wagner@uw-june (Dave Wagner) (11/03/85)
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From: tektronix!orca.TEK!alanj@uw-beaver
Some general thoughts on buying first ski equipment:
SKIS:
Part One: Visit about 4-5 ski shops in your area. Try to
hit shops that carry a variety of brands but overlap. (Yellow pages are
handy here.) Talk to the salesmen, be honest about your ability and
plans. Listen to their suggestions --- particularly on skis.
Cross examine the guy ("Why do you say the PRE 800 would be better for
me than the Blizzard?"), particularly ask about the brand he doesn't
carry. Note that most shops have package deals that can be really good
buys. What you are looking for is what manufacturers call their
"intermediate" or "recreational" skis. Avoid racing skis at this point,
and certainly avoid "beginner" packages. (I am assuming you are planning
to improve this year.)
Part Two: Snag a copy of the SKI and SKIING buying guides
and read their reviews. There should be some correlation between
what the magazines say and what the shops say.
Part Three: Bug a couple friends you trust. Ask about shop's
reputations as well as equipment.
Correlate what the ski shops, the magazines, and your friends tell you.
If necessary, discount your friend's *equipment* advice. Be sure to
consider how you feel about the shop/salesman. If the salesman came across
as a flake, he probably is. Discount excessive bad-mouthing of the
competition. You know you have an honest salesman when he says "Either X Y
or Z would be good for you. You *really* have an honest salesman when he
doesn't carry brand Z. (I've had it happen.)
When you have finished with the three above you should have about 3-4
skis that are the front runners and about 1-2 shops. What it boils
down to is that just about every main line ski manufacturer makes a
ski you would be perfectly happy with. The bottom line is (1) price;
(2) satisfaction with the shop; and (3) do you like the ski?
BINDINGS:
My personal preferences are the Tyrolia 390D, the Salomon 747 or the
equivalent Look. I don't care for the Marker's because they don't offer
a diagonal heal release until you get the the top-of-the-line racing
(MR) version. You could use the 290D or Salomon or Look equivalents,
but for your weight and aggression I would go up. You should be able
to pick up the 390D for $100-$110 on sale (Mogule Mouse sale price in
Portland). Remember you can move the bindings to a new pair of skis
later.
BOOTS:
Again, intermediate/recreational. Hit the shops/magazines first for
general idea of what you're interested in, then go back and spend time
fitting. Spend at least 1/2 and hour per boot to make the first cut down
to 2-3 brands, then spend time getting fitted. Again, for a beginner/
intermediate there are any number of boots that will do you just fine,
the bottom line here is comfort *first*, then price. Be sure to check
out close-outs of last year's models. They get deaply discounted. For
example, the Salomon SX90 Equipe ($300 top-of-the-line expert boot) is
going for ~$150 around here. Check out Salomon SX70's or SX80's (they've
been replaced with the SX71 and SX81. (My preference is for Salomon,
they're the most comfortable boot I've ever worn, but you couldn't *pay*
others to ever put their foot into a Salomon again. It depends on your
foot). Also remember that a shop can make just about any boot fit any
foot, the question is how much hacking they have to do ... is it worth
the hassle if a different boot fits better to start with?
POLLS:
Anything that works. Avoid the very cheap Scott clear handles --- they
turn very stiff and curl when cold. I prefer handles to straps. I am
trying to learn to ski powder, hence I consider polls a commodity, not
capital goods.
FINAL NOTE:
An out of control skier has been described as "an unguided missile ending
in a high speed equipment redistribution".
Have fun
Alan Jeddeloh
Tektronix GWD
(God-Willing Division)
Box 1000
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 685-3106
ucbvax!tektronix!alanj@orca
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From: tektronix!tekecs.TEK@uw-beaver
I am in the exact same situation as you-infact, I am 6'2" and 200. I have
been to several ski shops and asked several experienced skiers opnions.
The net of this can be explained in two parts. First, every ski
manufacturer makes 5 types of skis. Beginner, advanced beginner, inter-
mediate, detuned racing and full blown racing.
Second, the consensus was that I should buy the detuned racing ski.
Models such as the K2 5500, or the Dynastar Omnisoft. Everyone recommended
I not get less than 185's most people said they would rather see me get
190's.
The experienced skiers I asked saw me ski last year. They said I would
be unhappy with anything less than 190's in the detuned racing category.
They and the ski shop people agreed that I will be happy at first, but
at the end of the year I would be looking for new skis, if I buy shorter
or lower performance skis. During the season I ski at least once a week.
As to bindings they all said it is a matter of preferance. The only
caution I got here was not to buy bindings rated too near my own weight.
Eg, the Tyrolia 190's which everyone seems to put on sale. They are rated
up to 210 lbs. The Tyrolia 290's are rated up to 250(I believe) and these
would be better for me.
I hope this helps. Good Luck.
