New England & Northeast Ski Forums - AlpineZone Forums - View Single Post - Commentary: A Reflection on Fifteen Years of Skiing

Sky · Apr 25, 2005, 10:06 AM

Great story TB...nicely done.

I chaperoned when my kids were in the town program (Sunday afternoons @ Wachusett).

I was a hack skier at the time. I had learned as an adult in Italy. We could rent boots/skis/poles for $2!! Pick up stuff on Wed after lunch, ski Thursday, turn it in before lunch Friday. What a bargain! And they had boots to fit me!! (size 14 shoe).

Bought gear while I was there back in 79. Salomon 555 bindings. Ski-Stoppers were "new" (vs those awful straps *shudder*). Kneisell Skis (210's). Had to go to Belluno to buy boots from the factory. No one carried my size locally.

I kept that gear for years. Never used it after we left Italy (lived in Kentucky for five years). Hauled that gear around from place to place.

Started using it again in 90 when the #2 son decided to join the local ski club. Finally dumped those skis for some Kastle's I bought from Ocean State Job Lot (hey...$40!!) They were a quantum leap from the Kniesells. Then I bought a pair of new boots (Alpina's) from Strands. They got a good laugh @ my old Nordicas!...they gave me $25 for the turn in!!

Then I bought a pair of Salomon CUT's (184) from a friend @ work. Nice Salomon bindings!! Never knew what chatter was till I got onto these things! Later that season, I demo-ed the Atomic Beta Ride 8.20's (190). Rock frickin solid compared to the Salomons!!

I rode those for the past four years, took lessons, worked at the sport to get beyond the bad habits I had learned.

This year I bought brand new boots again. WOW! Those old Alpina's were packed out!! Didn't realize it till I put them back on after trying on those Dalbello V-10's!! Strands gave me $50 for the trade in! Those Dalbellos worked out well this year! I had tons of peaople comment on them! Techs asked how I liked them. Other folks who had bought them talked about how much they liked them. It must be a cult!

Then, at the end of the season...Wachusett made me an offer on the Volkl Supersport Superspeeds (I had demo-ed earlier). A far cry from those $40 Kastle's!!

It has been a long and interesting trip indeed.

Apr 25, 2005, 10:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sky Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Central Massachusetts Posts: 912	Chaperone/used gear Great story TB...nicely done. I chaperoned when my kids were in the town program (Sunday afternoons @ Wachusett). I was a hack skier at the time. I had learned as an adult in Italy. We could rent boots/skis/poles for $2!! Pick up stuff on Wed after lunch, ski Thursday, turn it in before lunch Friday. What a bargain! And they had boots to fit me!! (size 14 shoe). Bought gear while I was there back in 79. Salomon 555 bindings. Ski-Stoppers were "new" (vs those awful straps shudder). Kneisell Skis (210's). Had to go to Belluno to buy boots from the factory. No one carried my size locally. I kept that gear for years. Never used it after we left Italy (lived in Kentucky for five years). Hauled that gear around from place to place. Started using it again in 90 when the #2 son decided to join the local ski club. Finally dumped those skis for some Kastle's I bought from Ocean State Job Lot (hey...$40!!) They were a quantum leap from the Kniesells. Then I bought a pair of new boots (Alpina's) from Strands. They got a good laugh @ my old Nordicas!...they gave me $25 for the turn in!! Then I bought a pair of Salomon CUT's (184) from a friend @ work. Nice Salomon bindings!! Never knew what chatter was till I got onto these things! Later that season, I demo-ed the Atomic Beta Ride 8.20's (190). Rock frickin solid compared to the Salomons!! I rode those for the past four years, took lessons, worked at the sport to get beyond the bad habits I had learned. This year I bought brand new boots again. WOW! Those old Alpina's were packed out!! Didn't realize it till I put them back on after trying on those Dalbello V-10's!! Strands gave me $50 for the trade in! Those Dalbellos worked out well this year! I had tons of peaople comment on them! Techs asked how I liked them. Other folks who had bought them talked about how much they liked them. It must be a cult! Then, at the end of the season...Wachusett made me an offer on the Volkl Supersport Superspeeds (I had demo-ed earlier). A far cry from those $40 Kastle's!! It has been a long and interesting trip indeed.