I know you're not chris. I know I don't really need the skis that I'm looking at. BUT, here's the thing. When I buy something, I keep it for a hell of a long time. The jacket I use is 25 years old. It ain't stylish, but I'm going to use it until I outgrow it. If I buy I pair of skis, I'm going to use them until I outgrow them, or they cease to work, which I assume will be a number of years. By the middle of the lifetime of the ski, I'll probably be good enough for the ski. What is the lifetime of skis anyway?