New skis for the "little lady"

Currently Lola has some Blizzard Viva 7.6 and Eos's, which, in theory was a great quiver in that we could travel and put 4 pr of skis in a double bag, (her two Blizzards and a pair of Blizzards (for me) flat , plus a pair of mounted big skis for me) and pack ONE pr. of bindings for her seperate that I could swap back and forth on her skis. For travel it worked very well. Now...Lola has decided that she doesn't like the Eos's any more, her complaint about them is also mine, in that the tip is too floppy when she gets into crud and even on firm snow and doesn't initiate a turn well. As the family equipment manager, I have been commissioned to get rid of the Eos and replace them. Demo? sorry, but the purchase will be made preseason. If If was going to get a pure powderski, I would look to the rockered Kiku. 

 

Here are the parameters...

 

Not "girly" or "juvenile" graphice, more understated.

160 cm +/-

90mm waist +/-

Good hard snow control

Good turn initiation

 

 

Starting list...

 

Volkl Aura

Line Profit 90 (Flite only goes to a 166)

K2 Pay Back (replaces the Phat Luv)

Elan FreeSpice 

Icelantic Nomad

 

Thought?  

 

 

 

 

Edited by Philpug - 5/16/2009 at 02:41 pm GMT

Volkl Aura, all done. 

 

My first instinct is the volkl Aura which is sure thing, however, the remainder of your list is a great short list.

I have not seen the K2 Get Back or Nomad, but I have had a bit of experience with the Elan and Aura.

 

That being said, I've owned the Eos and the Aura.  The Eos does have a bit of an unstable tip in the conditions you described, unless you really get over top of them.  The Aura initiates the turn and attacks the crud with ease.

 The Aura is more forgiving while being aggressive enough to be fun in powder, crud, bumps, ....

 

The Elan is fun and aggressive, but the tail is a tad stiffer which can be an issue in the bumps depending on the skiers style.

 

I'd really like to hear more about the K2 Get Back from someone who's seen it.

 

Have you considered the Scott Sheelas?  I know they are only 85 under foot, but they are a real nice ski.

Edited by Trekchick - 5/16/2009 at 01:46 pm GMT

Moment Pika (women's version of the Ruby).

 

Yes, at 112mm under foot, it's wider than you and Lola are thinking.  Let me explain.

 

The Mom's current quiver is the 158 Dynastar Exclusive Legend (75mm), the misnamed 158 Dynastar Exclusive Legend Powder (85mm) and the 160 K2 Phat Luv (95mm).  Anytime I'd suggested a wider ski than the Phat Luv, she'd rejected it out of hand; she thought that the idea of going fatter (and the fact that her husband's quiver has been increasing along those lines) was just silly.

 

We each demoed three pairs of 09/10 Moments on our last day this season, in mid-April.  We ended up on the Pika and Ruby respectively as our third pair, after an early lunch.  The fact that they were the last skis we demoed that day is not coincidental -- neither of us were willing to give them back.  The only reason she let us leave without buying a pair is that the 160 is a new length for 09/10, and isn't yet shipping.

 

We spent our time on a variety of terrain, in spring Sierra conditions.  On the groomers, we were both grinning the entire time.  No 112mm-waisted ski has any business gripping like these do.  Bear in mind that this was a day when both of us had planned to ski skis in the mid-80mm range -- her Exclusive Legend Powders, my Big Stix 84s -- before we saw that the line at the Moment tent was manageable. 

 

As far as soft snow performance, well, that's what these are designed to do.  While we didn't have true powder that day, we spent a lot of time in softening snow off piste.  She was already lamenting the fact that if/when she gets a pair, she'd probably retire her much-beloved (beluved?) Phat Luvs.

 

Oh, and I think the 09/10 graphics are pretty damned awesome.  Not a great pic, but it gives you an idea.

 

Thanks Dad. 112 is a bit of a jump from here 76's, she won't have the in between skis that your wife has in her quiver.  Does Fischer offer a woman's version of the Watea 94? I love the way that ski skis. 

 

I don't think she'll miss them, though.  That's why I pointed out that we had both intended to ski skis in the mid-80s that day.

 

 

I believe that's the Vision Zeal.

Edited by TheDad - 5/16/2009 at 03:02 pm GMT

I hadn't thought of the Zeal.  That is a really nice option in the quiver spot you're thinking of.

 

 Phil, FWIW, you left out some information about Lola and what kind of terrain she likes to ski. For those  posting with no previous knowledge of your family, a 112 under foot seems ideal.  

The Zeal is a little too pink, there is no replacement for next year, the Koa 84 is it. 

