Originally Posted by
bigbadwullf
Tips: Trust a local shop to give you what you need. New skis are, in a word....AWESOME! Anything you use will feel great. Try some demo skis. There are so many different shapes and trends right now that it's very hard to give a recommendation on any but suffice it to say anything you use will feel great in comparison to 25 years ago.
It will be like going from a first generation aluminum bike to a modern carbon bike and maybe more of a difference. Maybe like going from a Huffy to a Cannondale Super Six. That big of a difference. I used to ski 205cm skis and am now on 165-170cm skis and feel like I have more ski under me.
Turn initiation is off the chart with these and the hold on hard snow/ice is out of this world. Conditions will be the deciding factor on the ski however. Allow a knowledgeable ski shop put you what they think you need. It's a LOT like trusting a good bike shop. But beware the high-volume rental places and seasonal high school/ college staffers that know little/nothing
+1
The overall length of parabolic skis is shorter, but the edge length is similar to what you used to use. It makes it easier to iniatate a turn, but when the ski flexes, you still have plenty of edge to carve with. Don't ask for a size that you have used before, you'll think the ski they give you is too short, it isn't.
I've taken up xc sking the past few years, it's great to not have to go up on the lift, or deal with other people, etc. And it's a great compliment to cycling. But you need winter, which we haven't had.