peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 11, 2014 16:20:54 GMT
My family and I started skiing last year. We went 5 times over the course of a few months and took lessons every time. At the end of the season we were classified as intermediate level. Able to do blue runs.
Now the cost of skiing is what gets me BUT I am sure that this is something we are interested in doing year after year as we LOVED it.
I am looking for buying skis for dh and myself. DD and DS are still growing so I am not interested in dropping money for skis that will maybe be used for one year and then sold.
We do all-mountain with the back slopes (powdery). At least this is what I figure I should be looking for. I do plan on going to a ski shop to get fitted properly and know exactly what sizes I am looking for but I have seen some good deals on used skis and I am trying to figure out if, once I know exactly what I am looking for, is this a good idea or not? I am not an expert on what to look for and I don't want to drop several hundred dollars on some skis and bindings and then have a problem.
The other thing is if I buy the skis used, how do boots fit into this? Should they always be bought together or not?
TIA
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Peamac on Jul 11, 2014 16:26:31 GMT
DH and DDs bought used skis, boots, and poles at a sale (here in CO) about 6-7 years ago and they've been great. For the first few years, they went skiing weekly (season pass, paid by DH and I volunteering a total of ten times -between the two of us- at the ski resort). The girls were maybe 14 and 16 or so when they got the skis, and everything still fits fine. They haven't gone much in the last few years b/c they're away at college except for Christmas and summer.
We usually see used ski sales during the summer months- often through a rental shop.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 11, 2014 16:33:46 GMT
I was looking today for the heck of it and it looks like there are some great deals out there right now. It's hard to think about skis right now though (but I miss it:) My dd is 15 and I am pretty sure she has slowed down to the point that it wouldn't make much difference but ds is 11 and he is going probably be almost 6' and he is growing like a weed so I do not want to buy any for him.
Did you go to a ski swap? I know they have those around here in October. We also have a place that sells used equipment and I figure we might be able to find a good deal there, especially now.
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Post by kkooch on Jul 11, 2014 16:45:22 GMT
Way back when I skied the most important thing was to have your bindings checked. They need to adjust according to weight etc and make sure they will release if you wipe out. So why don't you call the local shop and confirm they will do that if you don't buy from them and even ask what's most important when looking.
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Deleted
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Oct 5, 2024 13:19:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2014 17:10:37 GMT
Check with your local stores about purchasing last years Demos. Usually high end stores have their regulard rentals and then their nicer demo skis. After that season they sell them to make room for the new lines coming out. It may be too late in the year but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
I skiied for 25 years or so (and worked for a sporting goods store for 6). My biggest thing was boots. I actually enjoyed renting demo skis because you get to try differnt types and styles but I always had my own boots and never bought the cheap stuff. Any ski shop will fit your boots to your skies (and tune up bindings, wax skies, etc).
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Peamac on Jul 11, 2014 17:12:24 GMT
I don't remember if it was a ski swap or something put on by a store- we have a lot of both here in CO. You could always resell DS's as he outgrows them, or check into the ski rental places to see if you can rent equipment for DS for a whole season (if you're going to go often) instead of each time you go. Sports Authority also rents equipment here. DH and DDs get their skis waxed before the season starts, too.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 11, 2014 17:13:22 GMT
Needmysanity, That is good to know that the boots and skis. For some stupid reason I thought they needed to be matched. There is supposed to be a great place in Baltimore that has a lot of used but very good equipment. They will be able to help me out, I hope. Now I just have to convince dh to take a car ride on a Saturday.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 11, 2014 17:14:10 GMT
Any ski shop will resize the bindings to fit any boots. I would first find a GOOD pair of NEW boots. Seriously, if they don't fit you correctly, everything else will be a waste of money. If you've only skiied 5 times, I wouldn't invest a ton in skis, so used might be fine. You will probably want higher performance skis down the road. Ski size also changes depending on your experience level (although not as dramatically as 20 years ago before shaped skis).
By the way, depending on where you are they may have trade in programs for kids. We did that when we lived in Colorado. You would have a one time purchase of skis and boots and then the following year if you needed a bigger size you would turn the old ones in and for $20 get the bigger size. It was great. Some years they needed everything upgraded, some years it would be just boots or skis. It was way cheaper than renting or buying new every year.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 11, 2014 17:18:58 GMT
hi from a life long skier...and at one time a professional instructor and the child of a professional instructor....
the first thing to buy is boots. they need to be fitted to your foot...and it will make the biggest difference in skiing. I would invest in boots for the kids, too, go to a ski shop (not sports authority) if you have that choice..often they have trade in programs for kids.
then, skis. for the kids who are growing..you might be better off just renting, unless you are going more than 5-10 times a year. for yourself, I would look at sales at the end of the season, fall sales, etc. I would buy new, and especially new bindings. you don't want to take the risk on aging bindings. even ski area shops have good sales at the end of the season. you need to have the bindings set just for you...and once a year, it would not be bad to get the skis tuned...the bases treated and the bindings checked. store out of the moisture and dust. you all need poles...those can be bought used...just have them fit at the right height.
the reason I would stay away from used bindings is that you don't know how they were maintained and this is the biggest risk point for skiing. you should be able to twist your foot out of the binding with your own muscles. if you are coming out of bindings all the time, check your skiing technique, as well as the settings.
though I am not that convinced helmets are a required item --you might want to invest in those for yourself and your kids. I don't ski with one, but I don't fall. and almost all skier deaths are young men 15-30 doing risky things. my dad finally got one when he was 80... but he still skis at a high rate of speed...and he is 88 next month. he skis almost every day in the winter...as he lives at a resort area.
so find a ski shop...and get boots first. it does make a difference to consult with people who are trained about the equipment.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 11, 2014 17:24:52 GMT
Thank you everyone. Some great advice.