 

As far as the terrain, she pretty much is a blue trail skier with easy (see: groomed) blacks. This ski will be for late day snow and powder. Looking for the ideal "Okemo Powder Ski". With the ski being around 160, we need to stay narrower (under 100) other wise it will be wider than it is longer . I will probably mount some Griffins on them. If we head west and in a situation where we can each bring just ONE pair, it has to be a good hard snow ski too, that  doesn't require a high edge or a lot of anglation.  

Let me throw a couple others into the mix. These may be narrower than what you had in mind, but I think they'd work well in 98% of the conditions she encounters. And if you're out west and there's a 3' powder dump, she can always rent.

 

Head Wild One: This is the equivalent of the company's Monster IM 82. It's a very stable, solid ski that can do it all. I think it has great energy and it's great on edge, too. Head is giving this new graphics for 09/10 which are much better than this year's.

 

Fischer Koa: The Koa is replacing the Vision line, which Phil, you know I love. Great edge, great energy, graphics that are cool and not girlie. Plus it comes in a variety of waist widths. You can get them in an 84 and she'd be set for just about everything.

 

I've skied both these skis and I'd give them both a big thumbs up.

 

I like how you're thinking SkiDiva but the Wild One is a bit too close to the Viva 7.6 under foot.  If I were building a quiver of two, I'd prefer to have two skis with drastically different dimensions.

Although the Wild One and the Viva 7.6 are two completely different sidecuts and have completely different properties.

 

 

 

I mentioned the option of going to a "low 80mm" waist ski as a one ski quiver...the room got very cold and quiet. There are some great skis in that range with the Wild One being one of them. I sold a bunch of them this season and a few of our woman employees are on them. 

Does the "Wild One" replace the "Wild Thang"?  If so, my younger daughter Daria (level 7-8 skier) uses the Wild Thang as her one ski quiver and loves it.  Marcia "borrowed" them one day, and now she wants a pair as well...

Yes, the Wild Thang is now the Wild One. Head replaced "Thang" with "One" in all its women's models.

 

And Phil, I think for the kind of skiing Lola does, generally, the low 80s would be fine. 

 

You don't have to tell me. With everyone else having a "quiver", she wants one too., so, she will have a quiver and I am just the man to give it to her. 

 

From what I hear, the Get Back is the 2010 version of the Phat Luv.  I wouldn't want to second guess someone with your vast knowledge of ski gear tho. 

I'd recommend her trying the 169cm Icelantic Pilgrim. Being a twin it skis a lot shorter - IIRC it has the same running length as the 160cm Burnin' Luv's. The Pilgrim's have a 90mm waist whereas the Nomad's are 105mm.

My wife has two pairs of the Atomic Nomad Crimson (not the TI model) 162 with an 86 waist.  One pair has alpine bindings, one Fritschi.

 

They are the only ski of that width which she ever liked on an icy day.  Also super easy initiation and light weight, with adult graphics, they fit the bill so well we had to get the second pair.

just saying what I see around here, the Aura is enormously popular. You know the deal I'm sure, it's a Mantra with about 40% +/- reduction in stiffness, same two sheets of metal, wood core sandwich, full sidewall, and so on. did a tune (so had hands on) for a friend who loves these skis, and has improved her skiing since riding them, and I really liked the way they felt. and made in Germany.

Another vote for Auras or Kikus. You shouldn't have a problem scoring screaming deals on either one.

 

Actually all Voelkls are about 4 cm shorter in straight length than advertised, i.e. a 176 is a true 172 straight.

Bought my daughter a Goat in 176 as a pre season deal last season. No regrets.

 

This is why you have been married for so many years!!

 

 

 

In my case, after 15+ years of marriage, I'm afraid that it's the only way I know how to give my wife a quiver.

 

ba-DUMP!

Aura, of course.

 

I made my Mom, a 64 year old blue/black skier, demo the 163cm this year, even though she was all convinced that it was too long, "too much ski" for her, and she'd never use it in Michigan. Surprise, surprise.....she fell in love! They gave her the confidence to ski A-Basin's East Wall (her first double black ever) in crappy spring conditions, and she's ready to sell her 724 Gammas, 724 Pros, and Fischer GS race skis to get a pair.

rossignol scratch bc girl (160)
crown satori (169)
Karhu Jil (160)
Volkl Aura - great ski
Prior Original (or Sister - they're the same ski)

check em out - those are all great skis.  the crowns and rossi's are probably most versatile out of the list - all mountain fun. 

ccayley:  He already bought her Icelantic Scouts.

Actually Pilgrims. 

My bad.

No worries, I first said "Nomads". 

 FloSkis 

Coincidentally, I designed the FlackSkis.  They include lots of PR and no substance, and spam threads randomly.  I have been a douchebag since age 10.

...I have a couple gal skiers in my life who have both tried and bought and love their Salomon Lady skis....believe they won several medals
I would give them a ride   . 2 cents