Need advice on skis

mckay · Dec 10, 2006, 12:03 PM

I just started skiing last year and I love it. Went about 20 times. Last year I bought a pair of Atomic Izor 5:3. This ski is available in 4 stifness levels, mine are the second from the bottom. They are intended to be used by beginner/intermediate skiers.

I would say I have become an intermediate skier. I ski any blues and some blacks and I can carve turns. However, whenever I am on a steeper trail I can't get the skies to carve. I do a lot of skidding. Is this because I'm still not a very good skier, or is it because the skies aren't stiff enough for me, or some combination of the two? Or is it because I weigh 190 lbs.?

I'm thinking I'll try out some stiffer skies on a demo day somewhere, but 'til then, does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks.

riverc0il · Dec 10, 2006, 1:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckay

I would say I have become an intermediate skier. I ski any blues and some blacks and I can carve turns. However, whenever I am on a steeper trail I can't get the skies to carve. I do a lot of skidding. Is this because I'm still not a very good skier, or is it because the skies aren't stiff enough for me, or some combination of the two? Or is it because I weigh 190 lbs.?

that is really an impossible question to evaluate without seeing you in action to see if your technique has surpassed your ski's ability. if you have only been skiing for one year, i suspect lessons would substantially help your carving ability on the steeps. various intermediate skis are not going to differ too much regardless of flex. probably better to put that money towards developing better technique than a minor upgrade in equipment.

mckay · Dec 10, 2006, 6:25 PM

Thanks Steve, that sounds like good advice.

bigbog · Dec 10, 2006, 10:03 PM

Hi mckay,
Agreed..with rivercOil...video is best...
My $.01(with my normal rambling..sorry)...when your ski tails are "washing out"/pivoting-around...you haven't been pressuring the entire/most-of-the length of the ski enough by your upper body = probable pivoting or banking of your hips/shoulders away from your outside(downhill) edge.
Keeping the edges sharp helps a lot as well....

andyzee · Dec 10, 2006, 11:24 PM

As Riverc0il said, it's hard to tell with out seeing you ski. At the same time, skis do make a big difference. Don't tell him I said so, but bvibert did a great job of compiling a list of Demo Days at different resorts 2006/2007 Demo Days List . I would suggest that if possible, you take advantage of some of these and try different skis. I would plan ahead and do some research. As an example Killington is have a Salomon demo day in December. I would research Salomon skis and try to determine which may fit my style best and then demo those ski. Also, if you go to a demo day event, talk to the people working it, they are usually pretty knowledgeable and may be able to make some good recommendations.

YardSaleDad · Dec 10, 2006, 11:35 PM

I'll wager it's not the skis. Have you had your boots, fitted yet?

mckay · Dec 11, 2006, 12:15 AM

I went to a bootfitter last year and my boots fit great. My heel is snug right in there, my toes are right up against the end when I stand up straight, and they are so comfortable I don't need to unbuckle when I'm in the lodge. I couldn't be happier with the boots. I think the boots are a 60 or 70 stiffness Solomon. Also, I just had my skis tuned. I paid for a mid-level tune. $45. I don't think sharpness is the problem.

I have no doubt at all that I've got lots of technical problems with my skiing that an good instructor could help me out with, but no one has answered my question about weight. Does a heavier skier need a stiffer ski, even if they aren't all that good of a skier? It seems like that would make sense.

riverc0il · Dec 11, 2006, 7:11 AM

Quote:

Does a heavier skier need a stiffer ski, even if they aren't all that good of a skier? It seems like that would make sense.

not necessarily. for example, if i wanted to rip groomers all day, i probably would go with something like a volkl s5 or S6 which are rather stiff skis. i used to ski on stiffer skis than what i ski on now, which are relatively soft compared to what i used to ski on since i primarily ski powder and trees. weight may be a factor, but how you use a ski and your technique are more important drivers of stiffness, imo. i don't really think i noticed the differences between skis when i was just learning.

