r/skiing • u/AutoModerator • Jun 27 '25
Megathread [Jun 27, 2025] Weekly Discussion: Ask your gear, travel, conditions and other ski-related questions
Welcome! This is the place to ask your skiing questions! You can also search for previously asked questions or use one of our resources covered below.
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Use this thread for simple questions that aren't necessarily worthy of their own thread -- quick conditions update? Basic gear question? Got some new gear stoke?
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Search previous threads here.
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u/Ski_always Jul 12 '25
Here is my question. I am a low Advanced skier(Probably a Level 7). I comfortably ski Reds and Blacks in the Alps. I am 57 so as my kids tell me "you are clearly past your prime but not old yet". I am 6'2" (188cm) and 250lbs (114kg). Right now I ski on a pair of Sender 104TI with a 172 length.
I have always skied shorter skis and I am thinking of going to a longer ski (maybe a 184).
My question would be is it worth it? I ski about 10 days a year and I like to go fast but I am past the point of trying to do anything crazy beside get to the Apres ski spot faster. Has anyone made the leap to a longer ski and what was your experience?
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u/Techhead7890 Queenstown 19d ago
I second Lost-in-LA's comment, rent longer lengths and see how it goes, whether they're too heavy for you, whether they feel more stable, stuff like that. Even if I did like the stability from longer thicker skis, the weight was the thing I noticed. So I basically ended up back at my old size for now, but I probably will end up going longer eventually if I want to get better at skiing fast and carving.
As for whether they're worth it -- depends how fast your adult children can ski, your budget, and how new/old your current skis are (I'm seeing that Senders were last season or two, so pretty new?), I suppose!
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u/Lost-Ad292 Jul 16 '25
Hello everyone,
I have been out skiing a handful of times in my life and have really enjoyed it. With it being such an expensive sport/hobby I am looking into buying my own gear now. With that being said I have absolutely no idea what I am looking for or need. My primary goal would be ski mountaineering after I get better. I would like thoughts on what I would do for my setup. I really hate the rental ski boots that I can only describe the feeling of walking in high heels or how I'd imagine a horse walks.
Boots: La Sportiva Skorpius CR II: I really like La Sportiva I use a lot of their other types of boots and shoes and love Boa,
Skis: Black Diamond Helio Carbon 95: I am 5' 10" or 69cm in height and weigh 140 pounds if that matters. Would I be able to use these on alpine terrain as well as some resorts/hills?
Bindings: Dynafit Radical ST Bindings: Honestly no idea if these are what I'm looking for or not
Poles: Black Diamond Carbon Cork & Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
I really don't know if these things would pair well, and for what I would like to do. I'm very new and any advice would be appreciated before I go and blow thousands. I don't plan on being a super crazy skier but would like to have a future proof setup if possible. Thanks for your time
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u/wa__________ge Alta Jul 18 '25
Are you actually looking to ski BC or looking for a setup in the resorts... I can help you but need some direction..
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u/Lost-Ad292 22d ago
Sorry for the late reply. BC is my overall goal. I’ve been skiing only a handful of times though so I know I am not good enough yet for what I want to do. So I think maybe what the other person suggested may be best? I do not have an unlimited budget though so if a BC setup works just as fine at resorts that’s good with me. I honestly know very little that’s why I came here, I’ve just been asking ChatGPT my questions but that is very unreliable. I guess it would maybe help to know what I really want to do BC wise? I’m looking at moving out west and would like to ski descent Colorado’s 14ers as well as do some couloirs
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u/Techhead7890 Queenstown 22d ago
I second both other replies, and agree with Yak's comment the most. You have the right instinct that boots are required (that high heel comment is fabulously on point), but I think you're throwing around a bit of overkill here while undervaluing other things. (Oops, weeks late but still hope this is useful.)
Get some downhill resort boots fitted (and I think most people would say resort boots are much more applicable and often used than backcountry boots anyway), and go from there. If you have the money to throw at the sport, you can probably afford two separate pairs of boots anyway. And double BOA is the in-thing this season anyway, if your shop has this year's stock, you'll be able to find a wide range of boots with upper BOAs anyway.
Just in summary, throw that time and money at a shop and get a boot specialist. Literally fly out to Avon, CO and go to Boot Mechanics if you have to. But I'd rather you got the right thing rather than something unworkable and had some kind of freak accident with it.
PS: I don't even want to start on the specifics of anything else, but I think your height measurement screwed up somewhere - 5'10"in is 70 inches and lines up with 179cm converted?
