Who has the oldest skis still in use.

My K2 Merlins are kept in Niederau, and I will be skiing on them this winter. 13 years old. They are one of the original K2 carvers, and have great grip on hardpack. They have to be worked hard for best effect, but they are great skis, totally trustworthy. So, I disagree with you Trencher!

My other N-based skis are a pair of softish Rossignals, and a short pair of Atomics, 165s, for when the knee swells up.

Not sure about the Volkls, they are quite stiff, so only suitable for fast piste skiing, I bought them because they were a low price, and I needed a new pair of bases to keep up with a few of the faster Austrians.

The pair I traded in for the K2s, were Blizzard firebird, and were still in use in their 27th year. Well, traded in is, perhaps, a bit strong. The guy told me they were going into a museum in Colorado!

Three years old 8)

I might have mentioned in the past, that the Firebirds were 210 long, my current K2s are 200 long.
Both pairs would have stood in the shadow of my first serious skis, Kneissl White Stars, 215 long.

Not using them anymore, but I do fondly remember my Blizzard Thermo Firebirds, all 195cm of them. And tell you what, in a straight line they were wicked! Went on to the new carvers last year after a long break, switched to the new technique, it's very nice and all that, but they do 'chatter' when you build up speed I find. Stiil, a man of my years should be slowing down a bit anyway - bought a helmet as well.........

skimac wrote:Not using them anymore, but I do fondly remember my Blizzard Thermo Firebirds, all 195cm of them. And tell you what, in a straight line they were wicked! Went on to the new carvers last year after a long break, switched to the new technique, it's very nice and all that, but they do 'chatter' when you build up speed I find. Stiil, a man of my years should be slowing down a bit anyway - bought a helmet as well.........

Re the "chatter" when using carvers at speed, Jan Stenmark gave me a tip. This was to apply slight forward toe pressure to both feet, alternate left and right. The result is that you are theoretically doing slight turns, but you are controlling the ski. I tried it on a speed run, and it works fine for me.

My K2 One Luv's are 4 years old, and I love them almost as much as my husband. I'm eyeing up a pair of Burnin Luv's now, but my trusty old ones will always be my rock hoppers....

DaveMac and I would be great "brothers"! Still ski with my 205 cm. Merlin VI!
Classic ski!
Pavel

Very occasionally, and just for fun, I get the Dynastar Course GS (complete with the red blob on the tips) out and let them rip.

I 'upgraded' the bindings from the original Look model to a Tyrolia as the Looks were just about shot. I think I got the skis for Christmas in 1979 or 1980.

203cms of pure adrenalin - not for the faint-hearted or anyone who wants to do pretty short swings down the fall line!