SKIQUATTRO · Dec 11, 2006, 8:55 AM

like it was said before, thats a very hard question to answer without seeing you ski...weight has very little to do with it...as you are a beginner i'd suspect that you are getting your weight back on the steeper stuff rather than keeping your shoulder square with the grade of the terrain...put the money towards some good private instruction, i really doubt its your skis

ajl50 · Dec 11, 2006, 10:38 AM

I agree with the rest of the people on the board- It's not the skis. If you feel yourself skidding and not carving on a steeper trail it's going to be a technique thing. Take a lesson. If you love skiing it will pay-off huge dividends. Your problem prob. lies in sitting too far back on a steeper trail - it's a natural reaction. Focus on leaning forward, keeping your hands in front of you and engaging the tips of the skis. I think about driving the ski with front wheel drive and it keeps me turning from the tips.

Dec 10, 2006, 12:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
mckay Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 94	Need advice on skis I just started skiing last year and I love it. Went about 20 times. Last year I bought a pair of Atomic Izor 5:3. This ski is available in 4 stifness levels, mine are the second from the bottom. They are intended to be used by beginner/intermediate skiers. I would say I have become an intermediate skier. I ski any blues and some blacks and I can carve turns. However, whenever I am on a steeper trail I can't get the skies to carve. I do a lot of skidding. Is this because I'm still not a very good skier, or is it because the skies aren't stiff enough for me, or some combination of the two? Or is it because I weigh 190 lbs.? I'm thinking I'll try out some stiffer skies on a demo day somewhere, but 'til then, does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks.

Dec 10, 2006, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigbog more Katahdin in 09'...I HoPe Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: maine Posts: 1,303	...it's usually the driver..... Hi mckay, Agreed..with rivercOil...video is best... My $.01(with my normal rambling..sorry)...when your ski tails are "washing out"/pivoting-around...you haven't been pressuring the entire/most-of-the length of the ski enough by your upper body = probable pivoting or banking of your hips/shoulders away from your outside(downhill) edge. Keeping the edges sharp helps a lot as well.... Last edited by bigbog; Dec 10, 2006 at 10:46 PM.

Dec 11, 2006, 8:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
SKIQUATTRO Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LI, NY Posts: 1,612	like it was said before, thats a very hard question to answer without seeing you ski...weight has very little to do with it...as you are a beginner i'd suspect that you are getting your weight back on the steeper stuff rather than keeping your shoulder square with the grade of the terrain...put the money towards some good private instruction, i really doubt its your skis __________________ updownupdownupdownupdown

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Dec 10, 2006, 6:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
mckay Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 94	Thanks Steve, that sounds like good advice.

Dec 10, 2006, 11:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
andyzee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Home Posts: 8,234	As Riverc0il said, it's hard to tell with out seeing you ski. At the same time, skis do make a big difference. Don't tell him I said so, but bvibert did a great job of compiling a list of Demo Days at different resorts 2006/2007 Demo Days List . I would suggest that if possible, you take advantage of some of these and try different skis. I would plan ahead and do some research. As an example Killington is have a Salomon demo day in December. I would research Salomon skis and try to determine which may fit my style best and then demo those ski. Also, if you go to a demo day event, talk to the people working it, they are usually pretty knowledgeable and may be able to make some good recommendations.

Dec 10, 2006, 11:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
YardSaleDad Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cold Spring, NY Posts: 586	I'll wager it's not the skis. Have you had your boots, fitted yet?

Dec 11, 2006, 12:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
mckay Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 94	I went to a bootfitter last year and my boots fit great. My heel is snug right in there, my toes are right up against the end when I stand up straight, and they are so comfortable I don't need to unbuckle when I'm in the lodge. I couldn't be happier with the boots. I think the boots are a 60 or 70 stiffness Solomon. Also, I just had my skis tuned. I paid for a mid-level tune. $45. I don't think sharpness is the problem. I have no doubt at all that I've got lots of technical problems with my skiing that an good instructor could help me out with, but no one has answered my question about weight. Does a heavier skier need a stiffer ski, even if they aren't all that good of a skier? It seems like that would make sense.

Dec 11, 2006, 10:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
ajl50 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: philly Posts: 702	I agree with the rest of the people on the board- It's not the skis. If you feel yourself skidding and not carving on a steeper trail it's going to be a technique thing. Take a lesson. If you love skiing it will pay-off huge dividends. Your problem prob. lies in sitting too far back on a steeper trail - it's a natural reaction. Focus on leaning forward, keeping your hands in front of you and engaging the tips of the skis. I think about driving the ski with front wheel drive and it keeps me turning from the tips.