HELP - It's dumping and trying to decide on ski

[Perry]

 1st - yes I'm rubbing it in........now that that's out of the way

I have Magnums at 177 but it has snowed 14 - 22 inches in the last 3 days and they are calling for another 6-10 tonight and 7-11 tomorrow as I ski.  If I take my skis, I will have to pay for the bag.  Should I just rent something wider.  I tried to get Chris late in the day when I found out so much more was coming but I figure he had more important things to do............SKI   (that is what I would do)

The Magnums have a big shovel but this looks like big ski snow.  I'll be skiing 3 days.  Bag charge is 40 - 50$

Thoughts?

[gregmerz]

I'd never go on a trip without at least one pair.  Quality rentals can begin to get scarce late in the season.  With that kind of snow, trip costs become irrelevant.

[Svend]

Hey Perry -- we had similar dumps in Utah in Feb.  My Supershape Speeds, which are only slightly narrower than your Mags, were just not wide enough (however, they are shorter than your Mags, and I'm heavier, I think -- 225 -- so take that into account).  They were exhausting in the soft snow on the groomed runs, and impossible in powder (didn't even go there).  Rented wider skis for the rest of the week (80 mm one day, then 88 after that). 

My suggestion -- call ahead to a rental shop and reserve a pair in the width you want and the right length.  I'm doing that for my Alberta trip next week.  Some shops even let you swap skis as many times as you want, so you can try a different pair every day, just for fun.  $35 per day...pretty reasonable.  We did that, and it's a great way to go -- that's how I tried the Mythic Riders before buying a pair.

I would take the Magnums anyway, in case the snow stops falling and the groomers pack things down.  Have fun!!!

[jim-ratliff]

1. If you take the skis, you shouldn't have to pay for the bag.? The airlines count a boot bag and ski bag as a single bag (on Delta, it was phrased as "the ski bag is free").? Even if you don't take the skis, you probably will still have to pay for the boot bag.? Also, I thought most of the airlines were $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second (I have normally paid total of $40 for suitcase, ski bag, and boot bag).

Take the Magnums, because you (or your son) may get tired of fighting all of that powder and decide to stick with groomed slopes.? The Magnums will handle the powder on the trails once it gets skied up a bit, they won't do well off-piste in that much untracked fresh snow.?

2. I like Svend's idea of trying to call ahead and reserve something.? Mythic Riders (88mm) and Dynastar 8000's are commonly available rental (or demo) skis, I also saw Watea 94's in lots of places in Utah (94mm).? There may even be ski rental places at the airport, but you should be ahead of the weekend crowd so shouldn't have trouble finding rental/demo skis.? Even normal rental shops often have "performance skis" that are recognizable models, even though higher priced.

3. Sure hope you have a 4-wheel drive rental.

Observation -- This year it seems to only dump snow when a RealSkier is headed west.? Someone must have a connection, cause all of us have hit 15" plus snowfalls.? Pretty amazing in a year that really hasn't been a huge snow year.

[jbotti]

I remember a huge dump in Tahoe that I drove up to ski in. I expected to be able to rent powder boards, and every place was out of them. I did get bailed out by an instructor I knew who called the Nordica rep and got me some Beasts for the day (back then 90mm underfoot was a powder ski instead of a "midfat"!!). On the way home I decided I would never get caught without the right ski again, and either fortunately or unfornately I have been buying skis (and lots of them )ever since.

I trashed mid fats for years, as I was convinced that the best quiver was a slalom carver (like the SS magnums) for non powder days and a powder board for fresh snow. After skiing the Head IM 78 and the Fischer Watea 84 alot the last two seasons there is a lot of terrain that these skis may be best for (off piste with soft bumps and chop for a few days after a storm). As well, these are skis you can take on a trip and they will ski groomers and powder, and you don't need to bring two pairs of skis everywhere (like I did for years).

Now I am not trying to get you to buy more skis, but one can make a strong case for you to add either a midfat, or a powder ski (or both!!) to your quiver. The difference in enjoyment and ease on the legs and body between skiing a true powder ski in deep fresh snow and skking a slalom carver is pretty big. Of course there are those with technique so pure that it hardly makes a difference. I am nowhere near that, so having powder boards makes a huge difference.

Lastly, no matter what skis you are on, your trip is already a huge success. Enjoy, it should be a blast!!

[Svend]

Totally agree with everything J & J said! You may want to put some consideration into buying a wider pair, like I did, as a single pair to take west when the outlook is for significant snowfall.? The midfats (80 to 90 waist) are amazingly versatile (never thought I would say that), and can really rip it on the groomed hardpack if you get the right pair.? I didn't want to pay a lot of money for a pair I would maybe use five or ten days a year, so I bought a pair used, in like-new condition, for about the same cost as ten days rental would be.? Made financial sense to me, and I would break even after only a year.?

Even if you want to buy new, there are some great deals out now on end-of-season clearouts -- new Mythics or 8000's for $450; Elan 888's for $500, all w. bindings....hard to go wrong.? Not trying to get you to buy more skis either, but if you do the math, it begins to make sense in the long term.? Sounds like you go out west at least once or more a season --- you'd probably get a lot more use out them than you think.....