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u/Lost-Ad292 22d ago
I will be coming to Colorado this December for an AIARE course (I’ll be snowshoeing unfortunately) but, I will take your advice and take a look at that shop. I think you’re right on my conversions I think I wrote the original post super late at night.
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u/Techhead7890 Queenstown 22d ago
Sounds like a plan. And hey, whatever sport you do, take the snow when you can get it.
If you can't make it to that one, there are about 6 other recommended ones throughout the state like Boulder and Aspen: https://www.reddit.com/r/skiing/comments/1mbpizf/recommended_bootfitters/
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u/Haunting-Yak-7851 Boyne Jul 18 '25
Disclaimer: I'm a resort skier, not into mountaineering. But I think you're heading the wrong direction. Your future proof setup is going to get in the way of learning to ski, or at least is financial overkill for now. What you need now is a resort set up to learn skiing well so you can then transition to the backcountry.
My recommended path would be to go to a bootfitter to get fitted for some resort boots. You really want to get this fit right, and buying online is not going to do that unless you get really lucky.
For skis, boots, bindings, get online and check out reviews for 2024 and 2025 skis. Look for all mountain skis that are kind of good at everything. Then start looking online for used gear at some of those skis. Many will come with bindings (I've used Lone Pine Gear Exchange).
Use this gear for however long it takes you to get confident enough at skiing, then sign up for a backcountry class to get you started on the mountaineering part. Some offer equipment rental. If you like it, then it would be time to get a package like you describe above.
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u/kostya-levin Jul 23 '25
Is this the best time of year for clearance sales on gear in the US? Or am I too late
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u/DoctFaustus Powder Mountain 28d ago
There are still clearance skis out there, but the stock has been getting picked over for a few months. So selection is limited.
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u/DoktorStrangelove A-Basin 22d ago
If you live in a major ski region like CO then the big retail chains are currently consolidating unsold physical inventory and there will be blowout sales starting in the next few weeks. Traditionally Labor Day is a big sale time but stores will start putting outlet inventory on the floor a couple weeks before that. There are a few reasons these sales aren't as good as they were 10+ years ago, but they can still be really good.
For online retailers they kinda started back in Spring and they're probably getting pretty picked at this point. Same goes for smaller shops especially at the resorts themselves, they start discounting stuff pretty deep before the season even ends, especially on demo fleet gear. There are some exceptions to this like Powder7 which is a store in Golden with a big e-commerce presence, they buy demo fleets and unsold inventory from other stores as well as directly from manufacturers' industry demo fleets that they used last season to market this current season's gear to retail buyers, so they'll have current year demos on sale at a discount and they have a pretty huge selection currently.
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u/New_Order_6365 Jun 29 '25
Wanted to post here before making my own thread. Me and my girlfriend are native Floridians and want to go skiing for the first time next March. We plan on staying a week wherever we go. Any recommendations? We can fly out of Atlanta or Tampa if that makes a difference (from north Florida but attend school in the south)
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u/DoctFaustus Powder Mountain Jul 03 '25
It's going to be difficult to beat Salt Lake City, since both it and Atlanta are Delta hubs. Stay in Park City, ski at Deer Valley. If that's in the budget. I wouldn't bother with a car, just be sure your lodging has transportation options to the hill. Lift tickets are WAY cheaper if you buy them before Thanksgiving. Deer Valley is on the Ikon pass.
But Park City and DV are not the cheapest destinations no matter what. You can save money by either dealing with more travel hassle on the front end, or each day in the morning on the commute. It's cheaper to take lessons at some place like China Peak. But there is really nothing there except the ski hill and Fresno is not a tourist city either. Plus there is limited airline service and no public transportation options to get you there. Knowing where you land and budget and hassle tolerance levels are will help you get more info.
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u/Haunting-Yak-7851 Boyne Jul 15 '25
Just FYI, flying from the east SLC is always $100 to $200 more than DEN, even from Delta hubs. Some of that savings can be made up with shuttle prices, but they aren't that much cheaper, either, in my research.
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA Jul 07 '25
Brian Head in Southern UT is a great place to learn skiing.
🏔️ Why Brian Head ?
Easy Access The ski area is a mellow 3 hr drive from Las Vegas and the last time I checked, flights to Vegas were plentiful and affordable. And it’s always fun combining a few nights in Las Vegas as part of the trip.
Beginner-Only Zone: Navajo Peak is a dedicated space for beginners, and completely separate from expert slopes. Having a separate beginner space is safer and more enjoyable being away from aggressive advanced skiers.
No gear? No problem Georg’s Ski Shop can rent you most of the equipment, including skis, jackets, pants, etc.
