[billski]

I got religion. I will do so from now on.

I never used to, I used to take the rep's advice. After 30 years, I finally smartened up. I used to be cheap; why should I spend money when I've already got sunk cost into an existing pair. I spent all last season demoing. Even within a skill set group of skis there is tremendous variability. Some of the skis the reps said I would love I just thought were so-so.

The frustrating part about buying skis is that they deliberately never "mature" the business or technology. So, everytime I want to buy, I cannot rely on the knowledge I learned last time. It's always different, there is always a new gimmick or technology. At least boots have stabilized. You can't even be brand-loyal and expect equivalent skis.

When you're plunking hundreds down, for me, with a limited budget, it's a marriage for the next several years to come. I can't afford to be cavallier about it.

While I consider myself a pretty advanced skier, I am somewhat existential when it comes to the equipment. I just want it to work. After I buy it, I forget about what's inside the ski. I just want to have fun. The older I get, the less interested I am in the details, and it's getting to be a pain in the *** to re-learn technology each time. I can't say "give me a new pair just like these" So the only way I can judge is to demo.

The downside to demos is that there is only a limited set of skis to choose from. Not that I have an unlimited amount of time anyways, but it's like the choice is already narrowed down before I get there.

I don't know, it's like shoes, I would never buy a pair without trying them on first. But the shoe salesman never charges me for trying them on and then saying "no thanks."