Recommendations for wife for skiing in MT

[cantunamunch]

I'd try for a wife in the 5 ft 8-10ish bracket who rips if you can. Handy with pepper spray in the case of bears a bonus

The lot of you need to look at the finer details before posting ... wife needs to come with a rentable skid.

I figured Montana and OP is obviously interested in one-stop shopping?

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[Dwight]

@focker make sure to say hi to all the Midwesterners at Bridger. Employees and skiers.

 

[Slim]

@focker , my wife really enjoys her K2 Fullavit’s (95mm). They were discontinued last season, but rental shops might still have them.
They might be a very good choice, since they are (one of) the most powder specific shapes in that waist width: lot’s of taper and rocker. Making them very easy and forging in powder and bumps. At the same time, they have enough backbone to run through some crud without issue.
They are the women’s version of the Pinnacle 95ti.

2018 K2 Fulluvit 95 Women’s Skis – 2018 Ski Test

Whether you’re out west, on the east coast, or somewhere in between the Fulluvit 95 is an approachable, versatile ski that will allow you to explore the whole mountain. For western freeride skiers the Fulluvit 95 might be one of their narrower skis, while eastern skiers may find it had enough...

www.skiessentials.com

 

[tch]

F, you've gotten lots of recommendations, so this may be unnecessary, but... unless your wife is a strong technical skier, think about avoiding flat, square tails on whatever skis she demos. My wife HATED her Experience 84's -- the tail just locked her in too much. She likes her Volkl Yumi's MUCH better off-piste -- and everywhere else -- b/c the tails are rounder and have some taper.

 

[focker]

F, you've gotten lots of recommendations, so this may be unnecessary, but... unless your wife is a strong technical skier, think about avoiding flat, square tails on whatever skis she demos. My wife HATED her Experience 84's -- the tail just locked her in too much. She likes her Volkl Yumi's MUCH better off-piste -- and everywhere else -- b/c the tails are rounder and have some taper.

Yup, my wife's current skis have some tip and tail taper which she likes. She tends to smear her turns some even on the groomers and likes a playful, loose ski. I think when we get into more loose snow she'll like something a bit stiffer though.

 

[cantunamunch]

Yup, my wife's current skis have some tip and tail taper which she likes. She tends to smear her turns some even on the groomers and likes a playful, loose ski. I think when we get into more loose snow she'll like something a bit stiffer though.

The Kore 93W I pulled from recommending would be on the stiffer and technical side of that. It takes skills to make that ski flow at slow speeds.

 

[Andy Mink]

@focker , my wife really enjoys her K2 Fullavit’s (95mm). They were discontinued last season, but rental shops might still have them.
They might be a very good choice, since they are (one of) the most powder specific shapes in that waist width: lot’s of taper and rocker. Making them very easy and forging in powder and bumps. At the same time, they have enough backbone to run through some crud without issue.
They are the women’s version of the Pinnacle 95ti.

View attachment 91565

2018 K2 Fulluvit 95 Women’s Skis – 2018 Ski Test

Whether you’re out west, on the east coast, or somewhere in between the Fulluvit 95 is an approachable, versatile ski that will allow you to explore the whole mountain. For western freeride skiers the Fulluvit 95 might be one of their narrower skis, while eastern skiers may find it had enough...

www.skiessentials.com

My wife has these and really likes them for softer days, not so much on groomers. They do ski short due to the rise at tip and tail. She used them at Big Sky last year during the gathering and had a wonderful time in the constant refills.

 

[James]

I read the thread title as 'looking for a wife, for skiing in Montana'...

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
- Bob Dylan, 1967, Woodstock, NY

Clouds so swift
Rain won't lift
Gate won't close
Railings froze
Get your mind of wintertime
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

I don't care
How many letters they sent
The morning came and morning went
Pack up your money
And pick up your tent
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Buy me a flute
And a gun that shoots
Tailgates some substitutes
Strap yourself
To the tree with roots
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Genghis Khan
He could not keep
All his kings
Supplied with sleep
We'll climb that hill no matter how steep
When we come up to it

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

 

[focker]

My wife has these and really likes them for softer days, not so much on groomers. They do ski short due to the rise at tip and tail. She used them at Big Sky last year during the gathering and had a wonderful time in the constant refills.

I'd definitely be looking for something that can ski well on the groomers, but work well off piste as well. I'm really wanting to get in North Bowl for instance. If the wife doesn't dig it, but can take the North Bowl road while the kids and I ski the bowl.

 

[Andy Mink]

I'd definitely be looking for something that can ski well on the groomers, but work well off piste as well. I'm really wanting to get in North Bowl for instance. If the wife doesn't dig it, but can take the North Bowl road while the kids and I ski the bowl.

Let me clarify...the ski does work well on groomers. My wife prefers a narrower ski due to a bum knee that starts getting sore tipping the wider ski. It'll carve fine, but not like a narrower ski specific to groomers.

 

[Slim]

Let me clarify...the ski does work well on groomers. My wife prefers a narrower ski due to a bum knee that starts getting sore tipping the wider ski. It'll carve fine, but not like a narrower ski specific to groomers.