Mark O'Shea
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From: cornell!vax135!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxqq!pyuxh!sdd@uw-beaver
I was in the same boat last year you are in this year.
I'm your size, and I like to get aggressive when I'm not risking life and limb
(mine and others) in the process.
I went with some K2 Sport skis (180's). They are tough but flexible; however,
they may not be as suitable for you because I ski in the East (Ice City) and
you probably get more powder.
Bindings: Geze 942. They're easy to use and have a huge DIN range, so you
won't have get new bindings as you get better. Just crank them up as you
get better. Better still, have the shop crank them up; I don't trust my
knees to my backyard mechanical skill.
Take a look at the skiing magizines' buyers issues, and talk to a couple
of shops before you buy. The sum total of input will be most helpful.
Best O'Luck,
Steve Daniels (pyuxh!sdd)
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From: ihnp4!mtgzz!seb@uw-beaver (s.e.badian)
Let me first say that I am no expert on bindings. I don't know
how they work, but they seem to work (I haven't broken a leg yet), and
that's good enough for me.
In general, the top of the line binding is a racing binding.
Racing bindings are not for the run-of-the-mill skier, not even for
the recreational expert skier. They are for racers who want bindings
that will not let go when doing outrageous things on skis (like threading
through gates, or doing 50mph). Most of us want bindings that will hold
us to our skis but will release so we don't break anything. Usually
the model below the top of the line fits that category. If the litera-
ture on the bindings from the company that produced them says that the
bindings can handle 250 lbs skiers, I'd believe. I have a friend who
is 6'8" or so and most weigh over 200 lbs, and he didn't buy the top
of the line bindings. They are just not necessary.
Maybe you can try a different ski shop and ask for their opinion.
Sharon Badian
ihnp4!mtgzz!seb
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From: tektronix!azure!michaelk@uw-beaver
First of all, I'm absolutely no expert skier. Last year was my
first year (about 25 days worth). I have, however, been diligently
reading books and magazines; getting their opinions on things
for my purchases (I bought skis/bindings/boots/etc last year).
I think the idea about bindings is that it is optimal to ski around the
middle of the range. In any case, there was an article last season
(early this year I think) about bindings in general. The article basically
said that the "next-model-down" bindings were very nearly as good as
the top-of-the-line ones, and would be perfectly good for ninety-some
percent of all skiers. I weighed about what you do last season, and
my Saloman 647's (next down from 747) were just fine. I will probably
up the settings half a point this year.
They had also done a review article on the x47 line that was new last
year, and they basically raved about it (more than the normal non-negative
type verbage any review would have), and this is why I picked this
brand. What I really would have liked was the Saloman toe piece
along with the Tyrollia heel piece (just judging by the way they looked
to be built).
Anyway, what do I know. You might try a library for the last year's
issues of SKI and SKIING magazines & try hunt down these articles.
Mike Kersenbrock
Tektronix Software Development Products
Aloha, Oregon
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From: me (wagner@washington, uw-beaver!wagner)
Thanks to everyone who responded!
Here is what I have decided on. Keep in mind that, in the final analysis,
the desire to just get it over with and buy some skis was a large factor
in the decision! (-:)
Skis: Atomic ARS Dominator HV 205cm. These are intermediate-level sport
skis. Recommended to me by the salesperson because they have a soft shovel,
which makes them easy to turn (this is only my second year!) and a pretty
stiff tail for a ski in their price range, which he considers a desirable
trait given my size (6' 4", 205 lbs). He recommended 205's because otherwise
I'd probably want new skis two years from now. Most of my skiing friends
concurred on this.
Bindings: Look 99RS. I flip-flopped a lot on bindings, trying to decide
between top-of-the-line models and next-model-down. Although I wasn't
convinced that I really needed a top binding, most of my skiing friends
thought it was a good idea, and all pointed out that it's quite common
for people to keep their old bindings when they buy better skis; when
that time comes, I'd be glad I spent the extra $30 right now. I went with
the Looks because I like the turntable heel - I have some torn cartilage
in one knee and I'm very paranoid about torqueing my knee! (So why do
I ski? Don't ask stupid questions!) Also, the Looks have the largest
DIN range of any that I looked at (4-13); it's inconceivable that I will
ever need a better binding.
For the skis, bindings, and mounting I paid $264, which I think is an
outrageously good price. (Olympic Sports, Seattle.)
Boots: Salomon SX-70. I didn't have much choice here, because I've
got large feet (14). Most size 14 ski boots are too small; the Salomon
size 360 fits okay. Besides, they're last years model and I picked them
up for $100; how can you beat that?
Poles: Atomic Team Racing. Very flashy, got them for $14 on sale at REI!
Thanks again, see you on the slopes this year!
Dave Wagner
University of Washington Comp Sci Department
wagner@washington.arpa
{ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!uw-beaver!wagner