Kathy Elliot

Your Pre-Season Gear Check: Bindings, Boots, Skis, Helmet

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Credit: Quasarphoto

Before you get aboard the first lift of the season, give your gear a once-over. Here’s what to check at home, what to bring to a shop and a few things that are easy to overlook.

Skis that were running great last March may have dry bases or rusty edges after a summer in the closet or garage. Boot liners pack out over time. Bindings may need to be adjusted. And your helmet may be older than you think.

Start With Your Bindings

Leave bindings to a trained technician.

A binding tech uses your height, weight, skier type, boot sole length and age to determine the appropriate release setting, then tests the binding to make sure it’s functioning properly.

One thing many skiers don’t realize is that age is part of that calculation. Starting at age 50, standard alpine binding adjustment charts call for moving up one row on the chart, which generally results in a lower release setting.

If you’ve turned a new decade, changed weight or ski level since your bindings were last adjusted, or you just can’t remember the last time they were checked, bring your skis and boots to a qualified shop for an adjustment and release test.

The technician needs your actual boot to properly adjust and test the binding. And be accurate about your current weight and skier type. The goal is the right setting for how you ski today.

New Boots? Check Your Bindings, Too

If you bought new boots but kept your skis, make sure the two are compatible.

Many newer boots have GripWalk soles. They are easier to walk in and provide better traction, but they need compatible bindings.

Look for the GripWalk logo. If you aren’t sure, take both your boots and skis to a shop to be checked. Much better to figure that out now than on your first ski day.

Give Your Boots a Once-Over

Start underneath, because toe and heel pads get worn down walking through parking lots and lodges. Look for excessive or uneven wear. Many boots have replaceable toe and heel pieces, so worn soles don’t necessarily mean you need new boots.

Check the shell, buckles and power strap for damage, then pull out the liners and make sure everything is dry.

More important: think about how your boots felt last season. Heel lift? Numb toes? Pressure points? Are you tightening the buckles more every year just to keep your foot in place?

Boot liners compress with use, and a boot that fit well when it was new can get surprisingly roomy after a few seasons. A trained boot fitter can fix problems with the boots you already own through liner work, shell adjustments or insoles.

And check your socks. Ski socks should be thin and moisture-wicking (not cotton). A thick sock can actually make your feet colder by taking up too much room and restricting circulation.

Check Your Skis

Put your skis somewhere with good light and check the edges first. Look for rust, burrs or obvious damage.

Lightly drag a fingernail across the edge. A sharp edge should scrape a little material from the nail. If your nail slides smoothly over it, it may be time for sharpening.

Then look at the bases. Small scratches are normal. Deep gouges or core shots should be repaired. If the bases look dry, chalky or gray, they need wax.

Wax and a full tune aren’t the same thing. Wax keeps your skis gliding and helps protect the base. A tune addresses the bigger issues of edges, base damage and base structure.

Early-season machine-made snow can be especially abrasive, so you may need wax more often than you expect. At Christy Sports, we generally recommend a hot wax every few days on snow, depending on conditions and how the skis are performing.

Sticky or slow? Start with wax. Not holding an edge, significant base damage or years since the last tune? Bring them in for a full tune.

Check Your Helmet

Helmets are easy to forget because an older helmet can look perfectly fine.

If yours has taken a significant impact, replace it, even if you don’t see obvious damage.

Also check its age. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations. Smith, for example, recommends replacing a snow helmet after five years of active use or 10 years from its manufacture date, whichever comes first.

Can’t remember when you bought it? Look for the manufacture date on the label inside, usually underneath the liner.

Put it on, too. Make sure the buckle and adjustment system work, the helmet still fits snugly and it works comfortably with your goggles.

Do-it-Yourself vs. a Trained Technician

There’s plenty of basic gear care you can do yourself –

  • Dry your equipment after you ski.
  • Store it somewhere cool and dry.
  • Stay on top of wax.
  • Don’t leave wet skis sitting in the roof box for a week.

But leave binding adjustments, release testing, base grinding and bigger repairs to the shop.

Do it now, before shops get busy and before you’re standing in the parking lot or lodge on your first ski day wondering why something doesn’t feel right.

Then click in and go ski.

Richard Lambert

Recommended Skis for Senior Skiers 2026 (subscriber only)

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Credit:Ljupco

Don’t ski as aggressively as you used to? Looking for a ski that makes the sport a little easier? Realskiers.com, my go-to site for finding the perfect ski, has shared their recommendations of the best skis for older skiers. Their ”Silver Skier” selections are models, in their estimation, either inherently easier to steer with light pressure or possess such a broad performance envelope that their charms are accessible to lower-energy skiers.

Recommended 2026 Skis for Senior Skiers

FRONTSIDE

This is a huge category, if only because it occupies every price point from the cellar to the penthouse. If you’ve been riding an All-Mountain model for a few seasons, you’ll find a narrower Frontside ski easier to maneuver and more terrain agnostic than you’d expect.  Whether your skills are eroding or as sharp as ever, you’ll find a Frontside model takes less effort to steer and holds a more accurate line.

Atomic Redster Q 9.8
Blizzard Anomaly 84
Blizzard Stormbird 82 DTi
Head Supershape e-Titan
Head Supershape e-Rally
Kästle MX84
Rossignol Forza 70o Ti
Salomon Stance 84
Stöckli Laser AX
Völkl Peregrine 82

WOMEN’S FRONTSIDE

One of the oddities of the women’s ski market is that the narrower the model, the more likely it is to use a rich construction that targets the elite skier. The top-of-the-line women’s models in both the Technical and Frontside genres tend to sport more made-for-women features than the typical All-Mountain and Big Mountain women’s models. Point being, the best made-for-women skis aren’t aimed at seniors, but at hard charging, technical skiers.  Mellower models can be found further down the pricing pyramid and in wider categories like All-Mountain East.

Blizzard Black Pearl 84
Nordica Wild Belle DC 84
Salomon Stance W 84

ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

If you need one ski that can handle whatever conditions you encounter, it should be plucked from this genre. Versatility is their dominant personality trait; quick enough to the edge to navigate choppy bumps, fat enough to float in boot-top powder, narrow enough to bite into eastern boilerplate, mellow enough to turn at slow speeds and stable enough to charge the fall line.

Atomic Maverick 86 C
Blizzard Anomaly 88
Head Kore 94 Ti
Nordica Enforcer 94
Rossignol Arcade 94
Völkl Mantra 88

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

If all you ever ski is groomers, fine, get a Frontside ski. But for those women with the slightest inclination to travel off trail, the all-terrain, in-resort skier belongs on an All-Mountain East model.

Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Head Kore 93 Ti W
Nordica Santa Ana 92

ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

If your preferred playground lies the big mountains of the American west, you’ll encounter enough mixed conditions to justify the added surface area built into an AMW model. The less you sink on each turn, the less effort required to maintain momentum and the easier it will be to change directions with a sudden swivel, an essential off-trail technique. The top models in the genre are generally Power skis that take some added mojo to bend, which is why you won’t find the Blizzard Anomaly 94, the Stöckli Stormrider 95 or Völkl Mantra M7 on this list.

Blizzard Rustler 9
Dynastar M-Pro 100 Ti
Nordica Enforcer 99

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

Women of modest skiing skills looking for a wider ski to make their off-trail life easier should probably look elsewhere. Women’s AMW models tend to target the talented lass who rips the sidecountry to shreds, rather than the timid who tiptoe into choppy snow. Our two Silver Skier Selections aren’t meant as training wheels for so-so skiers, but as facilitators that open up the sidecountry to those who already have the requisite skill set.

Blizzard Sheeva 9
Head Kore 99 Ti W

BIG MOUNTAIN

Lower skill skiers will be out of their depth here. Sure, they’ll get the benefit of more flotation in deep, uncut pow, but how many perfect runs like that are you going to get? And will the less talented be able to even bend a burly Big Mountain? Sure, some Big Mountain models are softer-flexing than the norm, but the extra width also makes it harder for the less-than-expert skier to rake the ski up to a high edge angle. If a Silver Skier really wants more help in new snow, get a full-on Powder model, forget edge angle and smear your blues away.

