head, volkl, atomic, line chronics, are indestructable. heads and atomics especially. most of the companies with race backgrounds have more durable skis, just for the fact that construction is more consistant, and race skis take a hell of a beating too. but yeah, for what your talking about, your prolly better off just using whatever yuou have, and ridding them till they wont move. when they get that bad, take a belt sander to um with a fine belt, and smooth um down. its no stone grind, but on real chewed up stuff, it helps. you just gotta buff um out with a scotchbrite pad.