What skis are best for me?

I live in Maryland and go to the local resorts like Liberty, Whitetail, and Roundtop so mainly east coast skiing. I plan to go out west once-twice a year. I like skiing shorter skis and I don't do park but open to trying something longer. Just looking for an all around good ski for the east coast with some out west skiing.
 
topic:Moist_Oatmeal said:
I live in Maryland and go to the local resorts like Liberty, Whitetail, and Roundtop so mainly east coast skiing. I plan to go out west once-twice a year. I like skiing shorter skis and I don't do park but open to trying something longer. Just looking for an all around good ski for the east coast with some out west skiing.

What is your size, ability level, and what skis have you used and liked or disliked in the past?
 
14092870:mystery3 said:
What is your size, ability level, and what skis have you used and liked or disliked in the past?

I'm 6'0 about 210, id say a 3, currently skiing 2019 Volkl Revolt. They are 156's, yes I know that they are small but I had a pair of older longer K2's and didn't like how they turned. I enjoy the Revolt's but I don't ski park, I just wanted something different.
 
On3p woodsman 96 for a directional or the Jeffery 96 if you want a more freestyle twin. Really suggest riding something longer though.

**This post was edited on Jan 2nd 2020 at 7:47:06pm
 
What size do you think would be good without being huge for me?

14092922:CatdickBojangles said:
On3p woodsman 96 for a directional or the Jeffery 96 if you want a more freestyle twin. Really suggest riding something longer though.

**This post was edited on Jan 2nd 2020 at 7:47:06pm
 
14092922:CatdickBojangles said:
On3p woodsman 96 for a directional or the Jeffery 96 if you want a more freestyle twin. Really suggest riding something longer though.

**This post was edited on Jan 2nd 2020 at 7:47:06pm

Would a 96 be to big for a mostly east coast ski? I was looking for something more for east coast but could use out west.
 
14093060:Moist_Oatmeal said:
Would a 96 be to big for a mostly east coast ski? I was looking for something more for east coast but could use out west.

No not at all. 96 is the narrowest ski in my quiver and I ski in Maryland too.
 
Liberty Transfer or Genesis 90

**This post was edited on Jan 3rd 2020 at 12:20:07pm

**This post was edited on Jan 3rd 2020 at 12:31:46pm
 
14093145:Moist_Oatmeal said:
I was looking at the Nordica Enforcers 93, anyone know about them?

You may be in the wrong forum. Teton Gravity Research or PUGSKI will have a lot more members who are going to be knowledgeable when it comes to daily driver/carvers. Although there maybe a few in here who can answer the majority of members here are all deranged park/freeride skiers who tend to stick to more park/freeride oriented setups.
 
14093150:skithemidwesttt said:
You may be in the wrong forum. Teton Gravity Research or PUGSKI will have a lot more members who are going to be knowledgeable when it comes to daily driver/carvers. Although there maybe a few in here who can answer the majority of members here are all deranged park/freeride skiers who tend to stick to more park/freeride oriented setups.

Gotcha, I appreciate your feedback!
 
Not a deranged skier but I’m on all 3 ski forums here at your service.....lol

Think some of the options mentioned would be good ideas as your biggest current issue is your ski length which should definitely be in the 180cm plus range. A slightly wider and longer ski will be slightly more work to put on edge but the stability and edge hold will be on another planet as you will have so much longer effective edge. Will feel strange for the first few hours and then you’ll wonder why you suffered with short skis for so long! Mid 90s width will be a good daily driver for you that also wouldn’t be bad in a bit of snow out West.

You asked about the Enforcer 93 which is a great ski which I have owned but it will be less playful and fun and more serious compared to what you’re used to. You say you don’t go in the park but do you like to hit side hits on the groomers, hit moguls and have a bit of a freestyle bias to your skiing? If so, you can move to one of the many All Mountain freestyle skis out there which are fun all over the mountain and you just don’t mount them as far forward like a person hitting the park would.