Salomon QST 106
Head Kore 112 Ti
Völkl Revolt 101

WOMEN’S BIG MOUNTAIN

A Women’s Big Mountain ski to too wide to serve as an everyday ski for most women, so consider these recommended models to serve as one’s powder ski when conditions merit. The principal “womanizing” feature of their design – if any – is to reduce the amount of metal in their make-up.

Head Kore 104 Ti W
Völkl Blaze 104

NON-FIS RACE

This isn’t the genre for someone trying to conserve energy, but the addiction to the feel of a true race ski doesn’t fade with age. By definition, all Non-FIS Race skis are made to the highest standard. The three GS/SL models I’ve selected here are notable for being readily accessible without world-class conditioning. If you’re good enough to ski a true race ski, you don’t need my advice on how I perceive their particular merits, hence no thumbnail sketch for each model. Suffice it to say, if I were picking for myself, these are the models I’d choose from. They all ski better than whatever else you own. But you need to bring a polished skill set to the party…

Atomic Redster G9 Revoshock S
Atomic Redster S9 Revoshock S
Rossignol Hero Elite LT Ti
Rossignol Hero Elite ST Ti
Völkl Racetiger GS
Völkl Racetiger SL

TECHNICAL

This genre has all but disappeared from the U.S. market, although it remains popular in Europe. Some are combi race models; all are made to arc perfect carves.

Atomic Redster X9 Revoshock S
Head Supershape e-Magnum
Kästle M9 76
Nordica Dobermann Multipista DC
Salomon Addikt 76

If you are thinking of buying near gear this year, a Realskiers subscription isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. One receives the best advice from those most qualified to provide it. You can read the full article on Realskiers by clicking here.

Related content Snow Sports Leaders: Jackson Hogen, Publisher of realskiers.com

Phil Johnson

Is A Custom Ski Right For You?

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Credit: Parlor Skis

You have decided it’s time for new skis.

You walk in to your favorite ski shop and there, lined up against the wall, are 100 pair or more; all from brand name companies you recognize. All are high quality.  But which one is best for you?

Since this is a buying decision that likely you make only once in several years, you want to make the right choice. You know the shop by reputation and past purchases. Maybe you know the staff there too. Ideally the rep who greats you is an experienced skier familiar with the areas you frequent and the trails and terrain you like to ski. The equipment match-making proceeds from there.

We’ve all done this dance.  Today, however, there is another track that is gaining popularity: Custom Skis.

Here, you hook up with one of a handful of small companies around the country that construct a pair of skis that are built exclusively for you, the individual skier. The process is interactive. It considers not only the physical characteristics of the skier, but how and where the skis will be used: all mountain, or, powder, or carved turns; on groomers, hard pack, or in the back country; maybe lots of steeps and bumps; in the trees, wide glades, or narrow. Video of the skier showing style and technique may be incorporated too.

Is this for you?

First of all,  realize this is not spring clearance sale shopping. To consider custom skis, start with the idea that you  might spend north of $1,000 more than what you would lay out on a pair off the rack in a specialty shop. Second, understand there is a leap of faith in the process here. While there may be some limited general demo opportunity tor a brand test, you will own the custom made ski before the first time you put down tracks. In the discussion stage, be prepared to be as specific as possible and understand the options if outcome doesn’t work out.

Is it worth the price?

Mark Wallace makes the case that it is. A former D-1 college competitor, he co-founded Parlor Custom Skis 11 years ago. One of a dozen or more small companies across the country that are established producers of custom made skis, his Boston-based firm with 6-10 employees today produces 15-20 of custom made pair a week, each built by hand from scratch with specs developed and materials chosen after interaction with the individual client. It is a process that can  take four to six weeks from initial discussion to product delivery.

And the finished product is not just technical.  The cosmetics are personalized too. Want a picture of your pet staring back at you? It can be there if you want it.

“We build the ski with the client and we know it is unique because we develop the specs and control the production” said Wallace recently.

“On the hill, the skier knows ‘this ski is me’.

But how about the experienced senior skier?  Chances are race results are not important anymore.  Compatibility is.  Are most able to tell the difference between a well chosen brand name model like they have skied for years and a custom made ski?

Bill Nizolek believes at least some can. He  began skiing as a child and today, at age 67, still skis at least 80 days a year. He started skiing on Wagner Custom Skis seven years ago and now is as  brand ambassador for the Telluride CO  based firm.

“The person who benefits most from our product in an educated skier, one who regularly skis more than 25 days a season and who is passionate about quality.”

What about cost?

Says Nizolek: You can’t put a price tag on enjoyment.”

The custom, direct-to-consumer ski business is expanding and sales are nationwide. In addition to Parlor in New England and Wagner in western Colorado, there are established custom ski makers in just about every region, like Meier Skis in Denver, Igneous in Jackson WY, Praxis in Incline Village NV, Shaggy’s Copper Country in  Northern Michigan, Community Skis in Mammoth Lakes CA, ON3P in Portland OR, and WhiteRoom Skis in Northern VT. All have websites. Some offer demo opportunities. Some also offer a small batch ready made ski model and some also build custom snowboards.

Is a custom made ski for you?

Says one veteran ski provider: “If you try it and you feel it, it’s worth it.

Richard Lambert

How To Select Your Next Pair Of Skis – 2025

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Don’t ski as aggressively as you used to? Looking for a ski that makes the sport a little easier? As part of its annual review of new skis, realskiers.com, the go-to site for in-depth ski evaluations, has determined the best skis for older skiers.  Their ”Silver Skier” selections are models, in their estimation, either inherently easier to steer with light pressure or possess such a broad performance envelope that their charms are accessible to lower-energy skiers as long as they’re sized down.
 
We recommend trying before buying. Start by choosing the most suitable ski category for the terrain and snow and working with a quality ski shop, preferably one at or close to the mountain so you can switch out demo equipment throughout the day. 

SeniorSkiers.com subscribers are eligible for a 50% discount off subscriptions to realskiers.com.  This is a limited time offer.  Click here to request your promo code.  I used the  realskiers.com reviews for a recent ski purchase and was delighted with result.  The amount of time I saved narrowing down the options was worth cost of the subscription alone.

Recommended 2025 Skis for Senior Skiers

The Best 2025 Skis for Senior Skiers has selections from Atomic, Blizzard, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, Liberty, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Stockli, and Volkl. 16 of the recommended skis are identified as women’s skis, which sometimes are engineered for female size and physique.

The selections fall into four groups, organized by range of ski width, which helps determine the terrain where its performance is optimized.

Specific recommended skis follow:

FRONTSIDE

MEN
Finesse Favorites: Easy Riders
Blizzard Anomaly 84
Salomon Stance 84
Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt
Power Picks: High Speed on High Edges
Head Supershape e-Magnum
Head Supershape e-Titan
Head Supershape e-Rally
Kastle MX84
Stockli Montero AX
Atomic Redster Q9.8 Revoshock S
Rossignol Forza 70o V-Ti
 
WOMEN
Finesse Favorites: Strolling Down Easy Street
Nordica Wild Belle DC 84
Salomon Stance W 84
Power Picks: Carving Queens
Blizzard Black Pearl 84

ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

MEN

Power Picks: High-Geared & Gifted
Volkl Mantra 88
Kastle MX88
Nordica Enforcer 89
Blizzard Anomaly 94
Fischer The Curv GT 85
Nordica Steadfast 85 DC FTD

Finesse Favorites: The Friendly Fraternity
Head Kore 93
Nordica Enforcer 94
Blizzard Anomaly 88
Head Kore 87
Salomon Stance 90
Salomon QST 92
Atomic Maverick 86 C

WOMEN

Finesse Favorites: The Friendly Fraternity
Nordica Santa Ana 87
Head Kore 85 W
Head e-Total Joy

Power Picks: Pandering to the Proficient
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Head Kore 91 W
Nordica Santa Ana 92

ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

MEN

Finesse Favorites: All-Terrain Access for All
Head Kore 99
Blizzard Rustler 9
Kastle ZX100
Salomon Stance 96
Power Picks: All-Condition Chargers
Nordica Enforcer 99
Liberty Radian 100

WOMEN
Finesse Favorites: Smooth Operators
Blizzard Sheeva 9
Head Kore 97 W
Power Picks: Dominate Black Diamonds
Nordica Santa Ana 97

BIG MOUNTAIN

MEN

Finesse Favorites: Kicking Back
Head Kore 111
Nordica Enforcer 104
Blizzard Rustler 11
Salomon QST 106
Head Kore 105
Volkl Blaze 104
Atomic Bent Chetler 120
Salomon Stance 102
Fischer Ranger 102
Fischer Ranger 108
Power Picks: Killing It
None

WOMEN
Finesse Favorites: Easy Access to Off-Trail Adventure
Head Kore 103 W
Völkl Blaze 104 W
Salomon QST Stella 106
Fischer Ranger 102
Power Picks: Ripping the Gnar
None

Sponsored Content

Product Review – SnowVision Goggles

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Submitted by Alyssa Lambert

Last season was my best ski season in many years thanks to my new Snowvision prescription ski googles. I wear progressive prescription eyeglasses (I am unable to wear contacts) and have been struggling for years to find the best option for me to see while skiing.

