Latest posts for the topic "What skis are right for me?"

What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:42:49 GMT

Hi all and happy new year,

I am looking into to buying myself some skis (having just renting them in the past) and im not to sure which type is right for me.
im probably looking for a freeride ski however i am confused about what length to get, could anyone tell me what advantages a shorter ski brings, or if i should just get the lenght to my weight ratio?
my 'performance level' (found a chart on internet) is around 7 or 8 out of 10 so i would be looking for somthing that would be suitible to build and help imporve my technique.
i found a 125cm salomon blade/ski, again what advantages would a ski this short bring?
will be thankfull for any suggestions!

Re:What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:45:51 GMT

You say a freeride ski, if you are looking at a blade your definition of this is probably not the same as mine. Care to elaborate? What do you like skiing? How do you ski? Do you ski what you like skiing with style? THe more info you can give about yourself, really, the better. Weight, height, glove size-everything.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 21:51:09 GMT

all of them, none of them :D for me, I keep buying skis and I've begun to wonder why, on a good day I can ski on anything and on a bad day I can't ski on anything :D

There's no absolute answer for length though I think, it's related to flex or how stiff the ski is in part so it varies ski to ski. And then it's hard to even all agree what improving is about, you could want to be a great technical skier become an instructor and so on or you might want to improve to tackle harder terrain which isn't quite the same :D

Any ideas for a shortlist? Or what can you get cheap? :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:18:40 GMT

hi ross and ise about the blade thing i know this isnt a free ride ski it was just anohter idea, and it would be interesting to know your opinion of it, im about 60kg and looking for a ski that will be good on all sorts of terain, as for my style i ski quite fast and hard but am looking to improve on things such as carving and being able to ski mogels better and faster- as ise put it, i would like like to become very good technically :) hope this is more helpfull!

Re:What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:23:41 GMT

My opinion of blades is perfectly summed up by this picture:

Ise may be better placed and more knowledgeable in dealing with the question but I might be back later :lol:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 22:27:33 GMT

ouch :-o looks painfull!! thanks alot

Re:What skis are right for me?

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 08:48:04 GMT

Tapps wrote:hi ross and ise about the blade thing i know this isnt a free ride ski it was just anohter idea, and it would be interesting to know your opinion of it, im about 60kg and looking for a ski that will be good on all sorts of terain, as for my style i ski quite fast and hard but am looking to improve on things such as carving and being able to ski mogels better and faster- as ise put it, i would like like to become very good technically :) hope this is more helpfull!

depends where you want to ski, I've never seen anyone on blades in the terrain I ski and I never expect to, they have some limited use as a teaching tool but to use all the time it's a self limiting thing. The attraction for some people on holiday is they don't need to have lessons or make too much effort, that's not attractive for everyone.

Have you seen the packages Sport Conrad do?

http://www.sport-conrad.com/index.asp?disp=kategorie&kat_id=50

mind you, I suppose the rate's not too good at the moment.

What skis are right for me?

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 21:13:51 GMT

wow thanks for the website its has the same sorts of things i have been looking at from snow and rock, to you think they will have some of them in resort ot try?

What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 08:17:11 GMT

Tapps wrote:wow thanks for the website its has the same sorts of things i have been looking at from snow and rock, to you think they will have some of them in resort ot try?

depends where you're going, some smaller places don't have the range.

maybe if you rented something you liked it might be available in the end of season sales?

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 16:55:54 GMT

Skis ah the great quandary....
(added after wrote this drivel, read the last paragraph first :wink: )

I would like to suggest several things to consider. I have sold skis in shops and have seen the evolution of the ski over several iterations. They don't build them like they used to, good thing!

