Ski Equipment?

The most important thing is a comfortable pair of ski boots. Do not let them sell you a pair that you are not comfortable in.

Shorter shaped skis are easier for beginners. I think the best thing to do is to demo several skis over a few days. Combind this with your next trip. Most ski area shops will let you deduct the demo cost from purchase price. Buy a comfortable pair of boots first. Make sure you go to a good shop and tell them your level. You don't need racing/high performance boots at this stage.

Warm clothes are also very important. Skiing freezing is no fun. Make sure your bindings are good ones and adjusted properly.

Definietely wear a helmet. Get good eye ware. Fogged up in a blizzard is no fun either.

One fine day ski Europe.

Best

 

+1 Trouble is, "comfy" in the store is different to comfy on the piste.......

Given your MO, I'd go as far as to say buy yourselves a pair of boots each - End of season sales? Don't buy skis/bindings - Demo 'em later as suggested.

Wear the boots around the house for a few hours (!) - You're gonna be wearing 'em on the slope for more hours - Are they still comfortable? - If not, return to boot supplier and explain the "problem".....

BTW, sorry the snowboarding experiment didn't work out - Sounds like you were almost there - My first two days were very possibly the most miserable of my entire life.... I'd been given wrist guards, had a cushion over the tailbone, a helmet, and it still *sucked*!.... BUT, the transition from the "blues" to the trees was *much* easier on the board than skis - Get in to the pow' and it all makes sense......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Most important thing is boots...don't skimp there.

I know many people who own their boots and rent their skis. they can always try new equipment and if you find something you really like you can buy it AFTER you get good enough to know what you want.

buy some good ski socks that wick away sweat...your feet will stay warmer.

and if you get skis have them waxed and the edges sharpened after at least every 10 times. You don't need a full tune (totally new base) unless you really mess up the bottoms.

good goggles and a helmet are a must. and use defogger on the lenses. I have a Smith cloth that I have used for years...works great. helmets keep your head warmer...and one freak accident and, well we don't want to talk about it. you wear a helmet on a race track with seat belts and air bags...you need a good helmet.

I do not like one piece ski suits. I prefer Columbia ski bib overalls with a jacket. then I can easily add or subtract layers depending on the weather.

and you must have a good gator for your neck. amazing how much warmer this will keep you in cold weather.

poles...buy or rent cheap poles that nobody want to steal.

get a ski lock and lock your skis to the rack when you go inside for lunch and/or the John. even though they are rented skis who needs the hassle of having your skis gone when you are trying to ski.

take lessons. your intructor will have some good ideas on the kind and size of the equipment you need for your abilities.

let me know if you have any questions.

 

Rob, with apologies in advance (!), but I'd be really, really surprised if after that little experience you were a "genuine" level 6..... I don't mean to pi$$ on your parade, but it's a classic instructor refrain:

"Guys *always* overestimate their abilities, whereas women tend to do the opposite." [Something to do with testerone, I guess ]

Are you really *carving*, confidently thru the turns? - Not "skidding" with your skis parallel, but *feeling* the skis load up as you turn? Do you slow down (and possibly revert back to the snow plough?) on the "steep bits" of your blue runs? How are you doing in "chop"?

Main reason for mentioning it, is a "level 6" boot is a very different beast to a more "beginner" boot - Don't BS the guy/gal in the boot store as you'll wind up with something that's not right for you....... [Probably way too stiff, but it's been a long time since I've worn ski boots.]

As always, my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

I suggest you take a look at the new reverse camber skis available, I usually ski once out of every 10 days vs snowboarding. With my new set of Lib Tech NAS the ratio is back to about 70-30 in favour of skiing right now

Since the tip and tail of the ski aren't pressing the ground I find them easier to use and fantastic in powder. I'm more of a "Park Rat" and these skis do wonders in that terrain also.

 

Some good advice here.
I would second the call for boots first and get them at a specialty boot shop which are usually based in the ski towns. They will look at your foot and lower leg and rule out many of the boots. Like running shoes, they all have a different fit and your foot/lower leg type will be happiest in certain boots. Certain foot types may also fare far better with orthotics that they can make.
If you are an advancing skier, I would suggest using an actual ski shop to rent demo skis. You pay a few more $ but they carry higher end skis and not run of the mill beat up rentals. You can try different models each day and as you progress through the years, you can purchase a set when you are reach your goal of ability. As you get better, the type of ski you use may change.

 

I am a 7 and have skiied since I was 13 and ski a few times every week.

A six after only 6 times is amaxing unless you are a natural athlete.

I would just like to say that a blue on Aspen mountain is at least a blue-black or black at Smowmass. Angel Fire is pretty easy IMVHO. more like Buttermilk here.

BTW have your bindings set loose. I told the shop that I was a 7 and I ruptured my achilles when my ski didn't release. better to have your bindings release to easily unless you are a real expert skiier.

Take lessons. Just like driving school a good teacher is more valuable than the best equipment. Like having an Fcar and not know how to drive it properly.

 

Like everyone has said- most important piece of equipment is a Helmet. Don't buy skis because what you like now won't be near enough in two years, you can rent performance gear at most good shops on the mountain that will be more than good enough till you have reached a higher level. Boots are always a good buy, but don't go too soft or you will be unhappy in a few years and you can get quite a few years out of a pair of boots if you ski a 10-15 days a year. Most ski shops will guaranty boot fit, if they don't find another place to buy. On boots what feels nice and comfy in the shop may be to soft when you start rippin' the steep and deep.

And who says you can't go again this year, I want to get a last few runs in on the last weekend of March. Have a house in Crested Butte and some airline miles - you interested.

 

The 21st is right in the middle of spring break so it is crowded - will check my schedule and give you a shout back.

 

Rob, I started skiing when I was 8 - bithday gift from dad - and I say don't buy skies unless you are going 20+ times a year. Get boots and just rent demos. You will always be on the best equipment and you don't have to take them with you when you are flying to the west or europe. Skking is a great sport and you meet loads of good folks. Enjoy.

 

He is. Collegiate swimmer. Triathalete. Race car driver. And good at all of them. I does not surprise me that he would excel quickly at skiing.

 

my family and i recently returned from whistler. we normally take our skis but this time we tried renting. wow... the convenience. it is such a burden to haul skis and boots through the airport and in/on the car. ski rental nowadays is not like it was in the 80's... you can get quality modern equipment. we decided to off load all our equipment on ebay and rent from now on.