• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Boarder thinking about skiing

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
knuckledragger said:
some might have asked the same question of you when you tried boarding :lol:

four stars are probably a bit too much ski for a first timer, i would guess. but if you are just trying it out, it might be a cheap way to give it a shot without much commitment. i would recommend a beginner package from a ski area rental shop for your first time out. get them packaged with the lessons. a lot of places offer great deals for first timers, or at least offer good deals on future visits after you pay your dues.
 

knuckledragger

New member
Joined
Apr 11, 2006
Messages
128
Points
0
Location
Starksboro VT
I will admit that in the backcountry I have been tempted by tele- skiers. The whole idea of skinning up and just pulling the skiins off and skiing down, much better and fast and lighter than snoeshoeing up and riding down.
 

Greg

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 1, 2001
Messages
31,154
Points
0
riverc0il said:
four stars are probably a bit too much ski for a first timer, i would guess. but if you are just trying it out, it might be a cheap way to give it a shot without much commitment. i would recommend a beginner package from a ski area rental shop for your first time out. get them packaged with the lessons. a lot of places offer great deals for first timers, or at least offer good deals on future visits after you pay your dues.
I don't know. For a guy his size, the 4 stars may be okay to "grow into"...

Maybe try rentals the first few times out to see if you even like it at all. After a few outings, the 4 stars will probably be fine.
 

AdironRider

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
3,736
Points
83
Just shapen those edges man! Haha

Im all for trying new things, but it takes a while to become proficient at something new like that. Think how long it took to take up snowboarding, and then add a bit as its completly different from skiing.
 

bigbog

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2004
Messages
4,882
Points
38
Location
Bangor and the state's woodlands
.......

Great news!...once you acquire some skills, you'll love the additional independence that your other leg/foot/boot/ski brings...:cool:
Good advice from previous msgs...don't get a ski too advanced at this stage...
Get the right boots and you'll really enjoy it....

riverc0il said:
splitboard it!
...:lol:
 
Last edited:

SkiDog

New member
Joined
May 25, 2005
Messages
1,620
Points
0
Location
Sandy UTAH
bigbog said:
Great news!...once you acquire some skills, you'll love the additional independence that your other leg/foot/boot/ski brings...:cool:
Good advice from previous msgs...don't get a ski too advanced at this stage...
Get the right boots and you'll really enjoy it....

...:lol:

RIGHT BOOTS ARE KEY...SPARE NO EXPENSE HERE....nothing worse than hurting feet or cold ones while skiing...

M
 

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
Greg said:
Maybe try rentals the first few times out to see if you even like it at all. After a few outings, the 4 stars will probably be fine.
my biggest concern for a newbie would volkl's typical tail. although i have never seen the four star in action, from what i have read of it, i suspect it would still not be a good ski for someone in the beginner back seat. def good to grow into which is why i recommended a total newb package for the first time out, then go from there. going to high up on the gear ladder can hold beginners back, going to low, probably not as bad. but as you climb up, you definitely want something to grow into.
 

knuckledragger

New member
Joined
Apr 11, 2006
Messages
128
Points
0
Location
Starksboro VT
OldsnowboarderME said:
When I have been riding on those really icy days .. it looked to me 2 sharp edges were better than one ... on a powder day, my board all the way but when it comes to ice, the skis might be nice ...
THe way it was explained to me about ice and has always worked is you want to think chin over knee. by getting your weight up front it makes you feel more stable. Sharp edgesdefinately and use all the holes on your board, all the way back in powder all the way forward in ice.
 

NYDrew

New member
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
867
Points
0
Location
Essex, Vermont
im with greg on this one. your a big guy, while the 4 stars are a bit too much ski for a beginner, your size may compensate. If you feel you are having trouble, try rentals.

The rossi's are way, way, way to small. 120 is a childrens ski, i don't think they make adult models that small.
 

Sky

Active member
Joined
Apr 15, 2005
Messages
1,426
Points
38
Location
South Central Massachusetts
I'm siding with RC on this...too much power for a newbie...even if he is good sized.

An alternative to renting is to go a a decent demo center (Wildcat seems to have a limited selection whreas Wachusett offers a wide range...boots, helmets and skis...I'm sure there are other places). The demo price is marginally more expensive, but the boots will likely be better quality and the available skis just may be a better "fit" for your size.

Lessons definitely.

re: switching sports...as it was explained to me by a bording instructor....boarding is more difficult to start out, but easier to continue to learn. Skiing is easier to start out and more difficult to continue. MEH! Bottom line, CONGRATS on being willing to try pal. IF it works out for you...those Volkls are a sweet set.
 

thaller1

New member
Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
444
Points
0
Location
North Yarmouth, Maine
I skied the 4 stars several years ago..I was in my 2nd year of skiing.. I started skiing them in February ..skied until April..the following year I got out on them and they weren't fast enough or powerful enough.. in my take, they are a great ski for a beginner to learn on and grow into...

After the 4 stars I moved to the 5 stars.. a fun ski.. skied them for a year.. I had a blast on them.

Now, moving into my 5th year skiing I'm skiing Fischer Big Stix.. I enjoy the freedom these skis allow ..I turn them myself and whenever I want as opposed to the 4 and 5 stars ..they need to be kept on top of...which is great to teach a beginner turns..
 

BeanoNYC

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
5,080
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
All very good advice, especially on the boots. If it come to a time where you're looking to buy gear be sure to put full priority on the boots.
 

Greg

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 1, 2001
Messages
31,154
Points
0
riverc0il said:
my biggest concern for a newbie would volkl's typical tail. although i have never seen the four star in action, from what i have read of it, i suspect it would still not be a good ski for someone in the beginner back seat. def good to grow into which is why i recommended a total newb package for the first time out, then go from there. going to high up on the gear ladder can hold beginners back, going to low, probably not as bad. but as you climb up, you definitely want something to grow into.
Perhaps. But I wouldn't recommend that he go out and *buy* something else. After a few outings and lesson with rentals, he'll probably be fine with the 4-stars. I'm a "trial by fire" type of guy though... ;)
 

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
Greg said:
Perhaps. But I wouldn't recommend that he go out and *buy* something else. After a few outings and lesson with rentals, he'll probably be fine with the 4-stars. I'm a "trial by fire" type of guy though... ;)
no, nor was i. that's why i recommended renting beginner rentals for the first few times to try it out. he'll probably be fine after a few lessons, but i think entry level stuff is helpful for those first few times out that way you are not trying to fight both your body and the equipment at the same time. i have heard too many horror stories about people giving up on skiing after only one day, getting as much to go as easy as possible for the first timer is always ideal.
 
Top