Laid-Back and Stress-Free: Smaller crowds, shorter lift lines, and a relaxed vibe make for a fun trip.
Affordable Packages: With cheaper lift tickets, rentals, and lessons, skiing here won’t drain your wallet (too much ;)
Have questions?: Contact Brian Head directly.
—
Pro Tip: Ski resorts don’t rent everything you need — e.g. gloves, goggles, and ski socks are usually not available for rental. I would ask Georg’s ski shop what they have, and consider stopping in St. George, Utah on your way. For local advice on where to shop, check out the r/StGeorge Reddit group.
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u/New_Order_6365 Jul 07 '25
Thanks! Will definitely check this out
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25
Also you might consider learning to ski in Quebec province: nice people, good food, beautiful countryside, and a favorable USD/CAD exchange. Le Sommet St Saveur has an excellent ski school and a beautiful hotel/spa a short walk to the slopes.
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u/Haunting-Yak-7851 Boyne Jul 15 '25
Whatever you do, you should pick your resort and buy the ski passes (Ikon or Epic unless it's a smaller resort) before September 1. You do not want to be purchasing single day lift tickets after that.
Here is my suggestion, based on the fact that you are beginners--this means that you don't need to spend the entire time at a big name brand resort for skiing and also that unless you are a superfreak athlete you won't be skiing all day long for 7 days.
Fly to DEN and rent a car. Drive to Granby Ranch, stay near there. It's going to be (relatively) cheap and a good place for you to learn. Also buy 2 days of passes at Winter Park. That will let you try out a bigger place during the week (you can either drive there from Granby or get a place to stay in Winter Park).
The only caveat would be if you are going late March--in past years Granby has been open through the end of March, but of course that depends on the weather.
You might want to consider putting some flexibility in for your travel to and from the airport so you can time your drive when it isn't a storm.
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u/Techhead7890 Queenstown 19d ago
Appreciate your notes (and the extra context about flying from ATL-SLC or similar routing). And I think you're right to recommend a smaller independent resort rather than something on the big passes that could get crowded or jack up their day pass rates.
I'm not the guy you replied to so this part is going offtopic, but out of curiosity does Copper or Snowmass tend to stay open into spring? I heard those were the nice gentle resorts for beginners but I'm curious if they would still make sense in March.
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u/Haunting-Yak-7851 Boyne 18d ago
Copper definitely would be open in March. I’ve never looked at Aspen (for cost reasons) but I suspect it would.
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u/Ski_always Jul 12 '25
I'll give you two recommendations, one normal and one sort of out there.
The normal recommendation would be Breckenridge. A good low-cost resort with a strong ski school and decent infrastructure. It's basically a flight from Tampa to Denver on Southwest and then a shuttle trip out there. You don't need a car since the village is walkable and they have a shuttle from most of the resorts.
Now for the out there options since you're from Florida. Latam Air has a cheap flight from Miami to Santiago and skiing in Chile is very cheap and awesome as long as you speak Spanish. I ski at Valle Nevado during the Summer and it is amazing skiing. They have a great ski school and a ton of beginner and intermediate slopes. There is a not a whole lot of English spoke there though and I would not try a ski school without knowing Spanish.
Both these recommendations are high altitude though. You save money (in my opinion) with the higher altitude resorts since a lot of people are not okay with 10K foot elevations.
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u/IcyDatabase9126 Jul 13 '25
Hey Guys, so i am also having a question. Last season really enjoyed Icelantic Nomad 115 181 (renting for 1 week+). I really liked the ability of this pair to be soft and playful and at the same time pretty stable on the tracks, also they are surprisingly light and pretty fun in flat freestyling for this configuration. Due to some reasons i cant find this pair in my country so i am searching for something similar with same (or more) playfulness and same (or little bit less) stability on the piste with the similar (or less) weight and of course great control and flotation in deep snow. There is also possibility to choose more towards real off-piste versus big mountaint (blistreview grade it like a Big-Mountain Ski, not a real pow ski, but i am not sure about this rate)
Some prerequisites:
- 75 kg (165 lbs), 175 cm (5'9''), 26 y.o, ex-proffesional moguler (in the youth), for now having fun in the park (i have a separate pair for this), freeride lvl i would say 7/10
- Skiing Locations are mostly in this config: Tight Terrain Tree Powder (sometimes Soft Chop) 50%; Medium Wide Powder lines 25%; Piste 25%
Would be very happy if you provide some tips to my sitations. Also i leave some post about the same questions but to my sadness it got almost no replies :(
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u/Fit-Salamander275 Jul 19 '25
Looking for a resort in Canada/Europe that offers truly advanced kid ski lessons for a week or two.