Firstly buy a ski that's ski within your ability. Hills are littered with terminal intermediates who insist on skiing the latest racing kit. A proper ski for your level will enhance your experience. That's why ski manufactures spend millions on developing different skis. (a ski sure doesn't care about the size of your own gear! Don't let testosterone rule your skiing too :mrgreen: Now if you want to discuss cars or motorbikes .. but that's another blog)

Secondly length of ski is related to your weight! A ski never knows how tall you are it has no feelings in that regard. A ski "knows" how much you weigh! The pressure you can exert due to gravity, acceleration, and centripetal force is what a ski "feels" The heavier you are increases "down" forces.

Supplementary to weight, skis feel forces, G's if you will. If you are a tank you will need a beefier ski, if your are a feather weight you should ski softer flexing ski.

Thirdly - Snow type. If you ski on harder snow a shorter ski will work and if you hack in fluff a longer ski - more surface area to float on. The length issue come into play here too the if the ski is wider it will float if narrow it will need to be longer to achieve the same float.

Forth - a mitigating fact is the width in ski design. Wider skis which have less shape (side cut) will not carve a turn on harder snow they ski a straighter line. The arc of the side cut will determine turn radius.

Fifth thing is construction - weight mass of ski titanium vs steel, Glass vs carbon fiber..

Sixth thing is longevity - wood vs foam core..

Seventh .. base type hardness (see also longevity)

Eighth .. edge construction cracked edges vs solids and various combinations

Ninth ... cap vs laminate construction

AH blah blah blah... I've got verbal runs just read my favourite ski reviews at this site. They are usually considered the last word on ski tests. Read the descriptions of each category to get the best feel for the ski type mentioned.

http://www.skicanadamag.com/Gear/home.html

PS I drive a stoopid VW Vanagon '85 vintage and ride an old BMW M/C 1987 K. Just thought I'd add that - see my first tip...)

So long dude... J.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 18:09:46 GMT

JamesA wrote:Skis ah the great quandary....

Forth - a mitigating fact is the width in ski design. Wider skis which have less shape (side cut) will not carve a turn on harder snow they ski a straighter line. The arc of the side cut will determine turn radius.

Hmmmm, when I learned to ski :mrgreen: straight skis with very little sidecut carved quite nicely on hard snow.

Perhaps those of us skiing in Europe, learn to carve turns without relying on the turn radius?

What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 18:18:03 GMT

thanks alot, to all!

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 18:35:26 GMT

I have a pair of blades and they are good fun, but they are not a patch on my skis 8)

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 18:37:00 GMT

JamesA, your fourth point doesn't really ring true to my ears.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:36:39 GMT

bandit wrote:

JamesA wrote:Skis ah the great quandary....

Forth - a mitigating fact is the width in ski design. Wider skis which have less shape (side cut) will not carve a turn on harder snow they ski a straighter line. The arc of the side cut will determine turn radius.

Hmmmm, when I learned to ski :mrgreen: straight skis with very little sidecut carved quite nicely on hard snow.

Perhaps those of us skiing in Europe, learn to carve turns without relying on the turn radius?

There's what people used to call carving and then there is actually carving. A lot of people still don't seem to know the difference. Very few people can carve reasonably tight turns on skis with sidecuts over 21M yet alone the 35M plus sidecuts of years go. You must be one of those few bandit.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:54:04 GMT

Trencher wrote:

bandit wrote:

JamesA wrote:Skis ah the great quandary....

Forth - a mitigating fact is the width in ski design. Wider skis which have less shape (side cut) will not carve a turn on harder snow they ski a straighter line. The arc of the side cut will determine turn radius.

Hmmmm, when I learned to ski :mrgreen: straight skis with very little sidecut carved quite nicely on hard snow.

Perhaps those of us skiing in Europe, learn to carve turns without relying on the turn radius?

