I’ve been skiing for 30 years and I’m an intermediate. I ski cautiously and stay on blue trails and green cruisers, especially now that I’m in my 60s. I’m a woman, 5’2".
I’d been using a pair of 20+ year old Rossignol 140s for years and was comfortable with them, they were in OK shape, but they were getting shabby-looking. A place nearby me that does rentals was doing a Spring clearance, and I got a nice pair of Rossignols, just a few years old. They looked very like a demo pair that I used last month and was comfortable with; I thought I would try shorter skis, 134s, because I’ve been having some back issues. They were waxed and sharpened. But when I went out on them on Easter Sunday, they were faster than any pair I’ve ever used. I was having trouble slowing down and staying in control, on trails where I’ve skiied many times.
The place where I bought them said to bring them back if I wasn’t happy and they would exchange; I’m thinking about doing that today before we go skiing again this Sunday. Also, a friend told me that there are waxes that could make skis slower and stickier? Any suggestions?
Did you wax your old skis? If not, having properly waxed skis will certainly make them go faster.
The other likely cause is that the new skis are a less stable at high speed because they are shorter and more “turny”. That will make the same speed feel more uncomfortable as the skis get squirelly. 134 is about as short as adults should be skiing on. BTW, your height is less important than your weight in determining ski length.
Your 20 year old skis are probably shot, not much useful life left in them or the bindings. So your decision to get new skis is good, but it may take some adjustment. You’ll want to stay on edge more, that’s where modern skis like to be. Or look for a ski with a longer turning radius (less sidecut) that will suit your needs better.
But I’d take a lesson with your new skis. Even if you’ve been skiing forever, transitioning to new gear can be difficult. A lesson to learn how best to use your new skis can get you over the hump.
I agree with the above. Plus, it’s spring, so you get 2 snow types–too fast or too slow. That short a ski can also contribute to an unstable/twitchy feeling that will make speed feel more uncomfortable. I also agree that unless you weigh under a hundred pounds, that is probably too short a ski.
Does the option to demo skis exist? Or maybe rentals at a reasonable rate so you can try a few different types of skis? I found that I enjoyed skiing much more when I was using slalom skis than anything else. They were easier to control, even in longer lengths.
It has been years since I have skied, so I am not sure about the current state of equipment.
Yes, it was Spring skiing conditions and the snow was quite fast to begin with when I used the fast skis. There’s a level ridge trail where usually I have to use poles, but the snow was fast enough that I was just sliding along. The skis did slow down appreciably when I hit slushy patches.
I weigh 130 lbs. The reason I bought these skis was that the rental demo pair that I tried out the week before were just like the ones I bought, same length and brand and model and shape, and I was quite comfortable with them. When I rented them, I asked the rental person (a middle-aged man who seemed like the manager) whether he thought 134s were too short for me. It wasn’t busy and he looked at the chart and he said that my size and weight was well within the rating for the 134 length for these skis.
Re. edging, I realize that I tend to be relaxed and don’t edge much, but with these skis I was desperately doing parallel turns and even snowplowing to slow down. It looks like I do need to practice edging.
Will the skis be a bit slower when the wax wears off on them a bit?
What model skis are they? Rental shops generally have very basic, soft, easy turning skis. I just checked the Rossi site and they size skis based on height, ability, and use, with no reference to weight. I think that’s nuts but there you go.
According to their chart you should take your height (157 cm) and subtract 7 for Intermediate if you are getting Piste skis, which I assume you are; for 150 cm. I don’t see any current Rossi that exists in a 134, there are several models with a 136 cm version. But they all have a size in the 140s as well, which may or may not be more appropriate for you.
I agree with the suggestion to demo if you can, but since you already bought these skis I’m not sure how much that is a possibility. Yes, as the wax wears down the ski will likely get slower, but it may also get grabby when you don’t want it. Properly waxed skis are generally considered a good thing.
Bottom line, I think the skis are too short for you but that’s a bit of a separate issue. I would work on your skiing rather than try to change a ski that glides better than your old ones. In the end it will improve your skiing.
The skis say Rossignol Experience in big letters followed by a small RTL. There’s a box that says 134.
I’ll see how things go tomorrow; the snow report says packed powder, unlike last week when it said Spring conditions. 7 inches of snow fell 2 days ago.
Reporting back: today was a completely different ski day. The snow was not as fast, and neither were the skis. It started out with frozen groomed corduroy which was relatively fast as my skis rattled over it, but I kept on using my edges and felt like I was much more in control. The long blue cruiser that I usually enjoy but was scary fast last Sunday was much more manageable. By 1 PM there were lots of slushy patches so that was it for the day, but I felt a lot better about the skis.