually try the skis.

Buying online is great for saving money if you already know exactly what you want, but €700 is a fair bit to pay for a ski that you may actually hate first time you use it.

Try some out first and get the ones you like best. If you explain you are looking to buy, in my experience the shop will happily knock any or most of the rental cost off the ski price if you do decide to buy from them.

A 163cm Head iSupershape Speed has a sidecut radius of 13.2m, hardly a GS radius. Sidecut radius doesn't equal turn radius.

Sidecut radius = the radius of the circle which best fits the shape of the sidecut of the ski. This number depends only on the ski's geometry.

Turn radius = the radius of the circle which best fits the shape of the arc of the ski through the snow. This number depends on the sidecut radius, plus the on-edge angle, ski flex, snow condition, skier's weight, rotary input from the skier, and practically everything else under the sun.

Carved turn radius = the radius of the circle which best fits the shape of the arc of a purely carving ski across hardpacked snow. This number is approximately equal to the sidecut radius multiplied by the cosine of the on-edge angle and how much the edged ski can be bent.




The Magnum isn't a bad ski, but it doesn't carve as well as the Speed.

Testing before you buy is obviously a good idea, but bear in mind that the rental version and the retail version might not be quite the same and the binding delta of the rental bindings probably won't be the same as that of the retail bindings so the ones you buy might ski differently. I tested the iSupershape Speed last season and felt that it needed less delta, unfortunately as with most skis of this type the bindings are mounted on a rail so it's very difficult to shim them.

If you want to carve effectively ski / ski boot set up is very important, if you are even little bit off it can make a big difference to your performance.

Resort prices here are astronomic, resort shops normally charge full retail CHF 980 is well over budget.

I would wonder how old and energetic Oz is?
And also some personal perspectives on skis for my own benefit.

I'm late 50's, very good technical skier but arthritic with dodgy knees and not very fit.
Having moved to something wider underfoot and with rocker about 4 years ago I have a hunch that about 90mm underfoot allied with the generally softer ski leads to a much easier ski to turn. Less effort to get on the edge and the ski geometry makes short turns (which I love) less tiring.

I always hire and have skied things such as BBR 8.9 (of the marmite ski fame but I loved them), Movement Jam, Cham 87 (the bigger one was great in soft snow but too much like hard work for me) and the Scott Mission.

Just wondering whether my views have any technical basis or are simply what i get on with in my ski choice?
OA

Old Andy - interesting that you mention the Salomon BBR 8.9. I tried it for 3 days when in Tignes 3 years ago. I really couldn't get the hang of it and never really felt in control. Swapped to Rossignol Pursuit 18 and was instantly much happier. Probably says something about my ropey skiing technique more than anything else......