There's what people used to call carving and then there is actually carving. A lot of people still don't seem to know the difference. Very few people can carve reasonably tight turns on skis with sidecuts over 21M yet alone the 35M plus sidecuts of years go :roll:

Trencher

Well this fella obviously can't hack it then, back in 1994. Do you want to tell him, given his reputation )

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/1224631/getty-images-sport

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:56:41 GMT

Pah, never heard of him :wink:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 21:00:55 GMT

bandit wrote:
Well this fella obviously can't hack it then, back in 1994. Do you want to tell him, given his reputation )

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/1224631/getty-images-sport

Judge for yourself

old skis gs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ZqE4y33w4&feature=related

new skis gs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNIiCOesUEo

old skis sl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InqI87Ysp_0&feature=related (Watch slomo @ 4.00 min)

new skis sl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW4r27teE9E&feature=related

This is racing and not what people were/are doing free skiing where the difference is very much more pronounced.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 23:32:37 GMT

Trencher wrote:There's what people used to call carving and then there is actually carving. A lot of people still don't seem to know the difference. Very few people can carve reasonably tight turns on skis with sidecuts over 21M yet alone the 35M plus sidecuts of years go. You must be one of those few bandit.

A ski with a sidecut can be made to carve.

Twenty years ago the ability to carve was a real milestone in the development of a skier - and it took effort, patience and (almost invariably) instruction to achieve. But it certainly wasn't impossible.

Just because carving comes in the box with the skis nowadays doesn't mean it didn't happen back then... 8)

As a "graduate" of the same ski school as bandit, I can tell you that there were plenty of European skiers on top of their carves.

Set yourself a challenge Mr T - grab some skinnies off eBay (an old style SL ski will make it easier) and commit some time to them. Might take some effort... :wink: ...but they'll carve. Judge for yourself. 8)

I'm all misty-eyed with memories of my first linked carves; riding Dynastar Courses (GS or SL) at something approaching light-speed down the Mont Blanc (Blue) run in Arc 1600/1800, strung out behind crazy Phil... happy days...

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 04:55:24 GMT

Admin wrote:

Twenty years ago the ability to carve was a real milestone in the development of a skier - and it took effort, patience and (almost invariably) instruction to achieve. But it certainly wasn't impossible.

So here's a friendly challenge. Show me some twenty year old pictures (or video) of skiers carving clean turns (that are not 100M long). I'm willing to believe it if I see it )

I think much depends on how you define a carved turn. The modern term means no skidding at all. That did not happen on twenty year old, nearly straight skis. Now I know racers in DH are carving on 45M radius skis, but I don't know many people who want to ski at 100kph plus, making one turn every football pitch.

Admin wrote:
Set yourself a challenge Mr T - grab some skinnies off eBay (an old style SL ski will make it easier) and commit some time to them. Might take some effort... :wink: ...but they'll carve. Judge for yourself. 8)

Did you see the first of the sl videos I posted above. If La Bomba can't get those skis to carve cleanly, there's little hope for me :lol:
What I am looking at in those videos are the skis. when a ski is carving, it is bent to the arc of the turn. Even in the longer turns that look carved, it is possible to see the whole rear half of the ski is straight mid turn. If half the ski is straight, it can not be carving cleanly. Even allowing that racing is different to free skiing and some drift of the skis maybe desirable at times on a course,it's hard to see what could be called a cleanly carved turn. Just because there is extreme angulation and inclination of the skis, the skis still may not be carving. In the other sl video on modern skis, it is possible to see cleanly carved turns. That's not a comment on the skiers, just the equipment.

The OP talked about an all round ski and carving. Carving is part of all round and it would be silly to try to learn to carve on skis that require an experts skills to carve.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:33:35 GMT

Trencher wrote:
The OP talked about an all round ski and carving. Carving is part of all round and it would be silly to try to learn to carve on skis that require an experts skills to carve.

I see that the OP suggested wanting a freeride ski. This would be some way from your definition of a carver. To me, their query suggests wanting a ski suitable for all kinds of skiing on all terrain.

The ability to carve a turn is part of skiing, along with sideslip and traversing. Unless the OP wants to stay on groomed slopes, a ski specifically for carving might be a bit limiting.

