Who started skiing after straight skis?

[o3jeff]

Same with me, started in the late 70's then stopped in the mid 80's and took it back up again in 2006, it was a huge difference, I really like shaped skis so much more.

When I started skiing again in 2006 on shaped skis I felt like my skiing progressed over the 15 years I didn't ski

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Before shaped skis - first time ever on them was demo of K2 Fours

Those were the first shaped skis I ever tried..back in 1998..those skis flew and I ended up buying El Caminos..

 

[gmcunni]

way before... probably around 1978 or so .... my first pair of skis i owned were used orange K2s with cubco bindings.

 

[rueler]

I loved the shaped K2 fours. They were extremely snappy with a ton of energy out of every turn. Those skis convinced me that you could definitely go shorter and not lose any stability at speed.

Many conventional ski users were using that argument as an excuse to not purchase shapers. Most of those same dudes are skiing on skis that are less than 170cm now.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I loved the shaped K2 fours. They were extremely snappy with a ton of energy out of every turn. Those skis convinced me that you could definitely go shorter and not lose any stability at speed.

Many conventional ski users were using that argument as an excuse to not purchase shapers. Most of those same dudes are skiing on skis that are less than 170cm now.

Now if you or I got on a K2 Four..it would feel like a wet noodle compared to todays skis..

 

[frozencorn]

1984, first pair of skis my old, trusty Heads, but I didn't get those til a few years later.

Didn't purchase anything shaped until 2000, pair of Bandits that are still rocked out early season.

 

[Mildcat]

Pre. I started early 90's so my first pair of skis were straight. I gave those to a friend and when he skis (once every five years or so) he still uses them.

 

[Glenn]

I started in 1987 or 1988. I had a SkiTote at the time too.

My first pair of shaped skis....errr....wait...."parabolic" skis were in 1987 or 1998. I had a pair of K2 El Caminos...188cm. Still have em and skied them last season before finally upgrading. IIRC, they're the same as the K2 Four, just without that piezo(sp?) electric dampener.

 

[4aprice]

pre shaped skis, pre ski brakes, pre buckle boots...um 1968

Yep, my response as well. I only got you beat by 2 years, 1966. I can still remember what a pain it was to lace up those boots and what a thrill it was to finally get buckle boots probably 2 years later. I also remember the thrill of getting my first pair of Head 240's after years of wooden ski's. Cubco binding's anyone?

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[skibum9995]

I started in 94. My first few skis were straight, then went to shaped with the K2 Two.

 

[rueler]

Now if you or I got on a K2 Four..it would feel like a wet noodle compared to todays skis..

Agreed!! I still make turns on an old pair of fours when I go early season wood skiing...and they're def. not up to snuff with the latest and greatest...but, they still turn.

 

[bigbog]

....

Could hardly be classified as real skiing...but I started in 82' ...till 85' = 2 lessons :roll:, K2 712s(way beyond me :lol then Olins(both old school sidecut)...what I'd give to have those 712s back...
Then spent years locked away in books..working on the career.
Mid 90s..Web communication to guys who knew the goods...ie "WHAT..you roll your ankles?":roll: 97' Dynastar ATV (midfat..~75mm).
Think analysis of my skiing would put me as After sidecuts began to happen...

$.01,
SteveD

 

[MR. evil]

I started in 1994 and bough my first paor of shaped skis the 1st year they came out, 96 I think. I bough a new pair of shaped skis in 1998 and skied those until last season. I was amazed who much the technology changed when I skied my first run on my new pair last November. Then I purchased a pair of bump skis in March that are pretty straight. My first run on those I felt like a new. They were much harder to turn on groomers than my shaped skis.

 

[billski]

Pre 1976

Can you add a poll, or is it too late?

 

[gorgonzola]

'73 or '74, definatley straight, rentals with bindings that gripped a plate attached to boot from the sides. they had a big ass spring loaded lever in back that was hella fun to release on some unsuspecting gomer in the lift line. a few years later in high school you could still do the same thing with the scott pole breakaway grips and leashes too! lotsa yuks had !

 

[Philpug]

'73 or '74, definatley straight, rentals with bindings that gripped a plate attached to boot from the sides. they had a big ass spring loaded lever in back that was hella fun to release on some unsuspecting gomer in the lift line. a few years later in high school you could still do the same thing with the scott pole breakaway grips and leashes too! lotsa yuks had !

Spademans.

 

[KevinF]

1992 for me. I was a late convert to shaped skis though; I don't think I really started using shaped skis until 2001 or so. I did have one comical day at Stratton of trying to use my old straight skis one last time in 2003, I believe. I found it absolutely impossible to turn. Needless to say, I've never been on them again.

 

[gorgonzola]

Spademans.

yep thats them!

 

[campgottagopee]

Pre, pre, pre

I started skiing when skiing in blue jeans was still cool8)

 

[SkiDork]

Yep, my response as well. I only got you beat by 2 years, 1966. I can still remember what a pain it was to lace up those boots and what a thrill it was to finally get buckle boots probably 2 years later. I also remember the thrill of getting my first pair of Head 240's after years of wooden ski's. Cubco binding's anyone?

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Yes, I had Cubcos on Hart Mercurys