the feeling makes a significant turn for the worse when you bought your skis midsummer, and you're still staring at them the week after christmas and there is still no snow on the ground for them to touch.
BAM! I don't try and save my skis, I'd rather ski them how I want rather than hold back, then again I have easier access to new skis than most so that might play into it. I'd definitely take better care of them otherwise.