Overwhelmed Need Advice

MrTriscut

New member
Hi, Richard from Kamloops, BC here.

I haven't skied much more than 10 days in the years between 1998-2006. There were various reasons for that. From 1993-1998 I skied often since I lived in SLC then and it was a family pastime.

Anyways this season 2016/17 I took it back up again. I did it on the cheap though because I wasn't sure how much I could handle physically or if it was something I wanted to do more of in the future. So I bought a season pass at Harper Mountain and secured a season rental of skis from them just to get my toes wet. I have been absolutely loving it and my addiction is back!

Now I'm shopping for my own gear for next year hoping to snag a deal on something as it's getting to be the end of the season. I have made my way up to Sun Peaks a few times to demo a few different skis, and have been reading plenty of reviews and advice articles on the internets. It has been a pretty steep learning curve let me tell you. From my perspective a lot has changed since I was last skiing regularly. Maybe that's because I have access to more information than I did back then and I was a kid that didn't know any better.

I'm a big dude (I'm working on shrinking) and I would classify myself as a solid class II skier. I definitely enjoy pushing myself and try to get off the groomers as much as I can. For the 2017/18 season my primary ski area will be Sun Peaks with trips to various other ski areas in BC (Revelstoke, Silverstar, Whistler, Fernie, Cypress, etc.) I'll also likely make a trip to SLC to visit my sister and hit up my old haunts (Brighton, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude)

Details of my body currently:

36

Male

6'0"

320lbs

I'm looking for a ski that will bring my game up, maybe even challenge me. I'm really looking forward to learning how to ride switch and do some simple tricks. I know I'm late to the game, and I have no illusions of becoming extremely proficient at anything, but I just want to have some fun. I like skiing all parts of the mountain although skiing in fresh powder is definitely one of the most sublime experiences out there and I seek it out as much as I can.

These are the skis I've tried:

Rossignol Soul 7 HD

Rossignol Sky 7 HD

Solomon QST 99

Line Sick Day 102

K2 Pinnacle 95

Out of that list the Sick Day and Soul were my faves, followed by the Sky and QST.

This is a list of what I have my eye on based on what I've read, availability, price, etc:

4Frnt Gaucho

Line Sick Day 102

Line Sir Francis Bacon

Faction Chapter 106 (mostly because I found it locally for a good price)

Majesty Dirty Bears

Personally at this point I'm leaning towards the Gaucho. It seems like a good match for what I'm looking for and I can snag a new pair from a local shop for a decent price.

I'm all ears here though, I'm open to suggestion. Maybe I'm way off, who am I to say. I'm looking for any help you can provide. I might not even be asking the right people, but I gotta start somewhere. I hope this post conveys where I'm coming from.

If you have any questions for me just ask, I'm an open book.

Thanks for your help everybody it's truely appreciated!!

-Richard

aka MrTriscut

aka Hippy Ricky

aka Space Dream Train Daddy
 
Oh yeah forgot to mention any boot, binding, and pole suggestions are welcome as well. I've got wide feet if that sways you or you care. Lol
 
If there is one piece of gear worth dropping more money on, it's boots. Go to a reputable bootfitter and get a pair of custom footbeds and boots that fit your feet. Foot to boot fit is the most important part of being able to control your skis. All in all I spent around a grand on orthodic footbeds and the whole fitting process and boots in the end. Totally worth it if you plan on getting more into skiing. Don't know i

of any bootfitters in Canada or what fitting rates are like up there but you are bound to find a good fitter in any good ski town.
 
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