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A question many intermediate skiers ask is “what skis should
I buy?” when in fact the first question should be “do I need to buy skis at all?”
For any beginners reading this, the answer is a definite no –
you are better off with hired equipment. See the previous article for more
information on beginners’ ski kit. For intermediates (and I’m including second
timers here) there is no need to buy skis yet. A pair of skis will last ten to
twenty weeks of use, which is ten to twenty years for the majority of
recreational skiers. The purchase price will typically be around five times the
price of a week’s hire for a similar ski, so on the face of it you would pay
twice as much for ten weeks hire as you would if you bought skis now. However a
suitable pair of skis now in your second, third or even fifth week will not be
the same skis you will want in two or three years’ time, and very few people
are skiing on ten year old skis today (they are easily spotted as they are far
longer and thinner than anybody else’s). Furthermore, many airlines,
particularly no-frills and charter companies, are charging extra for the
carriage of skis, so this will eat into any financial saving through having
your own.
Modern skis are designed with a particular user in mind,
both in terms of ability and skiing style. Beginner and intermediate skis are
soft and forgiving, easy to turn and stop. Advanced skiers for example can choose
piste skis – stiff and shaped for grippy carved turns; off-piste skis – wide with
less shape for flotation; or freestyle skis – twin-tip for skiing backwards and
with a softer flex. As your skiing develops a low end ski will hold you back,
and as you find which type of skiing you prefer you may want a more specialist
ski. With rental skis you can choose the best skis for you on each trip, or
even try several pairs over a week. As you improve the skis you use can improve
with you.
Personally I would not recommend buying skis for anyone
skiing two weeks a year or less. On the other hand, what I would consider
buying is a pair of ski boots. Ski boots tend to have a longer useful life than
skis, both in terms of wear and tear, and performing for your (increasing)
ability. If you have your own ski boots they can be fitted properly, which is important
both for performance and comfort. Rental boots will never fit as well a
properly fitted pair of boots of your own. Boots are also less specialised than
skis (although there is still a fair range out there). The biggest difference between
models is that boots for more advanced skiers are stiffer. Look for a boot with
enough performance to last you a few years but not so much you cannot manage it
now.
There are plenty of ski shops in Arinsal if you choose to
buy while away, and you may be able to negotiate a discount if you buy from the
same shop you rent from. Prices also tend to be lower in Andorra than in the UK, but the biggest advantage is
that you can take the boots back for adjustments after a couple of days skiing
to ensure the fit is perfect. Wherever you choose to buy, be wary of any shop
that tries to rush you. The bootfitter should be prepared to spend time
measuring and looking at your feet, then selecting models that fit your foot
shape. Every manufacturer has their own boot shape, some have several. A good
bootfitter will know which models fit which feet. Many boots now have some kind
of heat moulding system, which the shop should carry out free of charge, and
more advanced boots have adjustments such as canting as well.
When you buy boots it is highly recommended to set aside about
€50 of your budget for custom moulded footbeds (e.g. Conformable or Superfeet).
These can be taken with you to your next pair of boots, and will improve
performance, comfort and the health of your feet by providing proper support
under the insole.
So to summarise – beginners do not need to buy skis or boots,
intermediates from week two onwards should consider buying boots (and get them
properly fitted), but for most holiday skiers there is little need to purchase
skis. If you ski more than two weeks a year, or are doing a season then buying skis may well be worthwhile.
The next article will look at the development of the carving
ski, and what it means for the recreational skier.
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