Over the years, I’ve tried different googles to go over my glasses, a helmet with built in visor, and just wearing goggles without my glasses. None of these options worked for me and each season I was frustrated, and determined to find something that would allow me to see the slopes in all weather conditions, read trail signs and maps, not fog up and be comfortable. The Snowvision goggles met all my expectations!

This ski google has a fixed custom prescription inside, an adjustable strap, and lens technology to eliminate fogging and use in all weather conditions. The goggles integrated easily with my ski helmet and were very comfortable. I skied in cold/warm weather, sun, clouds, even heavy snow,  and the goggles provided excellent visibility and did not fog up.

I was finally able to enjoy skiing again! I could see the trail and bumps which increased my safety and my confidence! In addition, I was able to easily read trail signs and maps on the mountain, making skiing much more enjoyable, since I no longer had to take off my googles and put on my prescription glasses each time I needed to read a sign/map, as I have had to do in the past.

The only drawback was not being able to read the small print clearly on my phone while wearing the Snowvision prescription google,  but that was no longer a problem once I increased the font size on the phone.

Ordering is easy. Choose your goggle style/color and either email, upload, or fill in an online form with your current optical prescription.

Overall, I believe I had the best ski season because I was able to see! My love for skiing has increased thanks to the Snowvision custom prescription goggle! I highly recommend this ski google to anyone who has struggled with their vision while skiing due to wearing prescription glasses and not finding a good solution.

Sponsored Content

Ski Guardian Your Safety Companion on the Slopes

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It’s not often SeniorsSkiing.com gets to tell you about a product that can potentially save lives on the mountain. We want to introduce you to the Ski Guardian; your safety companion on the slopes.

Safety on the slopes is a top priority, and that’s where Ski Guardian shines. This lightweight and versatile personal flag system is designed to create a visible boundary around. It increases your visibility on the mountain to help prevent collisions, especially on crowded slopes or in low-visibility conditions. Ski Guardian encourages other skiers and snowboarders to respect the recommended 10-15 feet of distance, offering peace of mind for riders of all ages. The device has two flexible 32-inch-long polycarbonate rods with flags at the ends, providing 32 inches of protection on each side.

The Ski Guardian attaches easily to your ski poles with two small screws and a Hex key which are provided. They can be removed without damage if you change poles. They can also be trimmed to fit a kid’s ski poles. One of the key features of Ski Guardian are its collapsible rods, which are perfect for navigating narrow areas or getting on and off the lift. With the rods collapsed, they never become an obstacle or inconvenience. This safety accessory ensures you can ski confidently, knowing you’re doing your part to prevent accidents.

The extended flags can increase visibility during emergencies too, helping you stay visible to rescuers and other skiers or snowboarders. The flags also provide a social element by helping friends and family find you on the slopes. They are great for ski clubs since they can easily identify members on the mountain. Ski Guardian can also accommodate flags with custom made club or company logos. Want to use a personal flag of your own? The Ski Guardian can also be purchased at a reduced price without the flags so you can put your own personalized flags on the rods.

Ski Guardian is more than just a safety tool—it’s peace of mind. It’s simple yet powerful design creates a visible boundary, urging other skiers and snowboarders to maintain a safe distance, especially in crowded or impaired conditions. We all know the recommended 10-15 feet distance is often overlooked on the slopes, but with Ski Guardian, that guideline becomes much easier to follow.

In conversations with many ski patrollers in the United States and Canada it’s clear patrollers believe the Ski Guardian can effectively reduce ski-related injuries or fatalities. The Patented Ski Guardian safety devices should become as common as helmets are now. Like helmets, which were once optional and are now essential, we believe Ski Guardian is on the verge of gaining the same level of acceptance. The concept is simple, but its potential to enhance safety is undeniable. With more exposure, Ski Guardian can become the next critical safety accessory for everyone on the mountain—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned skier.

Stored Skis
Don Burch

Putting Away Your Skis And Stuff

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It Pays To Spend A Little Extra Effort On Your Gear. Here’s How.

[Editor Note: Don Burch’s article on storing your gear is published each year around this time.  We are reprising it to help remind you that a little care for your stuff goes a long way.]

Hopefully your ski equipment has taken good care of you all winter, now it’s time for you to return the favor. Some simple steps now can save you the frustration of rusty edges, musty clothing and mouse invaded boots.

Are your skis still in the bag by the furnace where you left them after your last ski day? Hmmmm.
Credit: Mike Maginn

Skis: At the end of ski season, the bottom of your skis will be dirty. This will especially be the case if you did a lot of spring skiing. With today’s black bases it may not be that noticeable. Back in the day when a lot of bases were white the grime was obvious. Before having your skis waxed and sharpened, you want to clean the bases with a gentle cleaner. If you wax dirty skis, you’re just going to embed dirt into the wax.

I wet my skis bases with a garden hose, spray on Simple Green, wipe them down with a rag and then thoroughly rinse everything off. While you’re at it, thoroughly rinse off the top of your skis and bindings. I don’t recommend using cleansers on the top of your skis as these can interfere with the lubricants in your bindings.

Some people use commercially available ski base cleaners or Dawn dishwashing soap. Cleaning ski bases will dry them out so it’s imperative that you have them waxed afterwards and don’t let them sit all summer without a wax cover.

Racers and others who are demanding about their equipment will clean their bases using the hot scrape method. This involves hot waxing the skis and scraping the wax off before it cools. This process literally pulls the dirt off the ski. The process is repeated until the warm wax scrapes off clean. I have done this method, and it works, but it is time consuming.

A good edge sharpening and hot wax will not only have your skis ready for next season and will prevent the edges from rusting.

Boots: It’s essential that your boots and liners be totally dry before storing them. I use a boot dryer after every day skiing and before storage. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend that you take the boot liners out in order to get the boots thoroughly dry. I know it’s a pain to get the liners in and out. Warming your boots and thereby making the plastic softer will make it much easier to deal with the liners.

Store your boots in a place where mice cannot get at them. A friend of mine stored his in a shed and in the fall found them chewed on and full of things you’d wouldn’t want put your foot into.

Poles: These get the same attention as they did all winter, none.

Parkas and Ski Pants: At the end of the season, I wash my parka and ski pants in the washing machine with Nikwax TX.Direct® Wash-In. This is a product that cleans and restores water repellency and breathability, and I’ve been happy with the results. I’m not an expert on clothes washing so please go online to learn more and read the washing instructions listed on the label inside your garment.

Anyone else have any equipment maintenance tips for the off-season?

Richard Lambert

How To Select Your Next Pair Of Skis – 2024

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Regardless of the number of years you’ve been on the slopes, making the correct ski choice can be a challenge.

As part of its annual review of new skis, realskiers.com, the go-to site for in-depth ski evaluations, has determined the best skis for older skiers. Most of the selected “finesse favorites” have relatively soft flex, which helps them engage the snow with minimal exertion. Regardless of one’s physical condition, using skis with these characteristics allows older skiers to turn more easily and to ski longer without tiring.

Those who visit a variety of areas in different regions and who experience different snow conditions, may want to acquire a “quiver” of skis, each of which can be used for different terrain and different conditions. An alternative is to rent equipment when you get to the mountain. For example, Eastern skiers who tote their narrow skis to Alta, would be better served with a pair of wider powder skis.

We recommend trying before buying. Start by choosing the most suitable ski category for the terrain and snow and working with a quality ski shop, preferably one at or close to the mountain so you can switch out demo equipment throughout the day. 

