I am currently thinking about replacing the 3rd ski in my East Coast quiver. I have enjoyed skiing a bunch of different skis and have done that by buying holdover and good quality used gear. Ski it for a while and often move onto something different. Most of the skis I have moved on from have been due to improving my ability and "moving up" in ski performance.
I live in southeastern PA and ski mostly in PA with occasional trips to upstate NY and VT. Ski out West about every other year for a short trip (3-4 days). Elk Mountain in Union Dale, PA is my go-to mountain and that is mainly where I ski if I don't hit one of the 2 small locals hills near my house. Advanced level skier. Comfortable on pretty much anything groomed regardless of the nature of the trail. At Elk, I will ski anything in any condition except bumps, which are my albatross and a definite work in progress. I really have been focusing on improving my technique and often am doing skill training on the smaller hills. There are no real opportunities to ski offpiste where I ski most of the time although I do actively seek out the junked up snow while skiing on trail just to keep it more interesting. My skiing can range from skiing slowly, making lots of small radius turns in really tight corridors along the trail edges to railing turns at a pretty good speed depending on conditions, how many people are on the mountain, my mood and what I am skiing. 53 years old and didn't really get into skiing until 8 years ago. 5' 9'', 170 and in good shape. I ski about 30 times a year.
Current skis:
So, I am looking for something like my Sambas at a more appropriate length for me. I think I will end up either skiing the RC Ti's or Samba replacement with the Heads possibly exited the quiver at some point.
Demos are kind of hit or miss where I live and making a trip to demo might not be in the cards so I might end up buying based on a "feel" of what ski will have similar characteristics of the Sambas.
Suggestions and thoughts would be a big help.
Thanks-
David
I live in southeastern PA and ski mostly in PA with occasional trips to upstate NY and VT. Ski out West about every other year for a short trip (3-4 days). Elk Mountain in Union Dale, PA is my go-to mountain and that is mainly where I ski if I don't hit one of the 2 small locals hills near my house. Advanced level skier. Comfortable on pretty much anything groomed regardless of the nature of the trail. At Elk, I will ski anything in any condition except bumps, which are my albatross and a definite work in progress. I really have been focusing on improving my technique and often am doing skill training on the smaller hills. There are no real opportunities to ski offpiste where I ski most of the time although I do actively seek out the junked up snow while skiing on trail just to keep it more interesting. My skiing can range from skiing slowly, making lots of small radius turns in really tight corridors along the trail edges to railing turns at a pretty good speed depending on conditions, how many people are on the mountain, my mood and what I am skiing. 53 years old and didn't really get into skiing until 8 years ago. 5' 9'', 170 and in good shape. I ski about 30 times a year.
Current skis:
- Blizzard RC Ti 166cm - I just picked these up used (2 yrs old) from a guy who lives not far from me and was a former instructor at Elk for a bunch of years. These are the narrowest skis I have been on at 71 underfoot and they are a blast. I got along with them from the first run and find them easy to ski and very intuitive. Was at Elk a week ago during mid-week when the mountain was almost empty. Spent most of the day railing turns at high speed on these and had one of my best days ever there.
- Head Power Instinct Ti Pro 170cm - my second season on these. I have mixed feelings about these skis. They are 83 underfoot and an all-mountain design and ski any conditions I typically encounter without any fuss. Great edge grip, damp, slice or blast through crud - all great. The bits that don't turn me on though are the fact that these feel dead at slow to modest speeds and smaller radius turns can be done but for me seem like a lot of work on these. They are also pretty heavy and stiff so at the end of the day I am pretty much played out.
- Blizzard Samba 166cm - yeah, I know these are women's skis, but I wanted a ski in the 95-100 range underfoot (these are 98) but didn't want a big burly ski with a ton of metal and also didn't want a vibrating noodle. Guenther's in Union Dale had these sitting around the shop from their demo program (they are the original version with the heart on the shovels - so maybe 2013/2014 vintage) with a pair of Griffon bindings for $200 - in good condition - sold. This is the second year I have been skiing these. I love these skis! They are just fun and ski everything without complaint and do it well. They are not naturally at home on really hard, slick conditions but they don't let me down either when the going gets slick - I just have to be very focused on technique to make sure they stay planted. I am always amazed at how easy these are to ski, how quick they are edge-to-edge and how I can produce such small radius turns on them, especially when pivoting. They do not wear me out like the Power Instincts.
So, I am looking for something like my Sambas at a more appropriate length for me. I think I will end up either skiing the RC Ti's or Samba replacement with the Heads possibly exited the quiver at some point.
Demos are kind of hit or miss where I live and making a trip to demo might not be in the cards so I might end up buying based on a "feel" of what ski will have similar characteristics of the Sambas.
Suggestions and thoughts would be a big help.
Thanks-
David
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