Yep, that’s my experience too from seeing my wife.

Yup, my wife's current skis have some tip and tail taper which she likes. She tends to smear her turns some even on the groomers and likes a playful, loose ski. I think when we get into more loose snow she'll like something a bit stiffer though.

My wife skis it here in MN as well, even though she has a narrower ski, which she actually l almost never uses. That’s because she too likes the loose and playful feeling.
That’s despite a bum knee (no MCL). Like yours, she smears all her turns, but the Fullavit can get up on edge just fine.
My wife also is a fair bit taller and heavier than yours, and although she doesn’t ski at very high speed, she is not at all timid, and skis the entire mountain on it, up to several of the double black runs at Snowbird, so I would have a hard time imagining it being to soft for your wife.

She also only brings that ski along on our trips out west.
It skis quite well on the groomers, I tried the Pinnacle Ti and agree, it doesn’t have the highest edge grip on ice, and it’s not the instant turn in of a slalom ski, but it is perfectly fun on the groomers.

But wouldn’t your wife use her current ski for icy hardpack, groomer only days, and rent the all mountain west type ski for the days with better conditions?

 

[focker]

But wouldn’t your wife use her current ski for icy hardpack, groomer only days, and rent the all mountain west type ski for the days with better conditions?

Most certainly. For a hardpack day she'd want her current skis. She skied very well on them when we were in Whitefish on a bluebird day.

 

[lisamamot]

@focker I am putting my vote in for the Blizzard Sheeva 9 in the 157 (same as the Rustler 9). Manageable length in a super fun yet stable ski.

I ski my Sheeva 9 most days in New England and also brought them to Aspen and Big Sky last year - they were fabulous out there as well.

If you are looking for some lovely open glades at Big Sky take her on Pomp and Lizette off Ramcharger. Attached photo taken on one of these trails with the Sheeva 9 base glow on display!

 

[Bad Bob]

Montana wives can work out great, speaking from experience. You had best behave though; mine is a much better shot than me.

 

[Bob Simpson]

Focker,
Growing up in Bozeman, and now living closer to Red Lodge, I thought I'd give you a little information about ski shops in the 3 places you'll be skiing. For Red Lodge, I highly recommend The Ski Station in the town of Red Lodge. The area rental shop does list "high performance" demo skis, but I have no idea what the brands are. In Bozeman, I can highly recommend Ph.D Ski (ask for Kevin, and let him know Simpson sent you), and Chalet Sports. They are both on Main St. with the Chalet being downtown, right across from The Baxter Hotel, and Ph.D on the west end of Main, right past a Perkins restaurant. The shop at Bridger has great brands, but it's generally busy as hell on the weekends! At Big Sky, I highly recommend Lone Mountain Sports in the Arrowhead Mall directly behind the main lodge. In fact, I'd also park in the lot that separates the two. They have all the best stuff and keep them tuned! In addition, the coldest beer and great food are located directly above the ski shop accessible by elevator! It's called Scissorbills. Lastly, the North Bowl is mostly a mogul field these days. If that's what you're after, great. If you want a chance for some softer snow, Schlasman's chair is your best bet. If so, rent a transceiver where you get your demo skis.
Have a great time!

 

[Jenny]

Out west I'd like to get her into some wife spaced trees just to get experience in them and realize how fun it can be to do some exploring and get off the groomed paths.

I would like some wife-spaced trees to learn in, too . . .

 

[Jenny]

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
- Bob Dylan, 1967, Woodstock, NY

Clouds so swift
Rain won't lift
Gate won't close
Railings froze
Get your mind of wintertime
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

I don't care
How many letters they sent
The morning came and morning went
Pack up your money
And pick up your tent
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Buy me a flute
And a gun that shoots
Tailgates some substitutes
Strap yourself
To the tree with roots
You ain't goin' nowhere

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Genghis Khan
He could not keep
All his kings
Supplied with sleep
We'll climb that hill no matter how steep
When we come up to it

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Whoo-ee ride me high
Tomorrow's the day
My bride's gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

I love how every set of lyrics I've seen for this song are so different. My absolute fave . . .

 

[Slim]

I would like some wife-spaced trees to learn in, too . . .

Since I am a lot bigger than my wife, and not as good a skier, I would like some husband spaced trees.

Unfortunately, I have kids, so I get the opposite: kids ducking under the branches, and me, at 6’5” getting whacked in the face and chest.

 

[Jenny]

Since I am a lot bigger than my wife, and not as good a skier, I would like some husband spaced trees.

Unfortunately, I have kids, so I get the opposite: kids ducking under the branches, and me, at 6’5” getting whacked in the face and chest.

I have the same problem with a spouse who's a better skier than I am - no kids, though. Getting smacked with things adds an extra dimension to skiing and I really don’t need anything else to think about while I’m out there.

 

[James]

Hah! Like skiing with 6 year olds who are really good. They can hockey stop in a goat path and go right under low branches. No chance keeping up.