I would be bored too, but that's my problem )

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:38:56 GMT

Here we go I am going to have my two pennies worth, I would think straight skis should be able to carve as it not just down to the ski but the skill of the skier, the side cut on skis today just surly take carving to the next level. :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:54:05 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:Here we go I am going to have my two pennies worth, I would think straight skis should be able to carve as it not just down to the ski but the skill of the skier, the side cut on skis today just surly take carving to the next level. :D

Ian, have you ever really seen a skier on on old skinny skis actually carving ?

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:17:10 GMT

Trencher, I dunno about Ian, but I have seen hundreds of skiers laying rails on skinnies over the years. Some of them, I have had the honour of chasing as a student :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:34:19 GMT

bandit wrote:Trencher, I dunno about Ian, but I have seen hundreds of skiers laying rails on skinnies over the years. Some of them, I have had the honour of chasing as a student :D

Show me a photo please. I want to see it.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:37:32 GMT

Trencher wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:Here we go I am going to have my two pennies worth, I would think straight skis should be able to carve as it not just down to the ski but the skill of the skier, the side cut on skis today just surly take carving to the next level. :D

Ian, have you ever really seen a skier on on old skinny skis actually carving ?

Trencher

Sorry Trencher, I have to agree with El bandido, I have seen skiers carving on straights and still do, the straights can't do what the carvers can but they can still carve. 8)

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:33:39 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:
Sorry Trencher, I have to agree with El bandido, I have seen skiers carving on straights and still do, the straights can't do what the carvers can but they can still carve. 8)

Ditto, I can't see what the problem is, it's simply a question of whether you can flex the ski. Without much flex the arc would be huge and slightly impractical but with enough pressure you could shorten that.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:47:33 GMT

Trencher wrote:

There's what people used to call carving and then there is actually carving. A lot of people still don't seem to know the difference. Very few people can carve reasonably tight turns on skis with sidecuts over 21M yet alone the 35M plus sidecuts of years go. You must be one of those few bandit.

Trencher

The definition of a carved turn as I have always understood it is where every single point along the edge of the ski passes through a single point in the snow.
With the required technique this can be done on any ski that has the slightest 'shape' . Straight skis, as you call them, were not completely straight.
The turn radius will vary depending on the ski but a carve is not defined by the radius of the turn.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:47:50 GMT

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:
Sorry Trencher, I have to agree with El bandido, I have seen skiers carving on straights and still do, the straights can't do what the carvers can but they can still carve. 8)

Ditto, I can't see what the problem is, it's simply a question of whether you can flex the ski. Without much flex the arc would be huge and slightly impractical but with enough pressure you could shorten that.

Strange that all these people who carved for years on straight skis, don't have a single photo to show for it and was there no film taken of this common feat of skiing ?

I can see it now, on this weeks "mysteries of the world" documentary, the Yeti, the Loch Ness monster and carving on old school skis :lol:

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:59:39 GMT

Trencher wrote:

Strange that all these people who carved for years on straight skis, don't have a single photo to show for it and was there no film taken of this common feat of skiing ?

I can see it now, on this weeks "mysteries of the world" documentary, the Yeti, the Loch Ness monster and carving on old school skis :lol:

Trencher

I think that you have a very narrow view of what carving is, Trencher.
Nothing wrong with that, but it results in people disagreeing with you )
In my opinion, carving is what the ski does, not what the skier does. There are many ways to get the ski to carve (body position wise) and many ways to balance on the ski while it carves.
So if someones body shape/position doesn't conform to what you see as carving then its not carving :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:18:16 GMT

Trencher wrote:

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:
Sorry Trencher, I have to agree with El bandido, I have seen skiers carving on straights and still do, the straights can't do what the carvers can but they can still carve. 8)

Ditto, I can't see what the problem is, it's simply a question of whether you can flex the ski. Without much flex the arc would be huge and slightly impractical but with enough pressure you could shorten that.

