Help with choosing skis please - ? Fischer Watea 78s

I am looking to buy my first pair of skis as I've only ever rented skis for my one-week-a-year holidays over the last 20 years. I'm intermediate/advanced (level 7/8) but I'm in Vancouver for a year so I'm hoping to get a good number of days skiing at Whistler this season and looking to improve a fair bit. After this year I'm heading back to Europe so I'll be skiing in the Alps mainly.

I'm 34 years old, 5ft 8" and weigh 150Ib. Moderately aggressive skier. Mainly skied pistes up until now but planning to work on the off piste. Enjoy carving.  Looking for a 70/30 ski I think.  Preferrably a 08/09 season ski as there seems to be better deals on them. 

I've be recommended the Fischer Watea 78s by a local shop. I can't find very much info on them and on the Fischer website they are under the freeriding category which I don't think is what I want. Any advice on the Watea 78s or other recommended skis would be hugely appreciated.

Look at Fischer Heat 76, it is the carving ski in the line up. The Watea 78 being an all mt ski, is a good way to go. I ski the big brother to the Heat 78, the Big Heat, and love it. I was buying the Watea 84, but found I like carving skis better then all mt..

Here ya go !

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/79028/fischer-watea-78