Ski Comparison Tool

[markanite]

My friend and I have been developing a Ski comparison tool for a few months now. It is still a beta version (though it already has 300+ 06-07 skis) but we would love your opinion and any suggestions on how it can be improved.

You can leave feedback here (I will check this forum). The tool can be found at:

Ski Comparison Tool

Thanks,
Mark

[Raps]

Seems like a good idea......but it didn't really give me any info - maybe helpful for someone with no clue about skiing but it seems like just a list of skis - there is no description of the skis and the range in length for my height was like 158 to 190 - that wouldn't really help anyone out...

[Below Zero]

A Bandit B2 is a powder ski?

[El Chupacabra]

You don't have any skis for me:

4'8", 260lbs, female, snowplowing powder maniac.

[jump]

Cool idea. Only comment at this time would be that when I looked for just one type of ski, the options presented were numerous, way too many to sort through if I was looking for advice.

[smmokan]

It looks like a K2 Apache Outlaw is the top powder ski out there... whoda thought?

[taynton]

Looks like a good start. The site layout doesnt look too great (a bit unfinished looking) and a lot of links just end up with empty pages. Otherwise it is pretty useful, but like was mentioned, probably more useful for beginners-intermediates who dont know a lot about the sport already.

[Squatch]

i didn't try the "wizard" but the "advanced" search seemed fine. If you could find some unbiased (nothing's perfect, but as close as possible) reviews and link them, that would help significantly.

[stuckathuntermtn]

why is 7ft 11inches in there? it DID list ac4's for me first. that pretty cool

[markanite]

thanks for all the replies. We are still tweaking the algorithms so def. say something if u get 'wrong' results. What would be better height sections or would u just like to type your height in?

Thanks again,
Mark

[intro]

well if you are going to do a wizard, i think you should have it recommend a ski length.

i am 6'6 200lb, "Edge" "off piste"

it recommends the outlaw first, which i guess isnt a bad choice... but it should say "outlaw in a 188cm length" i think.

for the 2nd choice it gave... im not sure that recons, with a max length of 181, would be that great a ski for me.

maybe more ski levels would make it easier for your wizard to pick a ski out, e.g levels 1-6

[Toby]

why is 7ft 11inches in there?

For Squatch, who posted right above you.

[markanite]

7ft 11in can be scrapped. I guess we were a little to inclusive there. It is on the to do list.

Regarding suggesting height: If you try the wizard and look at the results it says at the top:

"Spadout Ski Wizard Recommends:
A ski from 180 to 190 cm in length"

Is this what you are looking for? e can make this more obvious of course if that is the problem. Or something else?

[Jer]

Damn! None of my skis are on there! Anybody wanna buy all my skis for cheap?

[Z]

I am such an edge skier it's not even funny.

[FreeHeelin]

cool list/tool.
Ever think about adding the weight of each ski?

[Squatch]

I am such an edge skier it's not even funny.

i think we need another category for people like Z:

"Goes hudge...extra postage."

[L7]

Where to start? I tell it to sort by brand but it just throws stuff in seemingly random order. Atomics are split apart and it starts with K2 then Volkl and throws in a single Salomon. As others have said if I put in my height and weight it should narrow down size choices. Different skis are designed to be skied in different lengths, giving some indication of lengths for different skis would be the most useful tool. There is a lot of room to narrow down skier choice than what is offered. Occassional off piste really isn't my program. In fact I think you should have a drop down and you check mark as many as apply than narrow down skis through the overlaps.

When I go to advanced it's like the weight and skier type info is lost and virtually every ski pops out. I say all mountain and it gives me pimp daddy and thug. I say 'order by brand' and it still defaults to ordering by the site choice. If I pick the order than that check beside the icon that makes no sense should disappear. In fact letting the site order them should just be one of the pull down choices, not a separate thing. In ski type I would think powder or mostly powder should be an option. I would suggest freestyle be more like park and pipe or you might get people expecting Olin mark IVs to show up.

[Boomer28]

"powder maniac" = skis with waist of under 90mm?????

[Brock Landers]

I am looking at the Length (in cm). Could you get it so it gives one quanta length? It reads 163-191 for the AC4, but the AC4 doesnt come in each of those lengths. Besides 163 not fitting the bill for someone over 6 foot, you could just list the applicable lengths that actually exist for that ski in that year. Like saying 183 specifically for the corresponding height/weight/skier type/level. I mean, if youre going to incorporate height/weight, you might as well use it to find the right length. I dont think height has to be as specific- maybe every 2 or 3 inches listed. The radii in different lengths arent going to be the same either. And just having average radii or anything else isnt going to work if you want people to actually buy things off the program- need to be more specific. The MSRP thing may not even matter since people find the skis they want at the prices they are willing to find- it varies too much, especially on the internet (unless you want to sell the skis in which case, lower the prices- people are already on the internet, they can find cheaper one click away). Also may want to include some sort of flex barometer. Not sure how youre going to do this with a semi subjective area, but recommending a Supersport Star for a beginner may not work out (too stiff). Plus, identify which supersport it is (6 star, 5 star etc)

[InspectorGadget]

You don't have any skis for me:

4'8", 260lbs, female, snowplowing powder maniac.

Wow! You have really changed since we met in Moab a year ago.




Tech talk!

[PlayHarder]

dudes, a dynastar w/ 80mm waist is my powder ski.

our ancestors have done more with less waist under foot.

You're right, but bearing in mind that it's 2006, when I specify a powder ski for a 6'2 190# agressive skier, I don't want to see 168's w/ a 74mm waist pop up as an option.

[Squatch]

dudes, a dynastar w/ 80mm waist is my powder ski.

our ancestors have done more with less waist under foot.

dude: Mantras are my hardpack skis.

Our ancestors did not have lighter construction methods, improved torsional stiffness, or forward-thinking ideas to do more with more under foot.

But if you don't believe me, I have some mint S9000s to sell you. $200.

[Lostinthetrees]

granted. hardpack and sun-cupped off-piste, i agree. wider, better.
...but that is not powder conditions.

also, i have skied 18+" blower pow conditions on top of the previous afternoon's rain/sleet/muck. that is not an un-common condition over here (2200m and below). i would have loved to descend and pull out some super wides. again, i agree. wider, better.


otherwise, 80 waist = more chest shots.

[farmasea]

How about a stiffness measure for the recommended skis and a link to the manufacturer's website?

This seems like a pretty use ful too if the algorithms are tightened up enough to discriminate away from a 70mm waist ski as powder specific.

Also does anyone else think that the tool is biased towards K2 products? Or, is it just that K2 has such a deep product line anymore?

My $.02.