Strange that all these people who carved for years on straight skis, don't have a single photo to show for it and was there no film taken of this common feat of skiing ?

I can see it now, on this weeks "mysteries of the world" documentary, the Yeti, the Loch Ness monster and carving on old school skis :lol:

Trencher

It's the days before Youtube and digital cameras, there's no doubt material but I can't be bothered to hunt around for something just because you demand it because it won't make a blind bit of difference to you. People could and did carve with older skis, it's a fact as you know, so I don't even understand why we're supposed to be providing proof unless you're really saying it's impossible?

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:23:15 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtB5SW7HYyY&feature=related

Try telling Kaiser he is not carving...

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:29:44 GMT

Neiltoo wrote:

I think that you have a very narrow view of what carving is, Trencher.
Nothing wrong with that, but it results in people disagreeing with you )
In my opinion, carving is what the ski does, not what the skier does. There are many ways to get the ski to carve (body position wise) and many ways to balance on the ski while it carves.
So if someones body shape/position doesn't conform to what you see as carving then its not carving :D

I actually made reference to that above when I said " Just because there is extreme angulation and inclination of the skis, the skis still may not be carving." refering to the pictures and video of the stright skis in use by experts. I totally agree with you Neil, carving is about how the ski cuts an arc through the snow. The critical part of this is that no part of the ski should be skidding. If it is, then energy is being lost and ski is not carving cleanly.

So yes I do think there is a difference in definition here. It is because what was accepted as a carved turn on old school skis, no longer meets the standard commonly achieved and that is a clean, no skid at all turn.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:37:52 GMT

RossF wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtB5SW7HYyY&feature=related

Try telling Kaiser he is not carving...

My all time hero, no not you Ross I mean Franz :mrgreen:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:46:33 GMT

It would be perfectly understandable either way but thank you for being clear :wink:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 17:58:08 GMT

RossF wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtB5SW7HYyY&feature=related

Try telling Kaiser he is not carving...

The guy is a skiing god, but compare that to a modern DH where they do carve. A better view of what his skis were doing here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9GG02RvV0Y&feature=related Slomo the turns between 30 and 40 secs.

I said befor that DH is so far removed from everyday skiing as to be irrelevent. Do you know anyone who skis over 140 kph off a closed DH race course ?

What I would really like to see is a non racer carving on old skis. It's hard to believe that if this was possible by most expert skiers, there is no visual record of it.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:11:29 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Othp2ignRrU&feature=related

As required. I think the answer may lie in the definition of the word carving and clarity may be made of each others posts through different definitions of the word 'carving' as seen by each poster.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:19:34 GMT

ise wrote:

It's the days before Youtube and digital cameras, there's no doubt material but I can't be bothered to hunt around for something just because you demand it because it won't make a blind bit of difference to you. People could and did carve with older skis, it's a fact as you know, so I don't even understand why we're supposed to be providing proof unless you're really saying it's impossible?

Ok, I'm saying it's impossible to carve linked, clean, no skid at all turns on skinny skis with 6/7mm sidecuts without making each turn the length of a football pitch or so shallow as to be hardly a turn at all.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:29:08 GMT

OK, I see, that's much simpler. In fact your idea of what sidecuts were is incorrect as well, late 80's or so side-cuts of skis would be over 10mm anyway. You might also read the Mark Elling book who talks about carving on slightly older skis.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:38:22 GMT

RossF wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Othp2ignRrU&feature=related

As required. I think the answer may lie in the definition of the word carving and clarity may be made of each others posts through different definitions of the word 'carving' as seen by each poster.

If part of the ski is skidding, is it a carved turn, a partially carved turn or an old school carved turn ? The term is fixed by current usage and today that means no element of skidding by any part of the ski or at any point in the turn or between the turns. If people talked about "what we used to call carving" or old school carving, it would differentiate the term from the current usage.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 18:39:45 GMT

Whose current use age is that? If the term was fixed for everyone, would this discussion even exist?

