Choosing new skis: live in northeast, end up skiing more in the west

Hello everyone,

In the hours since I found out that the bindings on my 160cm Atomic Beta Ride 9.22's are off of "the list" and cannot be adjusted to my new boots (Nordica Speedmachine 130), I've been lurking up a storm on this forum in search of some direction, as I don't see a reason to throw money at ~8 year old skis ("borrowed" from a family member who didn't like them and decided to rent). As I said in the topic, I live in the northeast within day trip distance of Hunter and Windham and weekend-trip distance of VT. I ski much less than I'd like to - it tends to fall under 10 days per year, with about 5 of those days out west and a few in NY/VT. (I'm also looking forward to a week in France this year, but that isn't the norm.)

I consider myself capable of handling most (but not all) terrain in NY/VT and most of what I've encountered in the west (steep, moguls, or powder have been fine), but I haven't spent much time in the trees or backcountry. 

My plan had been to keep the Atomics around for skiing in the east and demo any time I'm separated from a mountain by a flight.  Those skis were fine, but they did take a bit too much work when I first started using them (I got used to this and had no problem with time).

Last winter, at Vail, I demoed Volkl Mantras and had a great time on them, but my understanding is that they wouldn't do too well on the local ice rock moguls.  Can anyone recommend a ski that would work well in some powder (if I faced several feet I would demo a real powder ski for a day, I suppose) but mostly anything else, including some speed/carving down smoother steep runs, and provide room for me to grow as a skier? I'm open to the idea of a wider ski as I certainly enjoyed the Mantras, and if I actually do buy skis I would want to feel comfortable traveling with them. If you need any more info from me to give a better answer to my question, please let me know - I've never *actually* shopped for new skis, and as you can see from the age of my previous pair, I wouldn't mind if they stay around for a while.

I'm 5'9" and 150lbs - is 175-180cm the right ball park for me for a wider ski and 170cm for a skinnier ski, or should I go longer?

And most importantly: is it worth spending much money on skis at all, given how little I go? Should I pick up a less expensive ski to kick around here and continue renting/demoing when I fly?

Thank you very much!

Wait a second... I see a pair of 2011 Mantras available with bindings for $636 from SkiEssentials... that's the kind of price that makes me want to click the buy button and be happy with them for the next few years.  Any reasons not to?  I don't mind a bit of extra effort on the slopes around here if it means more fun out west. 170cm or 177cm for 5'9" 150lb?

Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Slowly step away from the "Buy it" button. Good. Now breath.

But I... it... um...

Thank you VERY much to everyone for giving me a few more models to read up on and look for at the local shop (and/or online).  With the models that you've all suggested in the 88mm waist range, is a milder snow day (6" overnight, for example) still covered? I understand that feet of powder will put me in a different category.

Come to think of it, I survived four days at Snowbird on the 9.22s in March 2010 (I too am asking myself why I didn't demo), so I get the feeling I'd be able to adapt to a new pair of skis with no problem.  I wasn't in much of a hiking group in search of tons of powder though, so the conditions there were mostly broken up powder after the locals cleaned the fresh stuff off by 10am

Thanks again!

Thanks again for the great suggestions. Here's what I'm thinking:

- 2011 Volkl Kendo 170cm - sounds like a great meeting of east/west performance and price at $700 including bindings

- 2012 Blizzard Bonafide 173cm - everyone seems to love this ski, but is it $200 more ski than the Kendo?

- 2012 Blizzard Bushwacker 173cm - skinnier waist - more turny for the east?

- 2012 Line Prophet 98 - Meh? People don't sound as excited about these as the above

As for bindings - is there any difference between them? Do I just go with the Marker Griffon 13's, or is there anything else to consider? Why would I choose one binding over another?

As I said in the bullet points above, I think the 2011 Kendo is coming out ahead for me at this point.

Thank you!

Thanks! I'm basically down to the 2011 Kendo or the 2012 Bushwacker. I guess I should be favoring the softer Bushwacker given the east usage... it's probably worth the extra $100!

I just ordered the 173cm 2012 Bushwacker with Marker Griffon 13 bindings... thank you very much for the help and I'll try to update the thread once the northeast cools off a bit and some snow appears on the ground.  Anyone know where these skis are manufactured?

Thank you - would the extra length on 180cm add float at the expense of mogul capability?

Hello everyone,

Here comes a follow up to this thread after I've actually tried the skis.  I purchased the 2012 Blizzard Bushwacker in 173cm from SkiEssentials (whom I thank for speedy delivery, properly mounted bindings, and a few great clarifying phone calls to help compare these skis to others in the category).

I have a few first impressions after skiing one day at Hunter on 100% machine made snow, which I was VERY impressed with - though only two top-to-bottom trails were open with a third opening halfway through the day, there was plenty of snow to go around, and the open black diamond run started as fluffy powder and ended the day as decent sized and snowy bumps.  In summary: considering that there has been about an inch of natural snow this season, the conditions were fantastic, and the lines were non-existent.

Back on topic: what a fun ski!  When the trail started as powder they flowed right through, and when the bumps grew I had no trouble bouncing through them.  I need to work on my form/technique, and I'm getting used to the feeling of this very soft, flexible ski, especially when they thwap a bit in varying conditions.  I also need to work on moving my weight forward - I felt like I was riding the tails a bit too much, and it definitely wasn't the ski's fault. The early rise was an interesting addition as well.  In snowmaking whiteout conditions (for short sections), the skis just popped their way up and over any unexpected contours in the snow surface. They carve effortlessly (to me) without too much speed.

Thank you again for the help.  I'm looking forward to taking these skis to Les Arcs in a few weeks.