SeniorSkiers.com subscribers are eligible for a 50% discount off subscriptions to realskiers.com.  This is a limited time offer.  Click here to request your promo code.  I used the  realskiers.com reviews for a ski purchase last season and was delighted with result.  The amount of time I saved narrowing down the options was worth cost of the subscription alone.

Recommended 2024 Skis for Senior Skiers

The Best 2024 Skis for Senior Skiers has selections from Atomic, Blizzard, Dynastar, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, and Volkl. 19 of the recommended skis are identified as women’s skis, which sometimes are engineered for female size and physique.

The selections fall into four groups, organized by range of ski width, which helps determine the terrain where its performance is optimized.

Specific recommended skis follow:

FRONTSIDE

MEN

Power Picks:
Kästle MX83
Rossignol Forza 70o V-Ti
K2 Disruption 78 Ti
Finesse Favorites:
Blizzard Brahma 82
Salomon Stance 84
Rossignol Experience 82 Ti
Rossignol Experience 82 Basalt
K2 Disruption 82 Ti


WOMEN

Blizzard Black Pearl 82
Nordica Wild Belle DC 84
Salomon Stance W 84

MEN ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

Power Picks:
Volkl Kendo 88
Blizzard Brahma 88
Nordica Enforcer 88
Nordica Steadfast 85 DC FTD
Finesse Favorites:
Head Kore 93
Nordica Enforcer 94
Salomon QST 92
Salomon Stance 90
Head Kore 87
Rossignol Experience 86 Basalt
Atomic Maverick 86 C
K2 Mindbender 89Ti

WOMEN

Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Head Kore 91 W
Nordica Santa Ana 93
Head Kore 85 W
Head Total Joy
Nordica Santa Ana 88
K2 Mindbender 89Ti W

ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

MEN

Power Picks:
Volkl M6 Mantra
Dynastar M-Pro 99
Kastle FX96 Ti
Finesse Favorites:
Head Kore 99
Blizzard Rustler 9
K2 Mindbender 99Ti
Kastle ZX100
Salomon Stance 96

WOMEN

Blizzard Sheeva 9
Dynastar E-Pro 99
Blizzard Black Pearl 97
Head Kore 97 W

BIG MOUNTAIN

MEN

Finesse Favorites: 
Head Kore 111
Salomon QST 106
Blizzard Rustler 11
Nordica Enforcer Free 110
Dynastar M-Free 108
Head Kore 105
Salomon Stance 102
Volkl Blaze 106
Nordica Enforcer Free 104
Fischer Ranger 102/108
Rossignol Sender 104 Ti

WOMEN

Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti
Fischer Ranger 102

Phil Johnson

Slide In with Slide On

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There are lots of moments we look forward to every ski season. Chances are, putting on ski boots for the first time each winter is not one of them.

Last spring you cleaned your boots and put them away for the summer. Now, after months on the shelf or in the closet, those puppies are ready to come out and play. But not without a struggle.

Say hello to Raymond Fougere, a 77 year old one time aeronautical engineer and former ski instructor and coach who a dozen years ago concocted Slide On, a teflon-like powder spray that when applied to the inside of a ski boot eliminates the grunts and groans we all associate with that start of ski season.

Fougere, who is a company of one based in Tiverton RI,  founded Booster Straps in 1999 to help racers and other performance skiers get a tighter fit in their ski boots. It is still a standard in the sport and he sells some 35,000 of them each years through his business SkiMetrix. For years, it was a one product business. He wanted a sister  product to market.

A friend, a chemical industry salesman and fellow skier, suggested Fougere try to come up with a ski boot  product that could tackle another problem –  putting them on. Now this was not a new issue.  There are silicon sprays on the market today and the Alpine Boot Horn is a long shoe horn designed specifically to help with boot entry. And rear entry boots are making a comeback. Nordica already has a model in he shops and other brands are expected to follow suit.

The secret to Slide On is a teflon like powder that forms a liquid that is packaged as a spray that, unlike silicon, when applied does not build up on inside the boot or eat away the lining.  As a user of the product for several years, I can attest it works. I keep a can in my boot bag.  My grunt and groan days are over. It is available in many ski specialty shops and retails for $15 for a two ounce container that for most skiers can last up to a full season. The website for Slide On is skimetrix.com.

Looking forward to that first day on the slopes. Booting up has never been easier.

Evelyn Kanter

Vail Resorts Introduces Season-Long Rental Program

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Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash

It’s called “My Epic Gear”, and it allows skiers and riders to reserve the same boots, skis or snowboard for an entire season at participating Vail Resorts destinations.

Skis and boards are top models from top manufacturers. Boots are fitted with customized insoles and boot fit scanning technology.  Everything offers free slopeside pickup and drop off, and there’s a new app to guide you to choose the ideal gear.

The My Epic Gear program launches in the 2023/24 season as a pilot program to Epic Pass holders, at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.

The following season – 2024/25 – Vail Resorts plans to expand the program to Whistler Blackcomb, Park City Mountain, Crested Butte, Heavenly, Northstar, Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow, with further expansions planned for future seasons.

Of course, it all depends on the success of the pilot program next season.

How it Works

Choose a model of ski or snowboard at the beginning of a season, and be guaranteed that model will be available any day of the season, fully tuned.

Try a different model of ski or snowboard any day, such as powder skis, based on availability.

Select from the most popular and latest skis, snowboards and boots.

Choose from name brand, high-quality ski and snowboard boots with customized insoles and boot fitting process.  Or, opt out of the boot offer and use your own.

The plan includes free slope side pickup and drop off every day, at every participating mountain resort.

The new My Epic app will manage the entire experience, from gear selection to boot fitting to delivery.

What it Costs

A full season membership for adults will cost $50, plus a $50 per day rental fee.

My Epic Gear also promises to keep your reserved skis or board properly tuned and waxed.

Depending on how often you ski or ride, that’s less than the average daily cost per season for owning gear, including paying airline baggage fees or shipping costs, and waxing and tuning during the season.

And, the $50 daily fee is about half the daily demo price premium equipment just about anywhere in snow country.

By my limited math skills, it sounds like the gear program will pay back in one week of skiing or riding – just like the Epic Pass and/or IKON Pass.

Child pricing will be introduced as part of the full launch of the program for the 2024/2025 season.

Choose Your Gear

At the beginning of the season, members can select a favorite model of ski or snowboard, and that gear will be tuned and available to them every day, at any participating resort, guaranteed.

There are 15 different leading brands and more than 50 of the most popular and latest ski and snowboard models available, including personalized recommendations to help guests determine the right gear for their needs.

Customized boot fittings leverage scanning technology, and members will have access to name brand, high-quality boots with insoles for a customized fit. Members can also opt out of choosing boots, if they prefer to use their own.

In addition to choosing favorite gear for the season, members can sample other brands and models of skis and snowboards for all terrains, weather conditions and skill levels, subject to availability.

My Epic Gear will collect guest feedback throughout the season and will recommend the best option for a guest based upon their experience level, conditions, and the latest equipment choices, as well as reviews from members in the program.

SeniorsSkiing Feedback

We welcome your comments, too. Do you think this is a good deal? Why? Why not?

seniorsskiing

How to Select Your Next Pair of Skis

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Regardless of the number of years you’ve been on the slopes, making the correct ski choice can be a challenge.

As part of its annual review of new skis, realskiers.com, the go-to site for in-depth ski evaluations, has determined the best skis for older skiers. Most of the selected skis have relatively soft flex, which helps them engage the snow with minimal exertion. Regardless of one’s physical condition, using skis with these characteristics allows older skiers to turn more easily and to ski longer without tiring.

Those who visit a variety of areas in different regions and who experience different snow conditions, may want to acquire a “quiver” of skis, each of which can be used for different terrain and different conditions. An alternative is to rent equipment when you get to the mountain. For example, Eastern skiers who tote their narrow skis to Alta, would be better served with a pair of wider powder skis.

We strongly recommend trying before buying. Start by choosing the most suitable ski category for the terrain and snow and working with a quality ski shop, preferably one at or close to the mountain so you can switch out demo equipment throughout the day. That said, this information also can be useful to those running across previously owned boards at a Swap or Sale.

BTW, SeniorSkiers.com subscribers are eligible for a 50% discount off subscriptions to realskiers.com.  This is a limited time offer.  Click here to request your promo code.

