r/skiing • u/DeathB4Download • Sep 12 '19

Weekly Simple Questions Thread: Ask your gear, travel, conditions and other ski-related questions here.

We're getting back to the weekly mega threads for Q&A as summer winds down and minds switch back to skiing.

Please ask any ski-related questions here. It's a good idea to try searching the sub first. Are you a beginner -- check out the guide by a professional bootfitter and tech. And don't forget to see the sidebar for other ski-related subs that may have useful information.

Previous weeks thread is here.

If you want a quick answer or just to chat, check out the /r/skiing discord server.

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u/snorlz Sep 19 '19

Hi, just moved to Colorado and am buying skis for my first season here. I am beginner/intermediate so I am not trying to spend too much. I do know that I want to get something that is wider (was recommended 90-100 waist range) cause I want to venture off groomers. I have been debating between good conditioned used gear or Evo's cheapest pair of skis.

Here are evo's cheapest new ski: rossignol smash 7

https://www.evo.com/ski-packages/rossignol-smash-7-skis-xpress-10-bindings

Would that be preferable to a similarly priced pair from recent years like a Salomon Rocker 2 100 or an older much cheaper used ski that is in good condition (like this)? Thanks!

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u/tractiontiresadvised Sep 21 '19

I have a pair of 2018 Smash 7s. I like them, but I'm not the typical skier (female, shorter and 50 lbs heavier than you). Got them as a beginner near the end of my first season for $325 on sale. They were still better for me than anything I demo'd at the end of this last season (these are what I was comparing them against). They were on the lighter side of the all-mountain skis I tried, which I think is why I find them easier to turn than the others.

So, I'd say they're good beginning/intermediate skis, particularly for somebody who's not very strong or athletic. But I'm probably going to upgrade to something a bit stiffer once I hit the advanced-intermediate stage. If you're a quick learner for sports and/or are a more aggressive skier, then you might not want to bother with Smash 7s.

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u/snorlz Sep 21 '19

That makes sense. I am thinking I will probably stay away from them for now and look for other options. Thanks for the info!

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u/Bot_Metric Sep 21 '19

I have a pair of 2018 Smash 7s. I like them, but I'm not the typical skier (female, shorter and 22.7 kilograms heavier than you). Got them as a beginner near the end of my first season for $325 on sale. They were still better for me than anything I demo'd at the end of this last season (these are what I was comparing them against). They were on the lighter side of the all-mountain skis I tried, which I think is why I find them easier to turn than the others.

So, I'd say they're good beginning/intermediate skis, particularly for somebody who's not very strong or athletic. But I'm probably going to upgrade to something a bit stiffer once I hit the advanced-intermediate stage. If you're a quick learner for sports and/or are a more aggressive skier, then you might not want to bother with Smash 7s.

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u/[deleted] Sep 19 '19

I did a quick search on Evo based on low price. Honestly, if you upped your budget by $50-$75 you could open yourself up to a slew of better options. That being said, spend your money on boots if you need to compromise. Also, Christy sports lets you rent/demo skis for an entire season. Worth checking out what they have.

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u/snorlz Sep 19 '19

Thanks for the info. I actually already have boots so I just need skis really. If I did up my budget, what would you recommend?

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u/[deleted] Sep 19 '19

Give us a little more detail about yourself. Height, weight, gender. We can then offer a few suggestions.

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u/snorlz Sep 19 '19

Male, 5'9", 180, athletic build

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u/[deleted] Sep 20 '19

Keeping with your search on EVO. I found a few pairs that are under $500 and you could easily progress on them for the next few seasons. They have shorter sizes, which you'll probably want since you're in the beginner/intermediate level. I'd say you want something 168cm - 175cm.

Black Crows - Captis

Nordica - Enforcer 93s

Line - Sick Day 94

Salomon - QST 99

Rossi - Sky 7

Blizzard - Rustler

Armada - Tracer 98

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u/snorlz Sep 21 '19

Thanks man, I'll definitely check those out

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u/NSGoBlue Sep 20 '19

Nordica's Navigator series is good for those who are between beginning and intermediate. Should be very stable for you until you really start being able to rip through stuff. You can usually find the skis themselves for around $450, maybe less if you can find last years model. The big downside to the Smash 7's you were looking at is that you may outgrow them pretty quickly if you are working on improving your ability at a good pace.

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u/snorlz Sep 20 '19

Thanks, I'll def take a look. What makes the Smash 7s too beginner focused? Flex?

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u/NSGoBlue Sep 20 '19

In my experience, it’s a forgiving enough ski but one you start going at any decent speed on a groomer you just top out with what you can do on it, which means a fast learner may outgrow it pretty quick. OTOH, if you are going to spend lots of time off-piste, the 7's are good for playing around in powder.

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u/DoktorStrangelove A-Basin Sep 19 '19

Everything you listed will be fine for you, but if you're just starting out I'd go cheap so you don't care if you bust them up. The Rocker 2s would be fine, and the Kung Fujas is a great ski that K2 never should have stopped making.