michaelo@tektronix.UUCP (Michael O'Hair) (01/27/86)
[ belch ] I'm demoing skis, trying to find out what is out there, and since I haven't seen any format for ski reviews, I hereby propose the following: Manufacturer Model Length (in centimeters) Type ( slalom, GS, recreational slalom, ...) Conditions (of the snow, not the skier) Comments and Impressions Optional Personal data: level of skill: beginner, intermediate, etc. attitude: petrified, mellow, aggressive, suicidal If anyone has general information, such as "Austrian skis tend to stiffer tails while French skis tend to softer tails" or whatever, I for one would want to hear about it. The question, I suppose, is: can a nationality or a manufacturer be typified? I've met people who absolutely love K2, while others wouldn't take a free pair unless they could trade them for their fave rave. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- General info: age: 40 height: 5' 10" weight: 210 skill: beginner/intermediate (two seasons and a broken knee) going towards parallel, aggressive/athletic/aging jock Brand: Rossignol Model: SMS Length: 203 cm Type: GS Conditions: Rain, Oregon slush Impressions: A stable ski, carves turns nicely, more nimble than I thought possible for the conditions. I really leaned out over the skis and never felt uncomfortable. I want to try these again in some real snow. The representative said they were a good ski for Cascade snow. Brand: Volkl Model: Targa R Length: 205 cm Type: Slalom racing Conditions: Packed, no ice. Good snow Impressions: These are serious skis. Amazingly quick from edge to edge. They seemed to work best with my weight over the balls of my feet. I never came close to their limits. I was in a lesson group and working on control (lots of little turns) and by the end of the lesson, I was pretty well out of gas. I'm thinking of doing some amateur racing next season and these skis are definite candidates for running gates. That's it for this week. See you on the mountain. Michael O'Hair Tektronix, Inc. P.O. Box 500 Beaverton, OR 97077 M/S 50-761 1-503-627-1707 tektronix!michaelo