Recommended 2023 Skis for Senior Skiers

The Best 2022 Skis for Senior Skiers has 29 selections from Blizzard, Dynastar, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Stockli, and Volkl. Ten of the recommended skis are identified as women’s skis, which sometimes are engineered for female size and physique.

The selections fall into four groups, organized by range of ski width, which helps determine the terrain where its performance is optimized.

Specific recommended skis follow:

FRONTSIDE

75MM-84MM
Fischer RC One 82 GT
K2 Disruption 78 TI
Stockli Montero AX

WOMEN’S FRONTSIDE

75MM-84MM
Blizzard Black Pearl 82
Nordica Santa Ana 84

ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

85MM-94MM
Nordica Enforcer 88

WOMEN’S
ALL-MOUNTAIN EAST

85MM-94MM
Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Head Kore 85 W/91W
Nordica Santa Ana 88/93

ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

95MM-100MM
Dynastar M-Pro 99
Head Kore 99
Volkl M6 Mantra

WOMEN’S ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST

Blizzard Black Pearl 97
Dynastar E-PRO 99 
Kastle FX96 W
Head Kore 97 W

BIG MOUNTAIN

101MM-113M
Blizzard Rustler 10
Fischer Ranger 102 
Head Kore 111
Nordica Enforcer 104/110 FREE
Rossignol Sender 104 Ti
Salomon QST 106/Stance 102
Volkl Blaze 106

WOMEN’S

Fischer Ranger 102
Rossignol Rallybird 104 Ti
 
Don Burch

Getting Ready For The New Season

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Tongue-In-Cheek Tips For Dusting Off All Your Stuff…And You.

Where did you stow those boots? Keep looking, they must be hanging around somewhere.
Credit: Don Burch

You know it’s time to get ready for skiing when leaves are falling and there have been snow flurries in the mountains. You’ve started having ski dreams, and everyday you check SeniorSkiing .com (and your other favorite ski sites) for new postings.

Here’s what you need to do:

Get in shape. Go to the gym, do a plank. Spritz yourself with water so it looks like you’ve worked up a sweat. Do a lunge. Check your phone for messages. Call it a day.

Schedule all appointments for before or after ski season. Get your teeth cleaned now.

Find your ski clothing. Wash the long underwear that was lovingly stored under the bed. Clear out the pockets of your parka. Put the half-eaten protein bar in a baggy. Pull the fuzz off the loose ibuprofen pills in find a new baggie for them.

Find your new ski pass among the pile of plastic cards in the junk drawer. Throw out all the video store membership cards you find. Yes, even the Blockbuster card.

Go toward the pile of ski poles tossed in the back corner of your garage. First move all the string trimmers that you can’t start, the fishing poles with broken tips and the other things you’re going to fix. Pick out two ski poles that are the same length. No, they don’t need to actually match in any other way.

Get your ski boots out of the barn, shed or whatever outbuilding you promised yourself you’d never again store them in after what happened last year. DO NOT put your hands into the boot. First, turn them over and shake out the acorns. Shake them again, harder this time. Still do not put your hands in them. OK, they’re probably ready for the season.

Hunt for your skis. Do a visual binding check. If they are caked with highway salt and rust spray them with WD40. If they have Cubco bindings, buy new ones. Put them with the ski boots and the mismatched poles.

Watch YouTube instructional ski videos. Visualize yourself making carved turns. Get yourself centered by watching videos posted by your favorite life-coach. You’re working hard so indulge yourself with some cute cat videos.

Download the latest ski apps to your smart phone.

Bore your non-skiing friends, spouse, relatives and anyone you meet with all the new stuff you’ve learned online.

Call all your ski buddies. Subtly ask questions in order to determine their “ski status”. Do they have new grandchildren, new hips or knees, or a new sweetheart who doesn’t ski?

I know you didn’t throw out all the video store membership cards. You knew vinyl records made a modest comeback and so might Blockbuster. So get one of the plastic cards and use it to scrape sleet off goggles. Put it in the interior pocket of your parka along with the fuzz-less ibuprofen pills baggie and the half eaten protein bar. You are now fully ready for the new ski season.

ski maintenance
Jackson Hogen

Keep Your Gear In Shape

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Originally published in the 2020-21 Masterfit Buyer’s Guide and realskiers.com

ski maintenance

How long your gear remains in tiptop condition depends entirely on how well it’s maintained.

At least once a season, it’s good to get skis tuned by a specialty shop, where tuning machines can reproduce a factory finish on the skis so they perform like new. Here are some tips on how to keep your equipment in optimal condition for better performance on the snow.

If you follow these maintenance tips, a well-made pair of skis can perform acceptably for 200 skier days, and may last longer if there’s no major damage. Even inexpensive package skis have at least 100 days of useful life in them. Heavier and more aggressive skiers will usually wear out their skis—and anything else they own—faster than the lighter and more cautious.

Daily Equipment Care

SKIS: Wipe clean and dry. Check for dings on edges and bases.

BOOTS: Buckle all buckles with just enough tension to keep closed.
Be sure soles are clean and no mud or debris is lodged in tread.

BINDINGS: Wipe clean, particularly at boot/binding interfaces.

Regular Maintenance & at the End of the Season

SKIS: Get ski edges tuned by the shop. Or do it yourself: freshen up side edges with a light filing, followed by hand polishing. Fill cuts in bases if necessary. Wax, scrape and buff.

BOOTS: Visually inspect for sole wear and damage to buckles.

BINDINGS: Look for excessive wear, damage or missing parts. Inspect boot/binding interfaces.

Extend the Life of Your Boots

The first part of your boots to wear out will be the soles, but most boots now use replaceable toe and heel pads. The trick is getting a replacement pair while the supplier still stocks them. Or you could just protect them. If you spend a lot of time in parking lots or other hard surfaces, we recommend The first part of your boots to wear out will be the soles, but most boots now use replaceable toe and heel pads. The trick is getting a replacement pair while the supplier still stocks them. Or you could just protect them. If you spend a lot of time in parking lots or other hard surfaces, we recommend Ski Skootys. These are the easiest to use, most versatile sole protectors on the market. As a bonus, they’re also rockered so they make walking in ski boots a lot easier.

Stored Skis
Don Burch

Here’s How to Store Ski Gear and Clothes for the Off-Season

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[Editor’s Note: We’ve published Don Burch’s article on storing gear in the past.  It’s an excellent reminder that a little care goes a long way.]

Hopefully your ski equipment has taken good care of you all winter. It’s time for you to return the favor. Some simple steps now can save you the frustration of rusty edges, musty clothing and mouse-invaded boots.

Are your skis still in the bag by the furnace where you left them after your last ski day? 
Credit: Mike Maginn

Skis: At the end of ski season, the bottoms of your skis will be dirty. This will especially be the case if you did a lot of spring skiing. With today’s black bases it may not be that noticeable. Back in the day when a lot of bases were white the grime was obvious. Before having your skis waxed and sharpened, you want to clean the bases with a gentle cleaner. If you wax dirty skis, you’re just going to embed dirt into the wax.

I wet my skis bases with a garden hose, spray on Simple Green, wipe them down with a rag and then thoroughly rinse everything off. While you’re at it, thoroughly rinse off the tops of your skis and bindings. I don’t recommend using cleansers on the tops, as these can interfere with the lubricants in your bindings.

Some people use commercially available ski base cleaners or Dawn dishwashing soap. Cleaning ski bases will dry them out so it’s imperative that you have them waxed afterwards and don’t let them sit all summer without a wax cover.

Racers and others who are demanding about their equipment will clean their bases using the hot scrape method. This involves hot waxing the skis and scraping the wax off before it cools. This process literally pulls the dirt off the ski. The process is repeated until the warm wax scrapes off clean. This method works, but it’s time consuming.

A good edge sharpening and hot wax will ready your skis for next season and prevent the edges from rusting.

Boots: It’s essential that your boots and liners be totally dry before storing them. I use a boot dryer after every day skiing and before storage. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend removing the liners in order to get the boots thoroughly dry. I know getting the liners in and out can be a pain. Warming your boots to make the plastic softer makes it much easier to deal with liners.

Store your boots in a place where mice can’t get them. A friend of mine stored his in a shed and in the Fall found them chewed on and full of things you’d wouldn’t want put your foot into.

