any help on information about yamaha downhill skis?

Chris,

About 15 years ago I lived in Stowe, VT and my good friend (and landlord) was Bob Quinn. For many years he was the North America Sales VP for Yamaha Skis (I think during the 1970s and early 80's). Some of Bob's kids and grandkids still live in the Stowe / Waterbury area. I am certain that you can track one of them down and maybe get some information from them. If not, try the Stowe Ski Museum or even his friend Ed Morrison of Moriarty Hat Co.

I have not talked to Bob in years. If you reach him, please say hello for me.

Chad Klever

Centennial, CO

I have a 1966 Skiing magazine with an ad for and a review of Yamaha skis.  They go back a way.

I skied a pair of Yamaha HiFlex's from 1972 to 1978.  They were 195cms with Marker bindings.  I loved those skis and rode the pi$$ out of them as a very active teen/young adult with season pass at Blue Knob, PA.  Took them on my first trip west to Colorado in 1976 and remember jump-turning through deep crust/crud all day in Vail's back bowls.

I won them in a contest when my number (actually it was my mom's) was drawn by late Olympian Spider Sabich.  He presented them to me at a ski store give-away in Tyson's Corner, VA. I skied them about 30-50 days a season until 1978 (they outlasted poor Spider).

Although Yamaha skis did not enjoy an elite reputation, I read here on Epicski once that Finn Christian "Finken" Jagge (born April 4, 1966 in Stabekk) a former Norwegian Alpine skier won the gold medal in the slalom competition at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville on Yamaha skis.  Yamaha discontinued making skis a long time ago, and if above is true I'm surprised they would have still been in the business as late as 1992.

Thanks for the very pleasant blast from the past.

With the Hi Flex's at Killington in the mid-70s:

My Hi Flex models looked a lot like your All Arounds, except with the words Hi (High) Flex instead of All Around.  IRRC from the contest, the Hi Flex was a top of the line recreational model from Yamaha at the time.  I suspect the price you paid for your skis is about correct for insurance, i.e., virtually nothing.  

I have a pair of Red Yamaha Skis that say All-round I on them. They were my Dad's and he gave them to me when I joined the Ski Club in High School... in the 80's. Now they are collecting dust in my garage. My Husband was just cleaning out the garage and wanted me to throw them away... I didn't and was wondering if they were worth anything???

WOW do "Yamerhammers" bring back memories...I skied Yamaha Freestyles in the mid 1970's. They . were a "cheap"  ski...Yamahas were a mostly wood ski with fiberglass "core"  all their skis were a laminated wood ski with a very thin fiberglass "tape" running smack down the center or "core" of the ski....they were "fair" at best.....broke tips and delaminated at the  center fiberglass "core" repaired mine many times with Elmers wood glue and the "new" Krazy  glue..man did I just age myself.....I remember when Krazy glue was invented.....sheesh!!!

I rented a pair of Yamaha All Round III from Hecht's department store in Washington DC for a weekend at Blue Knob in 1972. I wonder if Jim was there that weekend. The "Fiberglass" skis were much advanced from the metal Head Standards I had used (borrowed from my mom) or my old wooden Northlands (outgrown). I finally managed parallel turns with these modern skis. A nice sensation to turn both skis at the same time, a hard won skill for me. Great skis!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MN Gal 

I have a pair of Red Yamaha Skis that say All-round I on them. They were my Dad's and he gave them to me when I joined the Ski Club in High School... in the 80's. Now they are collecting dust in my garage. My Husband was just cleaning out the garage and wanted me to throw them away... I didn't and was wondering if they were worth anything???

All-round I was more of an entry level ski. Collectors of vintage gear are usually interested in the more advanced models. The value of your skis is likely a small fraction of the value of the Yamaha Racer w/ Cubco that Chris Johnson bought for $2.50.

I had a pair of Yamaha Paramount Combi skis in 1975. I think they were black with red lettering. They were 195 and a race ski. I was a teenager at the time and they were almost impossible for me to ski in the bumps. I sold them and bought some 180cm Atomic ACS "freestyle" skis. I wish I still had the Yamahas. Three years after I bought the Atomics and after I started to fill out I bent the Atomics skiing bumps. They became the first rocker ski I ever saw.

I skied the same pair on Thursday. I love them. Had to update bindings to an older 727.

I take them out once in a while when I get board on the shape skis.

I still ski these once in a while. They are fun and hold well on Ice. Quick turning. I skied them last Thursday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VT Turns 

I still ski these once in a while. They are fun and hold well on Ice. Quick turning. I skied them last Thursday.

How about a picture. It would be nice to see if I actually remember what they looked like.