Ski recommendations for an aspiring intermediate chick?

**Deep Days** · 10-09-2006, 06:33 PM

I have a friend here who has never owned skis. She is about finished with her condo in Frisco (

) which is part of the reason why I am looking so furiously for a ski for her.

She can't carve per se, but she feels comfortable skiing MOST (not all) terrain. She's 135 and 5'6, and she has no idea what she wants. I don't think she likes moguls, and when I skied with her, she stuck mostly to the groomed stuff. I'm trying to change this. Bottom line is she's definitely not a park rat.

I can't decide how fat I want her to go, her having never owned skis. When she did ski last year, she rented 75ish mm rentals. One of my questions is this: should I view a 90 mm ski for her as a smaller and softer version of a 90 mm ski for Joe Ripper, or would that be more along the lines of a 95 mm ski for Joe Ripper? Meaning: is a 78 mm waist in a 160 more like an 82 or so waist for a girl? It would seem to make sense, as there are no women's specific boards (other than the b squad) over 95 that I have found.

What I think would be a perfect ski for her (after flexing them) is a 160 Rossi B3W, which is about a 14.4m turn radius and is 120-81-110. I am not sure if she could handle the men's equivalent (should I tell her sack up, learn to ski, and you'll eventually love it?), but I like 83 underfoot better for her. 126-86-114 with the flex pattern of the B3W would be freakin' perfect, but I don't think it exists, and if it does, it's too expensive. The key is I'm pretty sure she would do well to get something that is a little bit stiff for her to start so that she can grow into it.

The question is: what is the best ski for under 300 bucks in the 80-90mm underfoot/semi-stiff but manageable for an intermediate skier/in a 155-163/that ACCEPTS SOLLY BINDERS?

Here is the list I have tentatively compiled, and I am open to more options. All of which are around 162, and I can't remember the exact lengths:
Karhu Jill
165 Pocket Rocket (ski more like a 160 maybe?)
old (90 mm) phat luv
new B3W
new B3
new B3 respect (what the hell is this? Vertical sidewalls?)
sick bird
old b3 (too fat?)
scratch girl bc (too stiff/fat?)
156 queen ativa (possibly too stiff)
and some other tele options that I'm having a hard time finding

I feel like I would jump on a 160 phat luv, a 160 B3W, or a 165 pocket rocket (if there isn't a strong collective voice against the 165 length), so if any of you guys have a pair of any of these three in decent shape for 275 shipped, I'll contact you very soon.

Thanks for the advice. Maybe we can make this into a "skis for the [non-maggot] old lady" thread...

**pechelman** · 10-09-2006, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

I can't decide how fat I want her to go,

126-86-114 would be freakin' perfect

I kept that first part in the quote above cause it made me laugh. anyway

Re the perfect ski you're looking for, the 1080 Foil isnt too far off from that.
Im sure you could find a 166 on sale for fairly cheap. Its a really fun light ski thats torsionally stiff enough for folks up to...say 160ish lbs moderately aggresive.

Also there are some k2 miss d's for sale in gearswap although they may already be spoken for it looks like.

fwiw ive seen some 167 K2 phat luv demos on sale for 315 out the door. call around Im sure you can find those pretty easily.
Also maybe even consider the lotta luv or k2 recon, although those are 78mm.

**Deep Days** · 10-09-2006, 06:48 PM

Heh, you are a funny one.

What I meant was that I can't decide whether I want to get her an 80 mm ski or a 90 mm ski, because 86 does not exist. Err... hold on... What about that queen attiva? Nolpe, not enough sidecut.

Miss D seems ok, but I flexed them and was concerned they were too stiff. And 167 is definitely too long in a phat luv, unfortunately.

**Borat** · 10-09-2006, 06:50 PM

K2 public enemies- the graphics aren't exactly feminine, but my girl rides that setup and is 5-5, 130lbs, and on the 159s. They're a nice intermediate ski at that length. you can also pick up PE demos for pretty cheap (the 159s cost me 150 mounted with tyrolia demo bindings.) If you want to go a little longer, they have 164s and 169s

**dk_alaskan** · 10-09-2006, 06:50 PM

go to www.sierratradingpost.com, they have some SMOKING deals on skis from time to time and i think they have some "chick skis" right now along with boots and other asst. gear

**BakerBoy** · 10-09-2006, 06:51 PM

Fischer Maunga

RADIUS 16 m / 159 cm
SIDECUT 121 - 84 - 109
LENGTHS 159

**Deep Days** · 10-09-2006, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by BakerBoy

Fischer Maunga

RADIUS 16 m / 159 cm
SIDECUT 121 - 84 - 109
LENGTHS 159

FKNA. But does it exist for under 300 bucks?

