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Entering the "traditional" ski lifestyle
Well, not really entering the lifestyle, just more of a trial run. Since coming across this group years ago i have seemed to try every skiboard across the platform. While they all had there ups and downs I ended up on the Sherpas and thought... just WOW. Hell, I still do, every single time I step on them. I love them and for me, they are the best.
Since switching to the Sherpas i discovered that the biggest advantage for me was the added stability. With stability came speed, and confidence. Last year I was at the event in Killington and ended up on some really skitchy runs that were super steep and extremely hardpacked. I will not say icy (I live in PA... I know what ice is lol) but others would describe it that way. I never thought I'd feel unstable with the sherpas, but this run was the first time that I really felt I pushed the limit on them. They were great that day. They kept me up, but it pushed me past my comfort level. While this was happening, all around me were people just cruising on skis. I never really gave it much thought to try traditional skis until that point but that started the itch. Came home from the event and continued skiing at my local mountain with my normal group of skiers/boarders/skiboarders and finished the year off great. However the whole time seeming to think more about trying regular skis. Looking at them, checking them out online, etc. On a wonderful skiboarding day towards the end of the season i was skiing with 2 guys from the group that are hard chargers and just go. They love the skiboards i use but are traditional skiers. i spend the one whole morning with them lapping the doubles at our mountain and had a blast but the one thing I noticed is that they seemed to do them easier, quicker, more stable, etc.
The idea of traditional skis stayed with me thru the spring, summer, fall, even talked about it with a few of my golf buddies who ski. I have only been out twice this year so far as we have not had great weather/opportunities yet but couldn't get skis out of my head. I decided about a week ago that i was gonna go for it. I took the slow work week opportunity to take a deep dive into the ski market via internet/youtube/forums/conversations and narrowed down what I was looking for. Long story short I was looking for a mid 160's ski with a shorter turn radius, 100ish wide (I'm fat), with a lighter swingweight (to keep the skiboardish feel). After looking, and looking, and looking.... and looking, I got an ebay notification about a new listing that fit the bill. Opened the app and purchased immediately. 2017 pair of 164cm Rossignol Soul 7HD. They are everything I was looking for and then some.
One issue with the skis I had before they even arrive(should be shipping today) was the bricks of bindings attached to them. After shopping eBay, marketplace, Mercari I ended up finding a pair of 2021/2022 Salomon bindings on sale for 60% off and then another 15% for registering my email and creating an account. Purchased them last night.
I just wanted to post this on here because one thing i have learned is that as much as I love the Facebook group, this forum is filled with more level headed and open minded individuals. I am hoping that the skis and bindings get here by the weekend so that i can get everything mounted and ready to roll for the drop in temps and snowmaking that will begin this weekend and continue hopefully moving forward. i don't know what i am actually going to get with trying traditional skis, but what I'm hoping for is the same feeling that i had when switching from the 110cm DLP to the 130cm Sherpa. We will see and I will give updates.
I will always be a skiboarder because well frankly it is awesome, but I do what to give skis a chance.
Since switching to the Sherpas i discovered that the biggest advantage for me was the added stability. With stability came speed, and confidence. Last year I was at the event in Killington and ended up on some really skitchy runs that were super steep and extremely hardpacked. I will not say icy (I live in PA... I know what ice is lol) but others would describe it that way. I never thought I'd feel unstable with the sherpas, but this run was the first time that I really felt I pushed the limit on them. They were great that day. They kept me up, but it pushed me past my comfort level. While this was happening, all around me were people just cruising on skis. I never really gave it much thought to try traditional skis until that point but that started the itch. Came home from the event and continued skiing at my local mountain with my normal group of skiers/boarders/skiboarders and finished the year off great. However the whole time seeming to think more about trying regular skis. Looking at them, checking them out online, etc. On a wonderful skiboarding day towards the end of the season i was skiing with 2 guys from the group that are hard chargers and just go. They love the skiboards i use but are traditional skiers. i spend the one whole morning with them lapping the doubles at our mountain and had a blast but the one thing I noticed is that they seemed to do them easier, quicker, more stable, etc.
The idea of traditional skis stayed with me thru the spring, summer, fall, even talked about it with a few of my golf buddies who ski. I have only been out twice this year so far as we have not had great weather/opportunities yet but couldn't get skis out of my head. I decided about a week ago that i was gonna go for it. I took the slow work week opportunity to take a deep dive into the ski market via internet/youtube/forums/conversations and narrowed down what I was looking for. Long story short I was looking for a mid 160's ski with a shorter turn radius, 100ish wide (I'm fat), with a lighter swingweight (to keep the skiboardish feel). After looking, and looking, and looking.... and looking, I got an ebay notification about a new listing that fit the bill. Opened the app and purchased immediately. 2017 pair of 164cm Rossignol Soul 7HD. They are everything I was looking for and then some.
One issue with the skis I had before they even arrive(should be shipping today) was the bricks of bindings attached to them. After shopping eBay, marketplace, Mercari I ended up finding a pair of 2021/2022 Salomon bindings on sale for 60% off and then another 15% for registering my email and creating an account. Purchased them last night.
I just wanted to post this on here because one thing i have learned is that as much as I love the Facebook group, this forum is filled with more level headed and open minded individuals. I am hoping that the skis and bindings get here by the weekend so that i can get everything mounted and ready to roll for the drop in temps and snowmaking that will begin this weekend and continue hopefully moving forward. i don't know what i am actually going to get with trying traditional skis, but what I'm hoping for is the same feeling that i had when switching from the 110cm DLP to the 130cm Sherpa. We will see and I will give updates.
I will always be a skiboarder because well frankly it is awesome, but I do what to give skis a chance.
!! If you study the history of the development of the current twin tip skis and the history of Line skis and the history of the X games you will see that skiboards were first with the widebodied twin tip short turn radius design and that modern skis are a direct descendant of those early designs . I even see skiers on long skis skiing without poles at the resort and in the park just like skiboarders. I think we all move up and down the line of length and find our sweet spot . I know I have . For me I have gravitated toward the 110 length super wide bodied boards as my sweet spot but everyone will find their own best spot . Let us know how your journey into the long ski world goes ! By the way I just posted a review of the Spruce Stinger and the Condors which kind of discusses how the different length boards appeal to me and in what ways. As we move up the length of our skiboards/skis there is a trade off between stability and playfulness and manuervability and where we fall on that spectrum will be very individual and to some extent will depend on who we ride with and what kind of terrain and conditions we most enjoy. 
If someone prefers skis, more power to them. I really don't care what others do. My reply to Mike's post was in jest. I'm glad he is happy with his new toys.
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