How much usable life in a used ski

[Bumpsis]

I'm thinking about bying a used 2006 Rossignol Bandit B2. I've heard great things about the ski, but I'm wondering if there is a way to estimate how much usable life is left in the ski.
It's a foam core, and I'm under impression that after 40 - 50 days of enthusiastic use, foam core skis lose a good deal of their performance characteristics like sprigniness, abilty to hold the carving arc, etc.

Any Bandit 2 users out there with informed opinons?

 

[deadheadskier]

I ski on the same ski, purchased new unmounted at the beginning of last year for $199. After 16 days of use they still ski like new, but I'm sure after 40 or 50, they'll start to go downhill quite a bit.

How many days on the pair you're looking at and what are you being charged?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I'm thinking about bying a used 2006 Rossignol Bandit B2. I've heard great things about the ski, but I'm wondering if there is a way to estimate how much usable life is left in the ski.
It's a foam core, and I'm under impression that after 40 - 50 days of enthusiastic use, foam core skis lose a good deal of their performance characteristics like sprigniness, abilty to hold the carving arc, etc.

Any Bandit 2 users out there with informed opinons?

It really depends on the ski and the skier. For some people a day of skiing is 2-3 hours..for others it's bell to bell..Some people are really hard on their skis and others nuture them..I'd say that 40-50 full days of skiing will definitely affect performance but you can still get another 50+ days out of them after that..My Elans have 120 days on them and they are still stiff..and springy..but my Rossi Scratch BCs with that amount of days on them are nearly dead..

 

[snoseek]

I'm no expert but in my experience foam core skis only go 75 (this may be o.k. for you) or so days before they are noodles. I've had binding issues also.

 

[drjeff]

TOTALLY depends on how they were skied by owner #1 also. If owner #1 was a 140lb casual skiing person who skied their way down easy groomers, well then you're probably in decent shape for another 30 to 50 days.

If owner #1 was some big, burly hard skiing 250 pounder, then probably stick a fork in those things because they're done!

Take a look at the bases/edges. If they're in good shape with no real edge damage and light superficial base damage, probably a good pick up. If the bases have multiple areas of blantant damage/repair work and edges that are fulled of burs, pass on them.

 

[Warp Daddy]

AH hell they are Never done being useful __ Just cut em up an make an Adirondack style Deck Chair

 

[Bumpsis]

Thanks for the feedback. I decided to pass on that B2 and stick to wood cores.
I remembered a couple of my previous skis that were foam core and indeed, they would transition into the noodle stage while still looking good.

 

[riverc0il]

TOTALLY depends on how they were skied by owner #1 also.

Nuff said
/thread.