What's a good ski for a big guy?
I need something easy to turn because I am not the most athletic guy nor adventurous. All I am looking to do is be able to cruise down the mountain at a leisurely pace.
--I am getting a season pass for Winter Park for my daughter and I.
--a post Christmas/new years and a spring break trip.
--at least 10 or maybe a few more days of skiing.
--buying boots/skis.
--I can do wedge turns but am still too chicken bleep to turn that uphill ski parallel and do proper turns. I am going to take a lesson and look forward to getting that down.
--We'll get fitted and find boots before we go.
--I'm 6'3 250, she is 5'2 110.
@Elroy, start a "what boot should I buy" thread before buying boots. Include what town you'll be buying them in. Why? Because the wrong boots will mess up your progress, and many first-time buyers get the wrong boots. You need to know some things to make a good choice. You'll need to know which store and which bootfitter to use in your area to avoid the usual problems.
Also, if you are still making turns in a wedge, don't bother demoing. Those who say you won't be able to discern the important differences are right. You'll be making turns on more-or-less flat skis when making your first hybrid wedge-parallel turns. Skis don't display what they are capable of until the skier learns to get them up on edge and to let the skis do their thing.
Here are some things you and the OP's buddy need to know about buying skis.
1. Don't get skis too wide. When you are ready to learn how to use the edges, you won't be able to get them up on edge when you ski on hard snow groomers. Where do you ski? How frequently do you ski on "hard" snow, snow that didn't fall last night or the night before? If frequently, get skis with a waist below 80. If your mountain gets frequent (weekly) snow most of the season, get skis with a waist between 78 and 88, but probably not higher.
2. Even though you weigh a lot, you say you are not adventurous. By that I'm guessing that you don't want to be skiing at 50 mph down blue groomers by the end of next season feeling the wind in your ears along with a massive adrenaline rush. So, don't get skis too stiff. By this I mean don't buy skis marketed to advanced and expert skiers, or made for "hard charging." Do not buy stiff skis meant to be skied fast - such as race skis. People will recommend you get burly skis because of your weight. Ask them if their recommendation stands if you choose to always ski cautiously and slowly.
3. Get skis with a short turn radius. The short radius they will want to make will express itself clearly when you are learning to use your edges. If you get a long radius ski, you won't be able to get the ski to help you maintain those slow speeds you'll be seeking. By short radius I mean 11-15 meters. This should be written on the ski somewhere as TR 14, or something like that.
4. Purchase a season-long service at your local ski shop for tuning of your skis, and use it. Skis need to stay waxed and sharp. Pay someone to do this for you on a regular basis.