New Ski Designs - How Do You Pick Your New Set of Skis?

So much is happening and has happened in ski shape and design in the last 5-10 years that many skiers are confused as to what would make a good purchase when investing in new skis.

First of all, the wider skis work, and they work really well. Last year I bought a pair of K2 Coombas at 174 length. The first day I skied knee-deep to thigh deep powder at Mammoth Mountain. I could not believe the difference the wider skis made! I skied better than I ever had the first day I skied the wider skis.

I had been skiing skis with a 88 centimeter waist. They worked good on firm snow and groomed snow, but were very unpredictable in soft powder and crud. I actually found myself avoiding powder on powder days and here's why.

When I would ski powder, most of my turns were fine. But on maybe the 10th or 20th turn, I would break through the crust making my body overroate in the end of the turn. This was so unpredictable when it would happen that I found myself focusing intensely trying to catch these breakthough/ overrotations, and it spoiled the fun of skiing powder and crud.

With my K2 Coombas (102 centimeter waist), they float better in the powder which provides less resistance in the turns, and is really helpful on traverses in soft snow and powder because you don't sink in as deep.

The other design feature I really like on my new skis is the wide point of the shovel is moved back which makes it ski like a shorter ski, and is much more predictable in my turns.

But the newest feature in modern skis is rocker. I have to admit that rocker in a ski does not make sense to me logically. But that does not mean it does not work. I tried my instructors K2 Hardsides last year which are similar to my Coombas with rocker in the tip.

The day I skied them was an ugly day, and the lifts shut down just after I tested the skis. I found I did not like them, but honestly it could have easily been the conditions.

Now on powder days at Mammoth Mountain most of the locals are out on their rockered powder skis. I can see the advantages of being able to "smear" your turns in powder and crud, but I am looking for skiers with experience skiing rockered skis. What do you like about rockered skis and what do you not like?

Most design "breakthroughs" are taken to an extreme at some point where the design change is no longer an asset, and you certainly don't want to get stuck with one of those sets of skis.

So I'm looking for some guidance from those of you that have experience with rockered skis. Can you tell me your experiences, what you have learned, what model of skis you prefer and why?

I plan to test rockered skis on a powder day at Mammoth Mountain soon. What skis do you suggest for an expert skier, 53 years old, 160 pounds, who skis Mammoth Mountain 80+ days a year? Please give me your advice so I can share it with the visitors to this blog, OK? And I will share what I learn when I demo skis at Mammoth Mountain.

Larry Conn has snow skied since 1968, and loves visiting Mammoth Mountain ski area so much he moved to that area in 2005. He offers daily ski reports and safety information on his blog at http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/blog/ Now Larry is reviving Mammoth Ski Club for active adults who want more fun, activities and involvement with snow skiing and other activities at Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes resorts. Get your complimentarty gifts, special report, and be entered in a drawing for a free Mammoth Mountain Season Pass ($1675.00 Value) by visiting http://www.MammothSkiClub.com/