Kid is under 10, don’t want them in with older teens - not socially ready.
(Skis whole resort in bounds, parallel, controlled, learning some drops, can ski deep snow)
Noticed that some clubs/free ride programs are over 10s.
Then there are ski schools for up to 14y for advanced.
I’d prefer they’re in with peers 8-11y and ripping the whole mountain.
Thanks for any advice
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u/Beatcoma Jul 23 '25
Hey all, Going to be skiing El Colorado and Valle Nevado Chile in a month, wanted to know if anyone had any Esim advice on which one works well up in that area. Thanks!
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u/Icy-Description-2404 21d ago
Can someone recommend some high-quality all-mountain skis?
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA 21d ago
To be fair, almost all of the skis produced by major manufacturers can be considered good quality. The guys at Ski Essentials do a good job of explaining the differences between various Ski makes/models.
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u/Icy-Description-2404 20d ago
Thank you. Black crow caught my eye, thoughts?
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA 20d ago
Black Crows is considered a premium boutique brand. I’ve skied a couple of models: Mirus Cor & Daemon and I really liked them.
Some will argue that since Black Crows doesn’t manufacture their own skis - they hire other factories to build them - that you’re mostly paying for the brand’s image rather than better skis. But keep in mind, skiers tend to be fussy and opinionated, so take their criticism with a grain of salt.
I always recommend, whenever possible, to try before you buy. Demo or rental - doing a test drive is the best way to know you’ll be getting what you really like.
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u/DoktorStrangelove A-Basin 19d ago
I know this isn't going to come off as super helpful but I would seriously find a good shop on your next trip and try to demo 3-4 that look good to you. I used to run a demo-focused shop in CO and you'd honestly be blown away how much several different skis with really similar looking specs/shape can feel once they're on your feet. Small things that don't look like major differentiators on paper can add up to 2 similar looking skis riding night and day different. A lot of it also comes down to your particular style and what you actually want them to be best at for daily use. When I was just starting to move up to properly advanced/expert many years ago, I would buy skis sight-unseen from the internet and just make them work, which was fine for a while...but after being in the industry for a bit I would literally never ever do that again based on the experience of trying a couple hundred different skis over the years.
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u/Techhead7890 Queenstown 19d ago
I second what DoktorStrangelove said - better to demo than ask around. It'll depend what you specifically are doing or skiing in, like regionally too, but I'm assuming you probably want to do like trees and bumps there with a bit of powder, while not necessarily staying on frontside-piste all the time, doing park, or worrying too much about icy terrain (any of which would change things).
That disclaimer said I'm going to yap anyway because apparently I get bored, and also check out this Powder7 list for details. Also, rightly or wrongly, I'm also assuming you're a guy with medium skill and with average build (you didn't give me a ton to go off lol).
- I would say the Salomon QST is the most talked about from what I've seen around here. It's popular and has a good following. If you haven't heard of it, now you have, and I'd probably at least consider it. Also the brand is giant and these are available just about anywhere.
- K2 Mindbender - affordable (which had made it popular) and surprisingly good from what I've heard about it.
- Elan Ripstick 96mm - a very popular and well enjoyed series even if it didn't reach the Powder7 list at this width but SkiEssentials did review them.
- Volkl M7 Mantra - if you like stiff skis that demand a bit more work, worth looking at. They have a full sidewall for grip, still turn well, and have a bit more of a cult following. See also, Nordica Enforcer.
- Blizzard Anomaly 94mm width - Blizzard are a popular performance brand, this model replaces the former Bonafide. (The Anomalies are also stiff, but they also have the Blizzard Rustler which was described as agile and precise.)
So well, I think that covers the major ones I've heard about for all-mountain bumps, hope that helps.
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u/Late-Caterpillar-929 18d ago edited 17d ago
Looking for advice from anyone who has planned a trip to the Alps over New Years. Not looking for luxury - goal is to make it cheaper than a trip to UT/CO. I've skiied Austria but am open to any country (I hear Switzerland is the most expensive by far). Looking for tips on which resorts should I look at, where to stay, how and when to book the travel etc. Any and all advice appreciated.
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA 18d ago
You basically need to figure out flights, transportation, and lodging. Here’s a plan: 1. First, check which ski airports you can fly to at a decent price. Check out j2ski.com for info on which airports are near ski resorts. 2. Figure out your transfer: Once you pick an airport, see if there are available trains or shuttles or if you need to rent a car. Not all ski areas have trains, and shuttles sell-out early, so double-check what’s available.