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:05:00 GMT

RossF wrote:Whose current use age is that? If the term was fixed for everyone, would this discussion even exist?

If someone offered to lend you their powder skis and you met at the mountain to find that what they meant by powder skis was some 220cm by 66mm skis, you would wonder where they had been recently.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 19:07:52 GMT

Epicski? :wink:

Clearly peoples definition is different enough to cause a discussion.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:57:15 GMT

RossF wrote:Epicski? :wink:

Clearly peoples definition is different enough to cause a discussion.

Which begs the question, what definition do they use to determine if they can carve ? )

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:19:43 GMT

It does sort of follow that if you can choose which bit of a particular turn to carve then you could carve the whole turn (space permitting) if you desired.

Deciding to let your tails break out at the end of the turn (on purpose) isn't the same as not being able to carve.

Carving is a technique, sometimes useful, sometimes not ... it is not a whole new way of skiing.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:35:59 GMT

bandit wrote:

Hmmmm, when I learned to ski :mrgreen: straight skis with very little sidecut carved quite nicely on hard snow.

Perhaps those of us skiing in Europe, learn to carve turns without relying on the turn radius?

Bandit, I think those of us who used to carve on straight skis will just have to accept that we imagined it all, that we didn't really use them in powder, perhaps we never used straight skis at all and that multi coloured Nevica jacket I had was just a dream )

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:38:41 GMT

Re:What skis are right for me?

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 23:38:49 GMT

Neiltoo wrote:It does sort of follow that if you can choose which bit of a particular turn to carve then you could carve the whole turn (space permitting) if you desired.

Deciding to let your tails break out at the end of the turn (on purpose) isn't the same as not being able to carve.

Carving is a technique, sometimes useful, sometimes not ... it is not a whole new way of skiing.

I really don't mean to be offensive, but that is exactly what most people who don't carve very well say.

No one decides to let their tails break out turn after turn unless they either can't carve a full turn or can't control their speed without skidding. Why would you skid parts of turns when you can carve cleanly ?
I know there are a lot of people out there who won't use a small radius ski because they can't carve and would then have no excuse.

Most skiers I have ever met will carve at every opportunity if they can. It is so much more fun than the alternatives.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 00:27:59 GMT

Trencher wrote:

I really don't mean to be offensive, but that is exactly what most people who don't carve very well say.

Well, in that case I'm not offended )

Everything you say about carving seems to be about skiing on nicely groomed runs - Skiing groomed runs is (or was) a small part of skiing for me.

I adapt my technique to the terrain and the conditions, if I coudn't switch from a carved turn to a skidded turn to a mixture of both when needed then I would have died in some of the couloirs I skied.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 02:52:53 GMT

Yes, I talk about carving as a discipline, just as one might talk about racing, powder or touring. Carving is no longer just a type of turn, but a specialisation of skiing and snowboarding with many types of turn and techniques. The common theme which distinguishes carving from other types of skiing is that there is no skidding. The ultimate aims are to carve as varied terrain as possible, to use the features to become inverted on a berm or make airbourne transitions, taking off on one edge and landing on the other with no skid, or simply to push the limits of the equipment and make as tight a turn as possible, always with no skidding. The techniques vary with conditions and equipment. The turn techniques that a carver does blend involve different ways to apply pressure and weighting including rotary movements that change the pressure along the ski edges. Much of the speed control comes not from the turns, but techniques that forces the edges to bite deeper, dissipating energy without skidding.

Of course, you can't carve the whole mountain. Most carvers I know, switch to different equipment when there is powder. When there is no powder, they are making the most of the terrain they have, groomed runs. If you are not good at carving (or learning to be good at it), I can see that groomed runs would be boring and why if you can pick epic days in the mountains would you want to stick to groomers. The reality is that often the rest of the ski area is skied out **** and carving on groomers or heading very off piste are the only options.

