Advice on "next" ski to get

Well, after some consideeration, I sold off the colts and ugraded to Blackeye Ti's.  I figured that these skis would see me over the next few years and would really help me to improve and allow me to grow into them. The colts were nice but just too "Beginnery" so hopefully I'll have fun on the Blackeyes next week...I'll let you know how I get on.

Oh, they are 167's

I TAMED THE BLACKEYES !!!! Amazing Ski

I have just returned from 6 days skiing in The Three Valleys in France and loved the Blackeyes.

Snow conditions were VERY variable and were perhaps the most variable I had ever seen having skied in this area every two years since 1997. Potentialy excllenet runs were slush baths by mid afternoon and even the "ever perfect" Grand Lac blue run was chopped up 2:30 pm.

This meant, however, that I could test the Blackeye Ti's in a variety of conditons but also meant that they tested my own phyisical endurance !

(1) Ice - Edge grip on morning ice was fantastic and the skis inspired confidence and felt stable. Carving turns could be achieved allthough skid turns were used often to control speed. The edges of the skis are still razor sharp. Agreed. Keep your weight ahead of your heels and they'll hold like a race ski. If you try to work the tails hard they'll wash out, that's the difference between these and race skis. Do play with that though. You'll learn the Blackeye's limits and something about your own balance and movement skills too, which will build more confidence.

(2) Groomed Pistes - This is where the skis really impressed. Agreed. Steer them WAAAAY out to the side and just stand quietly and centered. Trust them. They'll swoop amazing, controllable arcs at any speed. In fact, as long as you're arcing them the faster you go the better they work... FUN!!! They  were fast, agile and easy to turn and simply bounced over any bumps. The high temperatures on these days, however, meant that these nicely groomed red's and blues became slushy very quiclkly.

(3) Slush and Crud.  The skis simply floated over the slush and crud. This is when, however, I felt I had to work hard to get the best of them. After 3 days, my technique was good but I was fatiguing quickly. If your technique were good then you wouldn't be fading so quickly, . The ESF instructor said not to fight the slush and just ski on throught it. This did work but stopping required hard pressure which was hard work. So don't stop!  Don't even think about stopping, seriously. Just steer and ride the skis toward where you want them to go. The trick to skiing crud without exhaustion is to keep both skis equally weighted (so they don't diverge or cross) and ride them in arcs. Always be turning. Except at the moment of transition your skis should always be out to one side or the other. Be RELAXED and stand TALL. Crouching over will put you in the back seat and burn out your quads.

(4) Moguls - I took a trip from Les Menuires to Corcheval and met a few red runs that had become "mogul" ridden.  I loved the way the skis just bounced from mogul to mogul and my technique in this area improved greatly.  Of course, the last piste into Les Menuires was like slush puppy and I had a bad case of "jelly legs" but it was well worth the trip to Corcheval. I like the Blackeye's in bumps. They aren't noodles so they enforce a bit of discipline, but the tips have just enough give so they won't launch you into the next valley.

(5) Uneven chopped Terrain - As the skis are firm, any hard bumps are felt immediatly and casued me to tense my legs a fair bit, particlarly on dull days when it was hard to see.  Never tense your legs! I once took a bump clinic in thick fog and one of the other students complained about the visibility. In response, the instructor put his helmet on BACKWARDS and skied 10 turns straight down the fall line - completely blind. He had us do it too, skiing 100% by feel. The ESF instructor said to relax and just take the bumps without tensing up. This helped a lot and I was soon able to cope with chopped up Terrain,particlarly the red "Becca" run in Les Menuires and the reds of Val Thorens. That's a good instructor. Skiing bumps well requires relaxed feet and ankles. Start each turn by just rolling those totally relaxed feet downhill (especially the new inside foot). All else will follow. You can control your turn shape and scrape off some speed with bigger leg movements later in the turn, but start each turn by just rolling those relaxed feet. Hint: if you can't wiggle your toes, you're not relaxed enough.

Overall, these are  great skis and the most important thing about them is that they tested MY limits, rather than me testing the limits of the skis. Bingo! With the variable conditions, I feel I didn't really get them out of "3rd Gear" and I know they can do more.  I can't wait to go out next season and let these baby's take me to the next level.

I TAMED THE BLACKEYES !!!! Amazing Ski

I have just returned from 6 days skiing in The Three Valleys in France and loved the Blackeyes.

Snow conditions were VERY variable and were perhaps the most variable I had ever seen having skied in this area every two years since 1997. Potentialy excllenet runs were slush baths by mid afternoon and even the "ever perfect" Grand Lac blue run was chopped up 2:30 pm.

This meant, however, that I could test the Blackeye Ti's in a variety of conditons but also meant that they tested my own phyisical endurance !

(1) Ice - Edge grip on morning ice was fantastic and the skis inspired confidence and felt stable. Carving turns could be achieved allthough skid turns were used often to control speed. The edges of the skis are still razor sharp.

(2) Groomed Pistes - This is where the skis really impressed. They  were fast, agile and easy to turn and simply bounced over any bumps. The high temperatures on these days, however, meant that these nicely groomed red's and blues became slushy very quiclkly.

(3) Slush and Crud.  The skis simply floated over the slush and crud. This is when, however, I felt I had to work hard to get the best of them. After 3 days, my technique was good but I was fatiguing quickly. The ESF instructor said not to fight the slush and just ski on throught it. This did work but stopping required hard pressure which was hard work.

(4) Moguls - I took a trip from Les Menuires to Corcheval and met a few red runs that had become "mogul" ridden.  I loved the way the skis just bounced from mogul to mogul and my technique in this area improved greatly.  Of course, the last piste into Les Menuires was like slush puppy and I had a bad case of "jelly legs" but it was well worth the trip to Corcheval.

(5) Uneven chopped Terrain - As the skis are firm, any hard bumps are felt immediatly and casued me to tense my legs a fair bit, particlarly on dull days when it was hard to see.  The ESF instructor said to relax and just take the bumps without tensing up. This helped a lot and I was soon able to cope with chopped up Terrain,particlarly the red "Becca" run in Les Menuires and the reds of Val Thorens.

Overall, these are  great skis and the most important thing about them is that they tested MY limits, rather than me testing the limits of the skis. With the variable conditions, I feel I didn't really get them out of "3rd Gear" and I know they can do more.  I can't wait to go out next season and let these baby's take me to the next level.