Poles: These get the same attention as they did all winter, none.

Parkas and Ski Pants: At the end of the season, I wash my parka and ski pants in the washing machine with Nikwax TX.Direct® Wash-In. This is a product that cleans and restores water repellency and breathability, and I’ve been happy with the results. I’m not an expert on clothes washing so please go online to learn more and read the washing instructions listed on the label inside your garment.

Anyone else have equipment maintenance tips for the off-season?

Devils-Thumb-Ranch-Cross-Country-Skiers-630x420
Roger Lohr

Buying NEW XC Ski Equipment

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For newcomers to cross country (XC) skiing, deciding on the best skis can be intimidating, especially if you don’t want to rely entirely on retail sales people or on-line outlets for advice.

Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Colorado

The following guidance about selecting and using XC gear is general and intended to help you be an informed consumer.

Note that as a rule of thumb, standard XC equipment packages include skis, boots, bindings and poles and are less expensive than purchasing components individually.

Which pair of cross country (XC) skis is right for you?

Average recreational XC skiers should rule out light weight very narrow gear (used by racers) and waxable XC skis and/or wide steel edged XC skis (used by backcountry mountain skiers). Instead, consider looking at a lightweight XC ski with a waxless base. In general, these bases include skins or a pattern milled into the base (e.g. a crown or fish scale pattern) which allow one ski to grip the snow, while the other is pushed off to glide. They also keep the skier from slipping backwards while traveling up a hill. Note that ski length should correlate to skier’s weight.

Ski choice also is a function of where the ski will be used. Places with groomed, packed trails are best experienced using narrower skis. Wider (e.g. 55 millimeters in the shovel) and softer skis provide some stability in places without groomed trails (e.g. many golf courses and city parks).

Many people try to compromise and get wider XC skis to accommodate both groomed trails and ungroomed areas. I recommend choosing one type or the other or purchasing separate skis for each type of skiing.

For many newbies, the biggest obstacle to XC ski control is the incomplete use of the snowplow. Unlike heavier Alpine  equipment which accommodates snow plow turns, with XC skis it’s important to feel the weight on the boot heel against the edged ski and command it to push outward to plow. Without this “feel the heel” and push movement, the skis won’t plow and speed will increase rather than decrease.

New gear makes XC fun for newbies

XC ski boots are an important component of the package. Most boots have similar characteristics such as an ankle cuff, covered easy lacing, dry, warm, comfortable, etc. In general, higher boots with more substantial plastic cuffing provide better control compared to a lowcut soft boot. Stiffness or softness is associated with the torsional rigidity of the boot. Determining whether or not a boot’s sole is stiff is as easy as twisting the sole. Stiffer boots provide more stability.

Now that you know, make the right choices and enjoy your time in the snow!

 

 

 

 

close up binding
Jackson Hogen

Bindings Made Simple

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Originally published in the 2020-21 Masterfit Buyer’s Guide and realskiers.com

Bindings are rugged little devices, but like any mechanical unit they can wear out quickly if not kept clean and lubricated.

At the beginning of the season, do a binding check. Annual shop inspections of the ski/boot/binding system will reveal any deviations in the release system that may require a binding to be re-set or retired if it won’t release within a standardized range.

close up binding

After a given binding model has been off the market for several seasons, the binding company’s liability insurer can decline indemnity coverage for a model it deems obsolete due to its age and likely condition. If shop personnel inform you they “can’t work on this binding,” they’re acting within established guidelines over which they have no control. No matter how much you once loved them, if your bindings are no longer indemnified, it’s time for them to go.

DO:

→ Determine your binding setting. It’s based on height, weight, age, boot sole length and skiing style. Any shop tech can help you do this in about 10 seconds

→ Pick a binding with your setting number (often called a “DIN” number) near the middle of the binding range. If your setting is “6,” a binding with a 3 – 10 scale should be fine.

→ Ask a salesperson about any special features that may make one binding more suitable for you than another.

DON’T

→ Continue to use a binding the manufacturer no longer indemnifies.

→ Use a boot with a touring sole or walking sole that’s incompatible with your Alpine bindings.

→ Use a boot with worn-out soles.

→ Mix a child’s normal boot sole with an adult binding.

FreeSkier
Bob Trueman

Things to Remember when Choosing Alpine Ski Equipment

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Source: FreeSkier

SKIS

  • The ski shop makes more money renting out or selling higher performance equipment.
  • Be honest with yourself – if you don’t ski hard and fast you probably don’t need it.
  • Higher performance skis perform worse when not skied hard – they need higher momentum, and more force to get them to work well. Skied slower they can be harder work.  Is that what you want?
  • It may well have been a year since you last skied – maybe more. You likely won’t ski too hard on days one and two.  Try renting an easy, flexible ski first.  If you find you ski hard enough to make it “chatter”, you can always change up.

Dizzy of Dizzy’s boot fitting shop at Big White ski resort shows off an early 1970s ski boot that boasted fantastic ski technology that, sadly, was ahead of the boot’s ability to support it. The boots famously would come apart during skiing.
Credit: Yvette Cardozo

BOOTS

  • Same rules apply. Boots designed for beginner/early intermediate will be less expensive.
  • Priority number one is comfort. Don’t put up with anything less.
  • Very few skiers need boots as stiff as the ones they have; or rent. Most skiers are “over-booted” and it holds back their skiing.  Plus it’s often painful.
  • Start off the vacation with a lower grade boot: it’s easy to exchange them.
  • Why do I say this? Because if you cannot forward flex your ankle very readily, your skiing will never be as good as it could be. And you’ll never be as stable.
  • When you do-up your boots don’t have the higher buckles too tight.
  • When the buckles are done flex your shin forward and hold it there, and only then fasten the unfortunately named “power strap”. It will be somewhat slack until you flex your shin forward.  At first you may feel this is a bit “wobbly” – but for heaven’s sake you don’t have your ankles clamped when you move about at home!  And it doesn’t make you lose control.

Source: Praxis Skis

SKI POLES (The ski shop will have a small fit when you tell them this.)

  • You want them
  • They hate it. They will patiently explain to you as if you were a child that they know what length you need, and will explain how they derive it.
  • At this point listen attentively, take the pole they proffer, and then tell them you want a pair like that but 3” (7.5 cms) shorter. Insist on it. They will suggest that if you do, you will die.  You won’t.
  • Why shorter poles? Because the length ski shops always hand out, makes skiers stand upright and almost lean back every time they do a pole plant.
  • Try it – all experiments are worthwhile. You will very quickly prefer the shorter ones because they will help improve your posture.  Anyway you can always go back up a length later if you want to – it’s not a lifetime contract.
Jon Weisberg

Dahu: The Tesla of Ski Boots

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Dahu boots are a game changer.

 

Isn’t it remarkable how electric vehicles are taking over the automotive industry? By 2035, virtually all General Motors vehicles will be battery powered. Our grandkids will look back and tell their kids about a time when combustion engines ruled.

I think a similar new frontier is being established with the Dahu ski boot. The company has parted ways with traditional boot makers and come up with materials and design that make it as different from the others as Tesla is to Dodge.

It’s a game changer.

Dahu boots were conceived and developed to be fitted more easily, minimize ski boot discomfort, and maximize performance.

The shell has a dozen strategically located holes that eliminate foot hotspots most skiers – especially older skiers – experience. Think about this feature: it gets rid of the need for bootfitters to manipulate the plastic to relieve pressure points. The car equivalent? No more engine tune-ups!

Made of a Swiss polyamide composite, the shell combines lightness and durability and consistent flex, regardless of temperature. It has a hinged tongue with two micro-adjustable buckles and a hinged, releasable rear with a patented aluminum spine which helps transfer body energy to the ski. Interestingly, the spine contributes to each skier’s ideal stance.

A comfy, insulated leather inner boot has a grooved rubber sole which provides traction when the inner is worn separately from the shell. Those grooves interlock with ridges and grooves in the shell, the net erect being greater torsional stiffness and more efficient energy transfer from body to ski.

I understand this is a lot to absorb. But I know that many of you have had it with your conventional boots. Our August reader survey asked, among other things, what items you intended to purchase in the next two years. Of the 3000+ responses, about one-third indicated ski boots. And from comments made during past reader surveys, sent to the site and to me personally, I know that finding a better boot is top-of-mind for many older skiers.