NTSF - would a reputable store be able to look at used bindings and know if they are good or not?
I cannot see us going more than a few times per year because we are in MD and while we have ski resorts around us, they are all at least one hour away or more. We just don't have the time to invest in season passes so for us it is mainly over the holiday season and a few times through Feb.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 11, 2014 18:00:40 GMT
like someone else said, I would buy demo skis from a ski shop (not general sporting goods store) or rei, or something like that. I would not buy used skis/bindings from any random person or ski swap. unless new, skis and bindings are sold together. and these days, some skis come with bindings integrated into them...
most reputable shops will not work on bindings that are too old...and often won't work on bindings not from their shop. they can't just "look at them"...other than to tell you they are too old and should be put in the trash. bindings are a sealed unit.
so from what it sounds like...just buy boots and helmets. rent skis and poles.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 15, 2014 18:26:24 GMT
Most ski resorts around here won't let you rent just the skis. They have to be rented as a set so I have to get boots and skis.
I hadn't really thought about using a sporting good store. I had already decided to stick with ski shops so I am good there.
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Post by brina on Jul 15, 2014 18:39:00 GMT
Two things on the topic of helmets:
-ntsf is correct in her statistic about head injuries - except for the few deaths that are just freak accidents. Natasha Richardson had a pretty minor looking fall on a blue or green run with a private instructor just a few feet away from her. I bought my helmet the day we watched an older man get cut-off, over correct and fall. We went over to help him and he was nearly incoherent - he obviously had a head injury. He was an experienced skier on a blue run but he hit just wrong and suffered a fairly serious head injury. It is not common, but it happens.
-many ski schools require helmets if you want to take a lesson, especially for the kids.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jul 15, 2014 19:40:24 GMT
If I ever had any doubt about the necessity of helmets, my son disabused me of that notion. He broke his first helmet when he was skiing through trees and lost control. I will never forget the sound of the helmet on the tree. It was one of those heart in your throat moments of just how bad it could be. He literally cracked a $90 Giro helmet he hit the tree so hard. And he was not going that fast - even 10-15 mph could cause serious injury when your head meets a hard surface.
In all honesty, I thought the helmet would annoy me - but you pretty quickly get used to them - and they keep your head warm!
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Post by gavinsmom on Jul 16, 2014 1:48:17 GMT
Our ski place has a swap every fall. I've bought most of our equipment used
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 16, 2014 2:28:27 GMT
Definitely buy helmets. DS was on a scout trip snowboarding last winter and caught an edge. It flipped him backwards and he landed on the top back of his head. He missed 8 weeks of school and his grades were in the toilet. Not what you want when you are applying for early decision this fall.
And yes, he was wearing a helmet. But the concussion wasn't caught until 2 days later. I never even thought to contact the resort where he was snowboarding and where he rented the equipment. So that helmet should have been taken out of play, but was not because they couldn't track the helmet.
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Post by BeckyTech on Jul 16, 2014 3:12:03 GMT
Just a thought - before you buy new or used for your kids, have they tried snowboarding? It's very popular around here and you might end up wasting money on skis if they decide that's the way they want to go.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 16, 2014 3:15:10 GMT
there's my point...a young man doing risky things. as a teen, I skied into trees off a cat track at about 40 mph...but I was fortunate to plant both skis on a tree and bounce off. no injuries. in 50 yrs of skiing, we as a family have only had a few serious accidents. my dad hit a big rock under a snow mound...dislocated shoulder, ripped both achilles tendons. this was april...he was skiing in november. my dh was hit by an out of control skier...then hit a sign post...almost died. and had severe compound fractures of the legs. that's it. my mother in law worked in the first aid room at a ski area for 25 yrs...so we heard about a lot of stuff.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 16, 2014 18:15:13 GMT
No, my kids love skiing. I don't think I am going to get them skis. I will just continue to rent them. I am looking for dh and myself. My dd has zero interest in snowboarding because of the injury factor (every instructor we had last year warned us of the dangers of snowboarding such as broken wrists and ankles) and to be honest, snowboarders drive me crazy. They get off the lift and drop to strap themselves in and the skiers come off the lift and want to get going but they have to maneuver around all these kids just sitting on their asses in the snow and talking.
DS doesn't really have any interest in it. I have asked him numerous times because he could have taken a snowboarding lesson instead but he wanted to ski.
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marimoose
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Post by marimoose on Jul 23, 2014 5:41:57 GMT
As previously stated, don't skimp on boots. I spent more on my boots than my skis. If your feet are uncomfortable the rest of the body follows suit. Ski shops generally have pretty good deals on new and demoed equipment around Labor Day. I know that there are some ski shops that let you basically rent children's equipment for the season and if the sizes change during that time, you come in for an upgrade. You don't have to mess with renting equipment each time going through all the adjustments.
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