**BakerBoy** · 10-09-2006, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

FKNA. But does it exist for under 300 bucks?

http://www.peakskishop.com/product_i...18dcf3395042d2

Quick google found this.

Last years graphics, but for $299, so what...

"This 159cm twintip Maunga is the ski for the full-range intermediate woman or junior searching for comfort in the untracked. "

edit: Found it for $284 instead of $299 here...

http://starthaus.com/index.php?subac..._from=&ucat=1&

**Deep Days** · 10-09-2006, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by BakerBoy

http://www.peakskishop.com/product_i...18dcf3395042d2

Quick google found this.

Last years graphics, but for $299, so what...

"This 159cm twintip Maunga is the ski for the full-range intermediate woman or junior searching for comfort in the untracked. "

edit: Found it for $284 instead of $299 here...

http://starthaus.com/index.php?subac..._from=&ucat=1&

I owe you a beer at the Summit.

Thanks a bunch, dood.

**wstdeep** · 10-09-2006, 08:03 PM

Less than 160 for sure and not too stiff, "growing into" a too long, too stiff ski will slow her progress significantly, and unless she really gets to be a ripper she may not ever need to go much longer than that, just fatter.

Second on the PE my wife and daughter both have a pair, affordable, wide enough, and they ski well on the groomers, a great one quiver out west ski she won't grow out of in a season.

Phat Luvs are nice as well but don't do nearly as well on the groomed stuff.

**BakerBoy** · 10-09-2006, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

I owe you a beer at the Summit.

Thanks a bunch, dood.

Pictures will suffice, for now.

**Deep Days** · 10-10-2006, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by BakerBoy

Pictures will suffice, for now.

No way I'm exposing myself to a bunch of freaks on the interweb!

**lemon boy** · 10-10-2006, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Deep Days

No way I'm exposing myself to a bunch of freaks on the interweb!

too late....

**Yossarian** · 10-10-2006, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by BakerBoy

Pictures will suffice, for now.

I'm going to go WAAAY out on a limb here and say that BakerBoi is asking for pictures OF THE CHICK, NOT OF YOU, YOU ASSHAT!

**WWCD** · 10-10-2006, 04:55 PM

If you don't get the Fishers, maybe look at the Fugatives. They're soft, come in short lengths, 85 underfoot, and can probably be found for cheap.

**Deep Days** · 10-10-2006, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Yossarian

I'm going to go WAAAY out on a limb here and say that BakerBoi is asking for pictures OF THE CHICK, NOT OF YOU, YOU ASSHAT!

Sarcasm meter... needs... fixing...

I was actually considering posting some "naughty" pictures of me shirtless or something (Jim S style) to help with the sarcasm, but that would have taken too much effort and would have been really, REALLY gay.

Aren't the Fujatives very park specific/have a very progressive flex, though? May take a look at Public Enemies if they come in a 159...

**Borat** · 10-11-2006, 01:17 AM

The PE's come in a 159- Ive got a pair right behind me that I'm fixing up. Al's ski barn has them new for $350 (http://www.untracked.com/p516-06_k2_...ride_skis.html), and I believe that the on Mountain shop at mammoth has a pair or 2 of demo's left over at $150 with tyrolia demo binders. The shop's number is (760)934-0677, and if you ask them about Last years Public Enemy demo's in a 159, they should be able to help you.

**Deep Days** · 10-11-2006, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Borat

The PE's come in a 159- Ive got a pair right behind me that I'm fixing up. Al's ski barn has them new for $350 (http://www.untracked.com/p516-06_k2_...ride_skis.html), and I believe that the on Mountain shop at mammoth has a pair or 2 of demo's left over at $150 with tyrolia demo binders. The shop's number is (760)934-0677, and if you ask them about Last years Public Enemy demo's in a 159, they should be able to help you.

Sweet. Thanks. ut I sent her a link to the Fischer Maungas and she is ready to pull the trigger. Don't think I can get her to go for a quiver just yet.

**seasquatch** · 10-11-2006, 01:15 PM

What about the Salomon Guns. My gf tried them last season and loved them. They were on sale last weekend in Whistler for 400 CAD, but there were tons of them around and deals shouldn't be hard to come by