So yes , I do laugh when people who can leave some shallow lines from shallow turns, never getting beyond that, dismiss carving as just a type of turn that is not special now that anyone can do it on modern skis, because I know they have limited understanding of carving. Just because a skier isn't an expert carver, does not make them less of an expert at skiing on other terain.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:40:34 GMT

Neiltoo wrote:

Trencher wrote:

I really don't mean to be offensive, but that is exactly what most people who don't carve very well say.

Well, in that case I'm not offended )

Everything you say about carving seems to be about skiing on nicely groomed runs - Skiing groomed runs is (or was) a small part of skiing for me.

I adapt my technique to the terrain and the conditions, if I coundn't switch from a carved turn to a skidded turn to a mixture of both when needed then I would have died in some of the couloirs I skied.

I understand that's called skiing :lol: sounds like fun ...

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:13:11 GMT

I`m no expert but i can remember being able to carve on my old skinnies
Blizzard Sprint 190`s,I found them a bit on the heavy side not like todays ski`s but quite flexable.

Trencher sorry to have to disagree but Bode Miller is a bad example IMO, He`s such a scrappy skier,Sure he gets the results and thats what counts,
But he sure aint pretty to watch.

Trencher you can have the skinnies for the postage but you will probably
get a pair cheaper off ebay.

AJ Adele

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:57:22 GMT

I guess I'm just going to have to accept that you can skid carved turns and still call it carving. Any other terms we can water down.

Off piste - skiing the powder at the edge of the groomed run

tree skiing - a few trees at the side of the piste

touring - taking a rucksack with your sandwiches and a hankie in it

mogul skiing - skiing through the 10cm piles after a soft snow day on a
groomed run

Wow, I can redefine myself as an all mountain skier now :lol:

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:31:38 GMT

Trencher wrote:I guess I'm just going to have to accept that you can skid carved turns and still call it carving. Any other terms we can water down.

Off piste - skiing the powder at the edge of the groomed run

tree skiing - a few trees at the side of the piste

touring - taking a rucksack with your sandwiches and a hankie in it

mogul skiing - skiing through the 10cm piles after a soft snow day on a
groomed run

Wow, I can redefine myself as an all mountain skier now :lol:

Trencher

Oh dear.....

I'm getting the feeling that you've not really done any of the above disciplines.

Which is fine, the mountains are big places and there is room for all :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:49:32 GMT

Trencher wrote:
Wow, I can redefine myself as an all mountain skier now :lol:

not without proving it, have you got some video? Or is that a one way street?

You seem to think you're the only who can carve or who even knows what it is which is getting a bit old really.

What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:53:15 GMT

Tapps wrote:Hi all and happy new year,

I am looking into to buying myself some skis (having just renting them in the past) and im not to sure which type is right for me.
im probably looking for a freeride ski however i am confused about what length to get, could anyone tell me what advantages a shorter ski brings, or if i should just get the lenght to my weight ratio?
my 'performance level' (found a chart on internet) is around 7 or 8 out of 10 so i would be looking for somthing that would be suitible to build and help imporve my technique.
i found a 125cm salomon blade/ski, again what advantages would a ski this short bring?
will be thankfull for any suggestions!

Well Tapps, I hope we have resolved your question :wink:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:54:24 GMT

Bet you wish you'd never asked :lol:

What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:55:51 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:
Well Tapps, I hope we have resolved your question :wink:

:lol:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:08:45 GMT

bandit wrote:

JamesA wrote:Skis ah the great quandary....

Forth - a mitigating fact is the width in ski design. Wider skis which have less shape (side cut) will not carve a turn on harder snow they ski a straighter line. The arc of the side cut will determine turn radius.

Hmmmm, when I learned to ski :mrgreen: straight skis with very little sidecut carved quite nicely on hard snow.