3. Lastly, look for lodging you can afford. All the big travel sites have a strong European presence: Trivago, hostel world, Airbnb, booking.com, etc. A lot of people book well in advance; time is of the essence.
All the other details you can figure out later. But to get the best pricing, you want to do your research and make reservations soon. Good luck!2
u/Late-Caterpillar-929 17d ago
Thanks! Any areas you recommend?
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u/Lost-in-LA-CA-USA 17d ago
Since you’re planning a trip for early season, go for high-altitude resorts with a strong early-season snow record i.e. Tignes, Sölden, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, Les 2 Alpes, or Cervinia.
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u/Icy-Description-2404 18d ago
Okay, I’ve done some digging. Can anyone from the community share their advice on the best skis for a 35% groomer, 65% backcountry setup? Also, what are their thoughts on shift bindings and using touring boots on downhill days? Are shift bindings safe? Are they capable of the same things as strictly downhill bindings? The same goes for alpine boots. I’m really curious to hear your opinions.
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u/DoktorStrangelove A-Basin 13d ago
It sounds like you know the difference but just to be clear, you mean ACTUAL backcountry and not like the "back bowls" at big resorts, yeah? In that case you're kinda asking the opposite question from what we usually see in here, which is a request for a mostly resort ski that's capable of BC.
I think it comes down to what type of BC use you're going for. If you're looking for some sorta high speed serious touring/skimo setup then realistically you probably need to realize that you're going to hate the compromises you'll be making on an all-in-one kit until you eventually just suck it up and buy a dedicated BC setup with proper touring boots and pin bindings etc.
If you're looking for more of a "get up to get down" kit that you're just going to be using to access good downhill terrain then that's a lot more doable. I'd say if you're trying to ski a mix of all conditions, from lower angle deep pow to spring steeps, go for a mid-fat like 110mm waisted ski that can do everything, probably either a semi directional or full twin...the compromise there will mostly be groomer performance but a tail you can "smear" and turn with more agility will help a lot in weird variable conditions especially in the backcountry where snow can be WAY more unpredictable in terms of quality than most inbounds terrain that gets packed out by constant skier traffic throughout the season.
As for what specific ski you should get? I dunno, there are so many options. If you have a ski for inbounds use that you've liked in the past, and the same manufacture has a carbon version, or something very similar in their lineup that's focused on weight-saving, maybe try that out. As always the best idea is to go demo.
When you say "touring boots" you could mean a couple different things. If you mean dedicated touring boots, yeah they can be used for DH if they have a compatible sole, but I don't love doing that. If you're looking for more of a "get up to get down" setup like I described above, you're gonna want a hybrid AT boot, basically a downhill alpine boot with pin inserts and walking soles. Yes this is very common nowadays and that's pretty much the only kind of boot I personally use anymore.
Yes the Shift is safe, no I would never buy another one personally. I have a pair of Lupos that are a couple seasons old and I have Shifts on one of my do-everything daily setups. Second pair of Lupos, second pair of Shifts. The Lupos use a lighter weight "grilamid" shell and the shift toe piece absolutely rips the fuck out of it because of the way it applies pressure to the boot and the finnicky toe height adjustment, it just destroys the boot shell and if these boots weren't almost toast from being flexed/packed out they'd be headed for retirement anyway because the toe is borderline unsafe from all the damage from the Shifts. The industry seems to be moving away from grilamid back to harder shell materials for a lot of common AT boots, but regardless I'm just done with Shifts, this pair has been fairly reliable but my first pair wasn't, and they're still finnicky in a bunch of ways I don't like...I put Pivot CASTs on my inbounds/outtabounds carbon pow skis and I'm never going back. Tyrolia is also releasing a similar system soon that will probably be a lot cheaper but the same functionality as the CAST, I would recommend that over the Shift without ever having skied it, I have a lot of experience with the style of Tyrolia binding they're using for their version of that swappable toe system and it's a really good downhill option. It appears to just be an adaptation of their demo track design of the Attack binding that has been out for years, which is super reliable and generally very affordable.
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u/that_guy_too 3d ago
Getting skis / boards tuned in the summer? Silly question, but where can I get a tune near Santa Fe or in a pinch, around Taos or Durango, that's open and staffed?
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u/Ambitious_River7361 Jul 08 '25
Hello, I’m considering getting new skis because I see a couple on sale. I’m leaning towards the faction prodigy 2 because I heard that it is a really fun ski that has pop but still can carve and do other things. I’m 6’3 160 lb and a high intermediate/ low advanced skier. I’m looking for something that has a little pop that would be fun on groomers and side hits while still being able to carve decently. Any recommendations?