Snowboarder looking to try skiing

[CCS427]

Hey all,
I'm from Western MA (5 mins from VT and NY state borders). I'm a recreational snowboarder and I'm looking to try skiing. I would like some input on what type (straight/shaped) and what length skis I might try. I'm 5'8" 150lb, athletic, but I've tried skis for one, single run and they were very long straight skis. The skis worked fine, but a few people mentioned that the skis were 'way too long' for my weight/experience level. I am really looking to get an accurate representation of how fun skiing is, instead of borrowing improperly sized equipment. Any input on what type/length I might rent next time out would be greatly appreciated.:-D

Neal

 

[RIDEr]

What is the length of your snowboard? Should be the same measurements (maybe a little longer)... but I'm a snowboarder talking...

 

[RIDEr]

BTW, welcome to the boards.

 

[Brettski]

Now there's a switch

Go to the Mountain Rental Shop, and let them hook you up

They all may faint however

 

[bvibert]

Welcome to the forums.

I recommend heading to your local mountain and renting. They'll set you up with a good size to get started with. Definitely go with shaped skis, there's no reason not to. If the place you go to rent from has straight skis for some reason just politely turn around and go somewhere else...

Taking a lesson wouldn't hurt either...

 

[Brettski]

Great minds think alike

 

[from_the_NEK]

Welcome to the forums.

I recommend heading to your local mountain and renting. They'll set you up with a good size to get started with. Definitely go with shaped skis, there's no reason not to. If the place you go to rent from has straight skis for some reason just politely turn around and go somewhere else...

Taking a lesson wouldn't hurt either...

Just to be safe you should SLOWLY back out of any place that is still renting primarily straight skis :lol:

I agree that the rental shops would know what size ski to put you on. I have three different length skis (173, 183, 185) depending on what I'm doing. The rental shop should be able to size you up for what you plan on doing on the type ski that they are renting.

 

[JimG.]

Ski length is closely related to ski shape in today's market...skis with more sidecut can be skied shorter than skis with less sidecut. And you can get the same make and model of ski and depending on the length it can ski like a slalom ski or a GS ski.

I probably just made it more confusing, but this is stuff you need to know.

 

[CCS427]

RIDEr: my board is a 156.

JimG: I've been reading how the different sidecut radii effect the actual turning radius, so it makes a certain amount of sense. Shorter, all else being equal, would seem to be more maneuverable, but less stable, so this makes sense to me, based on what I've read so far.

I'll try the local rental shop next Thursday when I plan on giving it a shot. Thanks everyone, I'll let you all know how it goes.

Neal

 

[JimG.]

RIDEr: my board is a 156.

JimG: I've been reading how the different sidecut radii effect the actual turning radius, so it makes a certain amount of sense. Shorter, all else being equal, would seem to be more maneuverable, but less stable, so this makes sense to me, based on what I've read so far.

I'll try the local rental shop next Thursday when I plan on giving it a shot. Thanks everyone, I'll let you all know how it goes.

Neal

The fad today is fatter skis...very wide underfoot. Great for float in POW, but I've gone back to more of a slalom race cut that's more narrow underfoot but wider in the tip and tail.

Fat skis are usually skied longer because the increased width underfoot decreases sidecut and turn radius. My Fischer RX8's are narrow undefoot by today's standards, but they have a ton of sidecut...so I ski them short. I'm 6'2" and my skis are 170cm. I must tell you that these are surprisingly stable skis even at speed with a GS turn size. The only thing they are not good at is all out downhill stuff.

These are superior east coast all mountain skis, but not ideal for POW...I''m sure I can get them to work in POW, but I'd probably want a wider ski underfoot for POW days.

Problem for folks on the east coast is that POW days are getting rare, so I bought based on where I live.

 

[goldsbar]

Excellent choice on the RX8, JimG (I have the very similar RC WC SC).

Since your new to skiing, you're not going to be able to tell much difference between ski types. That being said, I'd go short and soft with a large side cut. These "turny" skis will be much easier to ski and will eventually allow you to carve via foot tipping (as opposed to skid) more easily. You're not going to be flying down the mountain your first few times out. If you are, you're certainly not doing it in control and with good technique. Rent as others have said.

Welcome back from the dark side

 

[dmc]

Nice.... Skiing is fun... Welcome to another side!
defnaltey rent and listen to these guys...

There's things you can do on skis that you(I) can't do so well on a board(and visa versa)..
I like skis in moguls... hardpack days.... and to just go extremely fast...
I'm not sayin that all these things can't be accomplished on a board but I prefer ski..

The best part if skiing is - when I do ski(a couple times a year).. People that know me as only a boarder think they can ski with me and have someone mellow to ski with...

Bumps(retro)

[/IMG]

Pow

[/IMG]

 

[CCS427]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I finally got some time to go try it, and it was a blast! I rented some Rossignol Edge 150cm shaped skis with a 16m sidecut. I spent about 2 hours on the mountain and while I'm not great, I was pleased with how easy it was to just do it. I started easy and ended up hitting a couple intermediate trails. The boots felt a little weird at first, but definitely not bad. The weirdest part was the unconnected feet. Great time, for sure!

 

[gladerider]

glad you liked it.

i ski and board. before you go out buy a pair of skiis, demo as much as you can.
if you are a carving boarder, the shaped skiis are comparable. if you are a park boarder, then there are freestyle skiis available with twin-tips. they are a lot of fun as well.

have fun....

 

[jaywbigred]

Wow, interesting thread from everyone.

Anyone have any recommendations going the other way (skiing to snowboarding)? At some point (maybe next season) I may want to spend a few days boarding, just for fun (perhaps on a day when my ski muscles are particularly sore). I took 2 or 3 snowboarding lessons and tried it for a few days about 13 years ago. Anything in particular i should look for?

 

[trailertrash]

a little of both

some (not all) may be interested in trying an alpine snowboard set up for what some call a combination of skiing and riding:

http://www.bomberonline.com/articles/welcome_center.cfm

 

[dmc]

Wow, interesting thread from everyone.

Anyone have any recommendations going the other way (skiing to snowboarding)? At some point (maybe next season) I may want to spend a few days boarding, just for fun (perhaps on a day when my ski muscles are particularly sore). I took 2 or 3 snowboarding lessons and tried it for a few days about 13 years ago. Anything in particular i should look for?

Hit a shop - rent some gear and go...
It's that simple...
If it was difficult they'd call it skiing...

Seriously... Take another lesson.. I think they gotten better at teaching in the las 13 years..

 

[adamti91]

I'm renting skis sometime this season for the first time ever... I want to get decent at skiing hopefully, but I'll probably be relegated to the bunny slopes my first times out. Does being a decent snowboarder have any bearing on skiing ability?

 

[dmc]

Does being a decent snowboarder have any bearing on skiing ability?

Sure... The terrain doesnt change. And you got balance...

 

[adamti91]

Gave it a shot today- got pretty decent by the day's end, linking turns and not falling and the like. Wrote about it in my "2/25" TR from Bell in my siggy.