Perhaps those of us skiing in Europe, learn to carve turns without relying on the turn radius?

I wasn't the one to bring carving up in this thread

ise wrote:

Trencher wrote:
Wow, I can redefine myself as an all mountain skier now :lol:

not without proving it, have you got some video? Or is that a one way street?

You seem to think you're the only who can carve or who even knows what it is which is getting a bit old really.

I know what I'm good at and what I am not. It obviousely touches a nerve with people who claim to be able to carve but display little understanding of what this aspect of the sport has developed into or the current techniques used.

Trencher

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:50:19 GMT

Trencher wrote:

I know what I'm good at and what I am not. It obviousely touches a nerve with people who claim to be able to carve but display little understanding of what this aspect of the sport has developed into or the current techniques used.

Trencher

you prevail a bit too much on other peoples good nature, I watched your video.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:14:38 GMT

Well ive found out abit more about what ski i should be buying.
But if theres one thing i can take away from all this, it is great confusion! :D :shock:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:38:10 GMT

Tapps wrote:Well ive found out abit more about what ski i should be buying.
But if theres one thing i can take away from all this, it is great confusion! :D :shock:

Sorry Tapps we do tend to drift off the thread sometimes, but you have caused a heated discussion so well done,
check this link I often buy skis from these people give them a try.

http://www.skiwear4less.com/acatalog/Blizzard_Firebird_X03.html

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 18:38:31 GMT

HeHe :D thanks alot

i actully found the discussion quite interesting and your right it did get quite heated at times! :)

Great site by the way i was wondering if you could tell me anything more about this http://www.skiwear4less.com/acatalog/Blizzard_CMX_10_IQ.html (what do you think?) as it seems to fit what im looking for - an all mountian ski which will also be good to improve my carving.

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:21:58 GMT

Tapps wrote:HeHe :D thanks alot

i actully found the discussion quite interesting and your right it did get quite heated at times! :)

Great site by the way i was wondering if you could tell me anything more about this http://www.skiwear4less.com/acatalog/Blizzard_CMX_10_IQ.html (what do you think?) as it seems to fit what im looking for - an all mountian ski which will also be good to improve my carving.

Just depends on your ability 8)

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:45:09 GMT

intermediate/advanced

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:11:33 GMT

Tapps wrote:intermediate/advanced

I actually quite like these 8)

http://www.skiwear4less.com/acatalog/Blizzard_Firebird_X06_IQ.html

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:13:25 GMT

Tapps wrote:intermediate/advanced

How many weeks have you spent on skis? How fit are you?

How do you rate on the Snow & Rock Ability Levels?

(Yes I know it turns most folks into die hard, cliff jumping freeriders, but it's just a yardstick)
)

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:16:35 GMT

How long and fat is this yard stick you speak of?

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:20:13 GMT

RossF wrote:How long and fat is this yard stick you speak of?

I saw 6" mentioned on another thread just now :D

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:33:22 GMT

Bandit, i have had about 14/15 weeks of skiing
i am quite fit as play alot of sport
and from my snow and rock catalouge, rate myself at 7 8)

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 20:41:48 GMT

Tapps wrote:Bandit, i have had about 14/15 weeks of skiing
i am quite fit as play alot of sport
and from my snow and rock catalouge, rate myself at 7 8)

I don't think you've got the hang of internet skiing yet :lol: You need to either say you're a 9 or 10 otherwise say you're a 2 or 3 in a knowing, ironic, self deprecating way that's designed to suggest you're really an 11 :lol:

Re:What skis are right for me?

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 22:55:15 GMT

ise wrote:

I don't think you've got the hang of internet skiing yet :lol: You need to either say you're a 9 or 10 otherwise say you're a 2 or 3 in a knowing, ironic, self deprecating way that's designed to suggest you're really an 11 :lol:

:lol: :lol: :thumbup: