Skis for a very experienced terrible skier

Hi
I've been ski'ing quite some years now, however I have to admit I am not a good skier (I get vertigo looking at a step ladder...) However my kids are turning into awsome skiers. My 11 and 12yo's have happily been sking black runs for several years, and last week in Morillon my 5yo was more than compitent on the reds and off piste (and would have skied black if I would have taken him there)

The question being, what are the best ski's to get for someone who is quite frankly terrified of speed :-> avoids anything harder than a blue run by choice, I prefer skiing on nice soft poweredy surfaces and avoiding the hard packed pisted runs. With the amount of skiing I do, renting is not the best option (3 trips to scotland, 1 to the Alps, and a tamworth snow dome trip this year and its still only Feb!) Essentialy.. I'm looking for stability and good grip and have no desire for anything that performs best at high speeds.

It seems most ski's are either for the absolute begginer, off piste or speed fanatics.. none of which are how I would describe myself.

Thanks
Steve

Sounds to me like you have 2 options here:

1. Give up skiing altogether
2. Buy some all mountain skis that will enable you to plod around almost anywhere at your own pace.

All mountains should enable you to ski on or off piste, without limiting you to either terrain, and will be wider underfoot than piste skis (around 75-85mm maybe), often with wider tips.

Read up, get advice in stores, try some out.

And have fun. Option 1 is a non starter by the way.

Option one is certainly out :D .. despite being a complete coward on the slopes, I do in fact love skiing (I just wish it didnt involve high places!) :-> (not to mention the fact if I stopped taking the kids, I doubt i'd survive next winter..my 12yo was ski'ing double blacks in Canada at 6 and has some serious potential for competative ski'ing)

Essentialy I'm trying to build a shortlist of ski's to try out at one of the indoor slopes.

Hi Steve,
Welcome to J2ski, and congratulations on your kids ski-ing ability. They sound truly awesome :thumbup:

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to stick to blue runs. I prefer to stick to green ones myself :wink:

But I can't help you with skis I'm afraid. I always just hire mine and accept whatever they dish out.

Ally

steve_d_001 wrote:Option one is certainly out :D .. despite being a complete coward on the slopes, I do in fact love skiing (I just wish it didnt involve high places!) :-> (not to mention the fact if I stopped taking the kids, I doubt i'd survive next winter..my 12yo was ski'ing double blacks in Canada at 6 and has some serious potential for competative ski'ing)

Essentialy I'm trying to build a shortlist of ski's to try out at one of the indoor slopes.

Ellis Brigham, have a pretty comprehensive range of Test Skis this winter. There will be a ski which will suit. Remember even "fast" skis, can be skied slowly. It's all about the skier.

AllyG wrote:I always just hire mine and accept whatever they dish out.

Ally

:shock: Mais non, madame. This could seriously have an impact on you and your skiing. Same with boots.

Steve
Some good advice on here already but for me the question of skiing style is the key to the correct type of ski, if your style is more laid back & you are not "attacking" the mountain then you are going to need a ski with a softer flex that does not require to much effort. So many skis to choose from i.e. piste, all-mountain etc, I would think you need to choose a ski rated for intermediate skier range 3 - 7. The range is based on ability, all of the UKs main skiing retailers use this system to match the ski to the skier.
Should get a real bargain if you hold out for a month or so, good luck.

Finn