Revolt 95, Line Chronic, K2 Poacher, Dynastar Menace 98, ON3P Woodsman or Jeffrey 96 etc would all be fun, playful skis that can still carve a turn.
 
Thank you for the reply, this was very helpful. I do enjoy hitting side jumps and stuff like that on groomers, but going over big jumps in the park is not for me. I also enjoy skiing backwards. I was looking to stay in the lower 90's since I mainly stick to east coast skiing but if everyone is recommending something a bit higher, I will look into that. I was looking at the Enforcer 93 and the Salomon QST 92 but will take a look at the list you provided. Do you think jumping to a 177 would be a huge change for me? The reason I stayed with a smaller ski is that I enjoy doing quick turns and such. I was looking at a 169 but is that too small still? I think the 180s would be a bit too high for me.
 
14093184:Moist_Oatmeal said:
Thank you for the reply, this was very helpful. I do enjoy hitting side jumps and stuff like that on groomers, but going over big jumps in the park is not for me. I also enjoy skiing backwards. I was looking to stay in the lower 90's since I mainly stick to east coast skiing but if everyone is recommending something a bit higher, I will look into that. I was looking at the Enforcer 93 and the Salomon QST 92 but will take a look at the list you provided. Do you think jumping to a 177 would be a huge change for me? The reason I stayed with a smaller ski is that I enjoy doing quick turns and such. I was looking at a 169 but is that too small still? I think the 180s would be a bit too high for me.

Neither of those skis are gunna ski switch or “backwards” very good. Those are both directional skis. They’ll ski switch but nothing like a real twin. 177 is about the smallest ski you should be looking at and honestly that’s probably too small for all mountain riding especially if you are a 3. Just cause a ski is longer doesn’t mean you can’t make quick short turns. You are 100% overpowering your current skis. You also have to look at if a ski is rockered or not it will affect how short or long they ski. And I’d say 80% of all skis have some rocker now.
 
Think 169cm is too small and at least I’d go at least 177cm. The current Volkls you have actually like doing longer rather than shorter turns, so even with your current short skis, the natural turning radius of many 177/180cm skis are the same! So it won’t be too long of a learning curve.

If you like doing side hits and skiing backwards, I don’t think I’d consider the Enforcer or QST as they aren’t twins and their binding mounts are further back making them feel longer and not as balanced in the air.

Skis like the Rustler 9(with the mount up a cm or so) might be an option in between a freestyle twin and a traditional ski. Owned that ski as well and it was fun and playful. Not a twin but tail up a bit. Fisher Ranger 94 FR another great ski that carves very well but better in the air than a carving ski. These skis a bit forward on the mounts or those other freestyle skis I mentioned earlier a bit further back would make them ski shorter than an Enforcer or QST so the size jump won’t be that big a deal. Honestly a day on some fun and easy to ski 180cm and you will feel silly for skiing on such unstable skis for so long! Your confidence will soar on longer skis.
 
Nordica is revamping the enforcer lineup and changing the Enforcer 93 to be the Enforcer 94 and potentially changing the flex pattern and shape a little. I would recommend waiting until next year to pick those up. And like Greg said, go 177 in those. That ski allows you to go a little longer without feeling overbearing. It skis so well and can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it from an east coast perceptive. There is a reason that and the 104 free are sold out everywhere already. Even Nordica does not have any 19/20 left for dealers to reorder.
 
Try hitting up a local shop. Lots of guys know their shit, but also do your own research. As a ski salesman, I hate selling someone a ski where I’m taking a shot in the dark. Come in, let them know your history with skiing and all that, what types of skiing you do, all that. That should give the employee an idea of what types of skis you’d like.

P.S.

If you go into the store and they spend time talking about the skis and recommending them: BUY THEM THERE. Nothing pisses me off more than someone coming in, taking pictures of the models they like, and saying “i’m going to think about it.”

SUPPORT THE LOCAL SKI SHOPS, they need it pho sho.
 
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