If you’ve had it with conventionally designed boots and are looking for a pair that can be fit more easily (including using one-on-one zoom sessions), will keep your feet warm and comfortable and, most importantly, perform for any level of skiing, click on the Dahu advertisement on the right side of the page.

 

Cross country skiers
Roger Lohr

Tips to Buy New XC Ski Gear for This Winter

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Cross country skiers

Last winter XC ski gear was in demand like never before and all segments of cross country ski equipment sold out, with few or no options for retailers to reorder. There also was an uptick for backcountry gear and snowshoes.

Retailers are still experiencing demand and supply issues. Coupled with global supply chain challenges, everything from the components that complete a ski binding to the actual cardboard boxes in which products are shipped have been in short supply. Demand and wait times have increased dramatically for these vital pieces, further impacting supply. 

Responding to these factors, retailers placed orders as early as possible and for as much gear as they could get. But some wholesale distributors limited the amount of equipment they planned to make available in the US.

The result? Retailers may not be able to reorder sold out merchandise.

If you want to get new gear this year, here are some tips from Burlington, Vermont retailer Ski Rack:

Start Early

The earlier you begin the process the more likely you’ll get the right winter gear for you. The process begins with your own preliminary research into what you’re looking for and how you want to enjoy the outdoors this winter. Starting early is great! However, keep checking for new arrivals.

Buy Locally

Once you’ve identified the type of XC ski activity you’re interested in (for example, skiing in tracks, on ungroomed trails, in the backcountry, or ski skating) the next step is to head to a local gear shop and talk with the retail experts. They can be a great resource to help with sizing and to discuss various details, including differences between products. Consider custom fitting for all categories, to get the right gear the first time. This way, you’ll save time and avoid having to return something down the line when you find it’s not the right fit. By then, that item may not be in stock anymore.

Flexibility

Another key piece of getting winter gear this year is flexibility. There are lots of options from many brands that will serve you well. Some models may already be sold out for the year, pre-sold, or unavailable for months. It’s advisable to explore all options to see what the best fit may be, even if it’s not your first choice, but ACT FAST! If you find something you want at the store, don’t wait. It could be gone the next day or the next hour.

 

Jon Weisberg

Older Skier? Here’s a list of the Best Skis for You

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When it comes to skis, buying without trying can be confusing. I prefer demo days or demo-ing from shops at or near the mountain. Reading how a ski performs can provide helpful guidance in your selection process but using those skis – especially on familiar terrain – really helps in deciding how to make the best purchase.

That said, we’ve posted the annual list of skis recommended for older skiers. They include models from Atomic, Blizzard, Dynastar, Fischer, Head, K2, Kastle, Nordica, Rossignol, Salomon, Stockli, and Volkl. 

You’ll find the list by clicking here.

Most of the recommended skis have relatively soft flex, allowing the ski’s sidecut to engage with snow with minimal exertion. This ski design component requires less physical effort to turn and, regardless of your physical condition, reduces loss of stamina. 

The recommendations come from data assembled during last Spring’s ski tests conducted by RealSkiers.com, the go-to site for in-depth ski equipment evaluations. The 45 recommended skis are organized by ski width categories, which correspond to types of terrain and snow conditions, factors considered in their design and engineering.

While many consider skis to be unisex, some women prefer skis with weight and flex more suitable to their size and physique. The list identifies 10 women’s skis.

What’s the best way to use the information on the list? First, identify the ski category you want to add to your quiver. Then work with a quality ski shop. And, as mentioned at the start of this article, if possible, demo the selections to compare before making your purchase.

BTW, SeniorsSkiers.com subscribers enjoy a 50% discount off subscriptions to realskiers.com subscriptions. Use Code SS21.

demo skis
Marc Liebman

Demoing Demo Skis

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Guidelines For An Objective Assessment.

Take your pick. The lads at Epic Mountain Sports at Winter Park will help you out. Credit: Epic

One of the great things about ski rental shops today is their willingness to rent top of the line skis. This is a great deal because for $35 – $50/day, you can try skis that will set you back $1,000. For the CPAs, math and economic majors, the break-even at $50/day on a $1,000 pair of skis is 20 days or more if fees are factored into the analysis.

So why demo? Three reasons come to mind. One, eliminate the hassle of checking a pair of skis as baggage. FYI, I can get everything, including my boots into my two carry-ons.

Two, you may want to try one or more pairs before you buy.

And, three, you want to try different brands to see how they ski. Dynastars don’t ski like Rossignols which definitely don’t ski like Heads. Atomics handle differently than Fischers or Volkls or Elans.

Demoing skis can be very informative even if you have no intention of buying new skis. Based on my background as a professional ski tester in the last century, here are five tips learned the hard way to help you compare different skis.

Tips For Comparing Demo Skis.

One. Test on the same trip and if possible, on consecutive days in as close to the same conditions as possible.

Two. For your first run on a new pair of skis, pick a slope that you can handle easily. Testing/demoing is all about the ski giving you information.

Three. For each pair of skis, do the same type of turns on the same slope. I start with a “wedge wedel” which is nothing more than using my knee to crank the skis (which are in a slight wedge) on an edge to see how they react. Next comes a series of round, carved turns that slowly decrease in radius until I am rapidly linking turns back and force across the fall line as if I was running a slalom. From there, I let the skis run on a traverse and then flat down the fall line to what I call GS speeds. Most would call this “really fast.”

Four. The first run on the new skis is the most important. After 1,000 feet of vertical, you’re starting to adapt your technique to the ski’s quirks. The ski is an inanimate object and will not change. By the end of the second run, you’re adjusting to how the ski skis.

Five. If the ski is forcing you to change your technique, get a different pair. The only exception is that if the new ski forces you to learn how to carve a turn. Does the ski “swim or snake” when your knees are pressed forward and the ski is flat on the snow? Or, when on edge, does one or both skis dart or try to “hook” uphill. Or, when you go fast, either on edge or with a flat ski, is the ski making you uncomfortable? If any of the above are true, go find another ski.

 

Marc Liebman

The Skiing Tune Up Pack

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DIY: Prepare And Repair  Ski Bottoms. Here’s What It Takes.

Crowded ski tool box: There must be a pony in there somewhere. Credit: Marc Liebman

Way back when I used to drive to ski resorts, I used to slide a toolbox into the back of the car with everything needed to tune a pair of skis, fix a gouge in the P-Tex and wax the bottoms. The biggest and most important item was my Toko hot waxer.

Between ski trips, each pair of skis received a coat of paraffin dripped onto the bottom, spread, scraped off and buffed. This was done three times and made the P-Tex rock hard as well as providing a base for any additional wax for the conditions or none at all. The treatment also made the bottoms much more scratch resistant.

As a back-up, or to allow someone called children to do their own skis, I had a simple travel iron. Another vital item was a 12-foot extension cord.

Also in the box was a brick of paraffin used in canning. Back before the turn of the century, each box had four, ¼ pound slabs.

In the box there were a collection of P-Tex “sticks” of varying colors to drip them into gouges. They sat in the same tray in the toolbox with a scraper and butane cigarette lighters I’d use to melt the P-Tex sticks and a soldering iron used to help clean out some of the gouges.

Several flat files were in the bottom for sharpening the bottom part of the ski’s edges. To take burrs off and to sharpen the edges to a perfect right angle, over the years, I’d acquired several different “planes” or edge sharping tools. Then once I was finished with the filing I had small whetstones to take off any microscopic burrs.

Most shops have belt sanders to grind off the bottoms and that just grates on my nerves. For one thing, the sander takes way too much bottom off. And two, the sander leaves burrs that need to be carefully filed off. Too much pressure during a careless pass down the belt sander could ruin a ski.

When finished, the edges could slice paper, which if you ski or race in New England a lot, is very helpful.

Every night after dinner, the family’s skis were waxed. My kids started helping around age eight and by the time they were teenagers, they could wax their own skis (!) And, yes, they could feel the difference between a tuned ski and one that wasn’t. The ritual also gave me a chance to check my family’s skis and bindings.

Also in the box was a box of helicoils which can be inserted in holes to enable a screw to be tightened. Having started skiing way back when metal plates were not built into the ski, they were handy to have around.

Ski tuning, or even de-tuning is an art as well as a science. Today, I can’t tell you how often a shop has given me a pair of high-performance rental skis that was desperately in need of a tune-up.

