Message #627

[fredm8]

... suppose next you'll be telling us you're heading for the US Rockies for a full winter of skiing.....and if that's true...you are one lucky dude down under! [.quote]

Not this Christmas. Spent 10 days in Aspen last January, and the year before also.  Fantastic time, great skiing, great people, mountains that makes Mt Ruapehu look small.
Cant wait to go back, just not this season.

We're pumped up cause skis season for this part of the world is about to start not thinking about those whose glide and ride is ending.

Its great to see the enthusiasm from afar. Will make me very envious in 10 days time.

So.....did ya have a great season....I just checked out the Turoa web site....WOW what a beautiful area. My daughter spent some time in New Zealand in the semester abroad program. Said we'd love it there. Pretty wide open spaces to ski in. Still, I might find myself being a little jumpy thinking about the volcanic activity.....well just for a momment. Once skiing, all of that would disappear.

There was a bit of a shake down there week before last, and every one got nervous again. It was during a decent storm, so no-one saw actually what happenned, but the warning equipment that monitors the mountain picked up some activity. It happens, thats life.


Thanks for your kind thoughts.

how many times out......
About 10 - 12 days on the mountain, 9 actually skiing.

any big powder days....
No. but 6 great soft spring days in August / September

try any new skis this year....
Where do I start.
Background.
I'm 6'3", 220 lb, reasonable fit 42yo male.
Only skied for the past 4 years, and have probably done about 100 - 120 days total,
I ski in a kind of aggressive approach, ski all the groomed, and some ungroomed trails on the mountain.  Getting my ability up to an 8 or so.
Still honing my technique around the very steeps, and bumps, but we don't get much powder / moguls on Tuora.

Got to demo some Metron 10s, then got spoiled on Metron B5s.

Found Real Skiers.com website and started reading all the reviews (Thanks Peter)
Promptly sold my Head ic160s

Demoed some Head Monster 82s - didn't really like them, too wide under foot, need more powder than the ice / crud Turoa provides.
Next day on some Salomon Scrambler Hots - much better for Turoa than the Monster 82s.
Both days back to back testing the Atomics on the same snow, same runs.

Tried some Volkl S5s. Too soft and flexible for my liking, fell over in the crud !!
Swapped the S5s for AC3s. Much stiffer ski and better suited to me.
Again back to back testing the Metrons against both Volkls.

Plan is to find some Head XRC1400s or SuperShapes next week and see again if I can back to back test the Metrons.
I've got to know the Atomic rep, and he is keen on the feedback.
Had my hands on a pair of new 2007 (red) Metron B5's 172s, but the dealer wanted too much coin for what is now a year old ski here.
2008 spec ski will be $200 kiwi cheaper list ($2000 vs $2200),

Whatever I buy needs to be handle ICE well, as well as be a great all mountain ski.
The real value of all the reviews has been to ski on the reviewed ski, then compare how I felt on the ski vs the reviews.
Then use the next review summary to understand how that relates to my skiing.

favorite ski experience at Turoa....(does not include any time spent with any Lord or any Rings)
Teaching my 9 year old son to skiing this year, and seeing him enjoy the experience. Great instructors.


Sorry if this is a bit long winded, but I tried more different skis this year, than ever before.


Douglas