Gear Selection Advice

[geraldreed]

I'd like some selection advise please.

Here are my details:
male
5'11"
190 lbs
age 55

Just started skiing again 5 years ago after 25 years off (since college).

I get to go 4 days in a row out West (Mt Spokane, Schweitzer, 49 North, or Red and Whitewater in Canada) each year plus 2-3 days non-consecutive at minor resorts close to home (Paoli Peaks, Indiana or Perfect North, Ohio or Beech, Sugar, etc. in North Carolina).

I've been renting but am ready to have my own gear again.

I ski mostly groomed, blue runs but sometimes something a bit more challenging. Occasionally ski some fresh powder on trails when in the West. I'm a cautious skier--moderate speeds (at my age, I really don't need a broken bone if I can avoid it!). At the places closer to home its sometimes icy.

I want to improve but find it difficult given the limited time I get to ski each year. I sort of wind up at the end of the season where I was at the end of last year?s season. Very frustrating.

I?m thinking I should buy boots first. The problem is that the closest certified master boot fitter is 300 miles away in N.C. There isn't one in Spokane (I?ll be out there again in a month.)

Suggestions? Just how much boot do I need given the low number of days I get to ski each year (damnit!!)

And, what skis do you think I should consider? What length?

Thanks!!
Gerald--

[midwif]

check out : neskisystems.com. Joseph, a PMTS trained instructor and boot fitter in New Hampshire has put together a nice page on the website with equipment recommendations.

See page 4 of the thread on the regular forum "are skis holding me back". harald has a nice bit on skis midway down the page.

Take the time to scroll thru the ski reviews on the realskiers site. Peter's reviews are excellent. Check previous years as well if you decide to look on ebay. I got head new skis for my 24 yr son on ebay. They were from 03-04' and still in the packing with tyrolia rail flex bindings. Good price.

Head iC 160 is a great all around ski from previous years. Grab it if you find it.

[Jim Ratliff]

Gerald:

Boots are more important than skis, and proper fit and alignment are more important than getting high end name brand boots. I would suggest you look at mid level Dabello boots (like CRX fusion from earlier years). They are not rotary and are one of the boots that Harald recommends, and they have (in my opinion) very good value (good features and quality for reasonable prices). As you mentioned, the challenge is the bootfitter, but I wouldn't even consider just going to your local sporting goods store and buying boots without finding a bootfitter.

For skis, I like midwif's iC160 recommendation (I skied a pair for several years). I also think the K2 Omni 5.5 or Escape 5500 (basically the same ski) is an equally good ski that can be found from prior years at reasonable prices (nothing less than the 5.5/5500 though).

Hopefully, with a little shopping you can get mid level boots and prior year skis for not much more than you would spend for either if you were buying newer stuff. Also, sales are probably going to start popping up here in the Northeast since the weather has been pretty warm and rainy so far.

[geraldreed]

Thanks very much to you both!

midwif, I'll check out your suggestions.

Jim, I appreciate your thought too.

Since I posted, my friend in Spokane (who we stay with when we go out each year) has offered to let me try Atomic Beta C8's. 170 cm. They were his son's who has recently upgraded. Not much info on them in the equipment review other than stating they are an "intermediate cruiser". But they may be fine for my purposes and skill level. If so, I know the price will be right. If not, I'll take a look at the iC160's you both suggest.

As for the boots, how important do you think it is to get to a "certified" boot fitter. I wouldn't just go to a sporting goods store. There isn't a "certified" shop in Spokane or here in Nashville. However, my friend knows a gentleman in Spokane with more than a decade of experience. The closest "certified" fitter for me will involve a drive to Asheville--about 300 miles.

Also, any thoughts on how stiff? Seems like most mid-level boots are going to be in the 60-70 range?

Gerald

[Jim Ratliff]

The C8 is a good choice. Similar level to the iC160 and 5500.

I will always take a personal recommendation over any level of certifications in almost any skillset (especially Microsoft certs). I ASSUME that he has a decade of experience AND SATISFIED CUSTOMERS.

He should be able to guide you a lot as far as size of boot and stiffness of boot if you are honest about where and how you like to ski (as you have been here). He should also be able to recommend boots that mesh well with your feet (wide vs. narrow).

The only place where you should (in my opinion) exert your will is in the realm of rotary boots vs neutral boots. I believe Harald's assessment that boots that flex straight forward and give you a relatively upright stance are superior to boots that flex to the inside and "help you steer the skis". This whole terminology or mindset isn't something that is recognized or accepted in the bootfitter world; in fact I've had bootfitters tell me its hogwash. Then I tried on a pair of Lange's which would have required 2 degree cants under the sole to be neutral and a pair of Head's that required no canting (because the Langes were driving my knee to the inside). He still didn't believe the whole rotary thing, even with that evidence in front of him.

I know Harb Ski Systems sells Head's and Dalbello's for this reason, but don't have a good list of other recommended skis that they sell or that are pretty good. I know lange and atomic and many others are rotary.

I imagine this is somewhat challenging to come back to, but its one of the more significant things that changed with the change in ski sidecut.

As a minimum, try to get a boot where your static alignment (when standing straight) is the same (or very close) to your alignment when you flex the boots.

[geraldreed]

Jim,

Again, I really appreciate the time you're offering.

Very glad to know you're familiar with the C8s and glad to know that you think they're comparable. Given that I'll get the "friends" price, it will save me a lot of money. Sounds like they will work fine for me until I'm ready for the next level. The final question that I have in that regard relates to length. Given my size, weight, etc. (see first post), do you think 170s are about right?

And thanks for the good pointers on the boots. I'll probably wait until I get to Spokane and go to my friend's shop. My guess is that he'll do just fine--especially since I can, as you say, exert my will in some critical areas after having educated myself the best that I can.

Gerald

[tommy]

Boots and alignment are key issues , at least if one has any kind of "inconsitencies" in the lower body, e.g knock-need or bowlegged, limited range of motion in joints etc.

I don't know about the state of this business in the states, but in my turf, even the best renowned specialist ski shops really don't come even close to what Harb Ski Systems do & know wrt alignment: few if any do anything on top of moulding footbeds: no measurements taken, no suggestions for canting, shimming, nada. The footbeds you get from these shops are not any better than the ones coming with the boot.

HH & co's alignment session is comprehensive, has a scientific base, and takes about 1h of measurements and fitting work...

My recommendation would be, at least if you think you have any kind of "anomaly" (as most people do) to make an appointment with a Harb trained technician, yup, might be costly in terms of travel, but I guarantee, it's the most important component towards better skiing.

--T

[Jim Ratliff]

I think you may outgrow the C8 in a couple of years and faster than the iC160, but it still sounds like the best way to go and allows a focus on boots. I agree with what Tommy said about Harb alignments, far superior to anything else I have seen. But I also realize that not all can take a trip to Colorado just for alignment.

170 in the C8 sounds fine. I am about the same size as you (maybe a little heavier) and I usually start with the ski second from longest in the manufacturers line-up for that ski (and that would be the 170 in this case). The good news is that you get to try them before you have to make a decision, which is much better than shopping on eBay.

Have fun.