Anyway, just my 2 cents....food for thought....

And yes, do get a 4x4, preferably a Subaru with a functional fifth gear?

[Glenn]

I'm trying to muster up some sympathy here.    I skied out in Utah on a pair of Rossi 7S skis back in the day. I think any "modern" ski will do just fine. 

[Ron]

Take the Magnums, because you (or your son) may get tired of fighting all of that powder and decide to stick with groomed slopes.? The Magnums will handle the powder on the trails once it gets skied up a bit, they won't do well off-piste in that much untracked fresh snow. ?
2. I like Svend's idea of trying to call ahead and reserve something.? Mythic Riders (88mm) and Dynastar 8000's are commonly available rental (or demo) skis, I also saw Watea 94's in lots of places in Utah (94mm).? There may even be ski rental places at the airport, but you should be ahead of the weekend crowd so shouldn't have trouble finding rental/demo skis.? Even normal rental shops often have "performance skis" that are recognizable models, even though higher priced.

3. Sure hope you have a 4-wheel drive rental.

Observation -- This year it seems to only dump snow when a RealSkier is headed west.? Someone must have a connection, cause all of us have hit 15" plus snowfalls.? Pretty amazing in a year that really hasn't been a huge snow year.

I didn't really read this did I????

Perry, bring whatever but you need to ski pow with rentals!? With a dump like that, you should be on something about 95-110 underfoot, a easy choice is a K2 Obsethed Partial rocker, still very doable on the soft groomed. It makes skiing powder effortless so you are not tired and can ski as much pow as you can find!? What's your weigth and height? A mythic is too stiff for real powder skiing (its a great ski though) anf the 8K is too skinny. Think soft and easy flexing.

[jim-ratliff]

Yep, you read it right.  Perry's son is a boarder and they are from North Carolina.  Doubt that he has ever been in powder before, and walking (and dragging the board) around in 20" of snow trying to learn to ride the board with the base pushing against the powder rather than balancing on the edge could get old real fast. 

I envy you that you've gotten that comfortable in deeper powder, but I'm not there.  I was ready to take a break and ski groomed slopes periodically.  Was really glad that the Watea 84's that you and Gary twisted my arm into buying were capable (more capable than I, in fact).

[Gary]

Jim....once we find our center on skis and ski them using soft edges in the powder, the wider boards require less energy vertically because they floats more readily to the surface. It becomes a matter of letting your feet with light pressure to the edges direct the skis into long or shorter turns.

Next time you're facing a deep snow day, rent a board 90 to 100 underfoot as your next evolution to skiing powder. You may find going wider even up to 110 underfoot makes the experience like surfing on a cloud.

I love skiing it all but give me a 1-2 foot powder day anyday.....dream snow.....floating.. ...smiling.....Swee t! 

G

[Ron]

Yup! 

In fact, I just bought these today!

http://www.sierraskis.com/2009-K2-Hellbent-44525.asp

if you use the coupon code epic20 you can get and additional 20% off anything....

[Svend]

With fatties like that, Ron, you're ready to head north and do the Powder Highway in the British Columbia interior....big mountains, big snow....just waiting for you, calling your name   

[ToddW]

 Of course there are those with technique so pure that it hardly makes a difference. I am nowhere near that, so having powder boards makes a huge difference.

Hey Perry,

Financial incentive to attend Lynn's Eastern clinic!? Invest in quiver or invest in "technique so pure" and rent pow boards for now ... ?


Trick question:? the answer is obviously both.? Now is the time to invoke rule 5.? Acquire literature on women-specific powder skis.? Place it strategically.? Casually mention that Lynn's campaign for an eastern clinic is getting a lot of attention on this forum.? Let Gloria perceive the obvious answer on her own, and then obey dutifully?

[Ron]

so tue, skiing pow is a different skill set. Once you do get it, it's a very easy way to ski that can be used in chop, broken and other off-piste conditions.  Rockered tip ski's, flat and reverse camber (also rockered-type) are definitely here to stay and they do work very well, for a ski like a 10mm rocker tip, they don't require any modification in technique obviously, they aren't used on a race ski or a hard snow carver. The width underfoot is really not an issue, if you haven't ski a wide board, you should really give them a try. In general, they have nothing to do with skill level, anyone who can normally ski soft snow or off-piste terrain will just find it easier; less fatigue, able to ski more difficult terrain with more precision. More runs, more smiles per mile. Another advantage of a ski like a Hellbent or similar is that you can low angle powder where you can't with traditional skis. An example of this is green and blue runs where there is untracked powder because there's not enough pitch to normally ski on. The combo of the rocker and width allow the ski to plane up and maintain enough speed for those areas.

here's a strange japanese video of some dude skiing Helbents in-bounds in about a foot of powder, 



Here's a good example of someone skiing them on spring groomed snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2CRUDGubwM&feature=related

[SnowHot]

Yup!?

In fact, I just bought these today!

http://www.sierraskis.com/2009-K2-Hellbent-44525.asp

if you use the coupon code epic20 you can get and additional 20% off anything....

Ahhhhh, Ron, I'd love to let you live vicariously through me, but I think I'll just go shopping instead.

For the OP............Go get a taste of some of that powder!  Enjoy!