FreeSkier
Marc Liebman

Why I Don’t Read Ski Test Reports

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Unlike this ski test, the author masks the ski’s identity. Credit: FreeSkier

Seven Ways To Make Ski Tests More Objective.

Way back in the late 20th Century, while running the SKIpp Testing program for SKI Magazine, John Perryman and I learned the most difficult problem to solve and the biggest variable was the ski tester. In conversations with almost every manufacturer, they said the same thing. So the goal of SKIpp (way back in the 1970s before engineering modeling software was available), was objectivity and processes that minimized tester bias. John created a bench test and then tested the ski on the snow so we could compare the results.

Amazingly, we were successful. We were invited as “consultants” by several manufacturers, to compare SKIpp’s results with theirs. Again, SKIpp was very accurate, more so than some manufacturers would admit.

Most ski testers are really good skiers and as such, they unconsciously adapt their technique to the ski, terrain and conditions and the brand’s design philosophy. This makes objective comparisons very difficult. In the SKipp program on-snow methodology, seven steps were incorporated to reduce the human variable.

One, we did blind testing. The tops and tip logos of each ski were covered with shelf paper before numbering each pair. The tester was not allowed to pick up the ski until he/she “tested” the ski to minimize identification.

Two, we skied the same trail every day that gave us about 1,000 feet of vertical and a chair lift that made yo-yoing possible. The ski area spread fertilizer on a long marked off segment to simulate frozen granular and give us a consistent snow surface to reduce the “snow condition variable.”

Three, each skier filled out a test card which graded a list of mandatory maneuvers/turns. At the beginning of the year’s session, we conducted a clinic on the required maneuvers and how the ski should react.

Four, each tester was allowed only two runs on the ski before grading. We wanted first impressions and found that after two runs, most testers adapted to the ski’s idiosyncrasies.

Ski tester range from racers to intermediates. Controlling tester bias is key.

Five, the testers’ skills ranged from certified ski instructors who either had been racers or coaches to intermediate skiers. Our youngest testers were in their mid-20s (we did have a few teenagers one year) to older skiers in their 50s.

Six, the “racing” models were skied down a 20 gate GS course that had been “fertilized” so the surface was rock hard.

Seven, only 10 skis were tested each day. After 10, the testers had a hard time determining the differences.

We let the testers pick which skis they wanted to ski in the afternoon. Again, the choice and why was recorded. Only then did we allow the ski to be identified. Results were tabulated each evening by hand because Excel, laptops, etc. didn’t exist in the 1970s.

Even with all these precautions, most of us could, after a few weeks of on the snow testing, tell one brand from another. To this day, I can tell a Rossignol from a Dynastar from an Atomic from a Head or K2.

So, when I read the current ski reports filled with jargon such as “edge gripping power” or “discover the amazing effect of (name of manufacturer) new Energy Management Circuit,” my reaction is %$^@*&, and I stop reading. Whatever credibility just evaporated. I’ve been there and writing facts about the ski’s performance instead of hype is, well, boring. But, experience tells me that the reports are more believable. So now you know why I don’t read ski test reports and prefer to “on snow test” them myself.

 

Volkl
Marc Liebman

The Personal Ski

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Does The World Need A Custom Ski Just For You?

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You can buy a computer built just for you. How about a ski?

Way back in the winter of 2018, long before Covid raised its ugly head, I asked the heads of marketing (none of whom would qualify for a SeniorsSkiing/com subscription) from three manufacturers a simple question: “Has ski material science and engineering reached the point where—with a simple, easy-to-measure parameters, and algorithms— a ski manufacturer can produce a ski tailored to the way an individual, recreational skier skis?”

The answer was yes, they have been making custom skis for World Cup and Olympic Ski racers for decades. But what about us common folks?

Again, the answer was yes. Physical dimensions of the skier and other limits such as artificial joints could be entered by the buyer.

All it takes is translating measurement to manufacturing.

The hardest part would be translating how a skier skis into data that can be used by a computer to then control the manufacturing process. For elite racers, they have zillions of gigabytes of footage “experts” can analyze coupled with on-snow testing.

Unlike ski racers where the variations in their technique are subtle, recreational skiers are all over the map. If you don’t believe me, watch a well-traveled slope. Even the “untrained” eye can see the differences in technique, some good, some, well, not-so-good bordering on awful, or where they are in learning to ski.

All three ski designers hypothesized that with two to three minutes of video of a skier on a a ski whose design parameters were known skiing down a known piece of terrain with measured condition, a custom ski could be done. The individuals all agreed that this approach would eliminate many variables.

From there, they could have internal experts go through their analysis, come up with whatever inputs a computer model needs, and, voilá, out would come the engineering/design specs for the ski.

Cost of manufacture is another story. Credit: Volkl

Now we get to the second issue: Producing the ski. Ski manufacturers make huge investments in equipment that can be used to turn out thousands of skis so they can amortize the investment over each ski produced. In this “personal ski” scenario, the molds and materials can still be used. Workers would have to be re-trained. How and why happens is beyond the scope of this piece, so just accept the fact that custom construction is possible.

Which brings us to cost. The custom ski would cost more than the $1,000 for a top-of-the-line ski. How much more, my informal panel wouldn’t or couldn’t agree on a number, but again, for the sake of dreaming, let’s say $3,000. Whether or not the ski was salable at that price is a different subject, again beyond the scope of this post.

So the obstacle was not cost, nor engineering, nor manufacturing, but identifying and then gathering the needed data that could be translated into ones and zeros. In the end, they all said,  “Why bother?”  The current designs meet the needs of 80—90 percent of recreational skiers. And therein lies the rub and why, at least not yet, everyone can’t have a custom designed ski.

 

Jon Weisberg

New Rx Goggle: Full-Range and Fog-Free Vision

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SnowVision Rx goggles integrate prescription with inner lens

One of the downsides of not skiing this season is that I am unable to experience some new and interesting products in a skiing environment. I make clear in each article I’ve written about these products that it is not a product review. These pieces may be about the product’s features and benefits and how I think it will benefit other senior skiers, but, at least for this season, these product articles are not full reviews based on my on-hill experience.

That said, I’ve been using my new SnowVision prescription ski goggles in a number of non-skiing settings. SnowVision is a Belgian company that advertises with SeniorsSkiing.com. It utilizes a patented lens technology that integrates the prescription lens into the inner lens of the goggle. The picture accompanying this article explains it quickly. 

A Better Rx Goggle

The SnowVision approach has numerous advantages over goggles using prescription lens inserts or over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles. The most obvious is the total lack of fogging. I believe that has something to do with the face to lens distance. I’ve used SnowVision while hiking on a cold, wintery day and fogging never occurred. I can’t imagine it would be an issue while skiing. 

I’ve never found OTG goggles acceptable. My experience is they fog-up too easily. Also, with prescription inserts, there’s always the issue of matching the insert with the correct goggle. Once, after purchasing the insert, I had to search for a compatible goggle.

Perhaps the most significant and satisfying difference between SnowVision and other prescription goggles is the clarity and full range of vision. My prescription-insert goggles provide decent enough vision looking straight ahead. SnowVision, however, gives full, clear vision at the periphery. This, because the integrated prescription lens, like the goggle’s outer lens, is curved. The difference in vision is dramatic.

SnowVision prescription lenses are available as unifocals, progressives or bifocals. The company sent me a pair with bifocals. In all my years wearing glasses, this is the first time with bifocals, and I adjusted immediately. Also, the lenses are fully photochromic: they darken when conditions are lighter and lighten when conditions get dark.

But I have not yet skied with SnowVision, so I can’t comment on their effectiveness in flat light and other on-hill conditions. As for comfort of fit, hiking in a cold and snowy forest, they provided excellent, fog-free vision.

The Belgian company has its goggle components manufactured by high-quality vendors in Germany, Italy and Japan.  That quality is reflected in the design and robust look and performance of SnowVision.

Price ranges start about $300 for the unifocal. The custom-made goggle comes in a box with a cloth carrying case, a lens-cover and free shipping, worldwide.

I’ll write a full review when I’m back on snow next season, but, in the meanwhile, if you’re like me and rely on prescription goggles, SnowVision offers a unique, new approach which I think is superior to the existing options.

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