My strategy should carry a warning as seen on Fear Factor, so "do not try this at home". Like Gary, I feel that skiing is the one area where I can spoil myself a little, so with the determination of a jones-driven gear-geek, I immerse myself in multiple on-line tools and buy & sell a little compulsively. As a family man I also buy for my three teenage kids who tolerate it-all with healthy amusement.
Is there a method to my madness? Realskiers has converted ski buying from an expensive gamble to a interesting hobby and reduced my costs significantly. I buy all my skis online at eBay or for-sale at the forums. I generally spend $100 to $275 for skis and another $100 for bindings. 90% of the skis I buy are new-old stock, but I will gamble on a "almost-new" model that has been used. Both My Fischer Scenio & my Salomon Supermountain were used but in superb condition with bindings for chump-change. I've only regretted one purchase of a used ski online, so I'm a confident on-line trader.
I normally will buy boots at retail, but again I buy new-old stock. I will also buy boots online if the model is one I've used and I know the correct size from experience. I do feel that a good bootfitter is critical and will pay for this service willingly. Buying boots at a ski show is a viable option and better than buying on-line, IMO.
Like Jim, I am reluctant to trust a new model and I prefer to buy a ski that has been on the market for two or more seasons. I may break this pattern and buy a Monster 82 this year, but most skis I own are recent classics. The advantage of an established model are the multiple opinions based on substantial usage that can be developed at this forum and at Epicski. I don't trust the magazines at all.
I do own a quiver. As a former racer I've had multiple skis for 30 years. I do like every Fischer RX & WC hardsnow skis and a few of their super-wide skis. Head and Volkl consistently make great midfats. I'm willing to gamble on an unfamiliar make and model after ample research.
I am in the process of demoing mid-fat and wider skis when I travel out west. Last year I demoed the Volkl AC4 & Mantra, also the Head Monster 77 & 88. I liked 3 out of 4 of these models and had the opportunity to buy a Flat 77 and AC4 for a good price this summer and passed. Instead I just added a pure powder ski based on the theory that a big guy needs a big ski for float in powder. I'm willing to live with a risky purchase, knowing that I travel with multiple skis and I can always resell without losing too much $.
I generally do resell after one or two years, although this will slow now that I have an attachment to most of the skis listed below my signature. The Dynastar Intuitive 74 is a very good ski, but wider midfats like the AC4 and the Monster 82 outperform this model in every way, so a new midfat will happen in the next 12 months. I still think that the Fischer WC RC is the ultimate hardsnow hooligan ski, although other models are more versatile. The RX8 is the best on-piste ski, IMO.
Midfat & wider skis are more of a challenge to purchase. Several good 76 to 82mm wide underfoot models are out there. Finding one of these at a good price is getting easier. Super-wide skis are very difficult to buy. Many of these models perform terribly and are not well made. I can only think of a half dozen truly great wide skis and its difficult to demo these in deep snow. Its also difficult to find a bargain in these models.
I do enjoy the hunt.
Cheers,
Michael
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