Buying advice for new skier?
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 2:47 pm
Hi all,
I would like to start backcountry skiing, but, I have no ski experience. I have been snowboarding for about 15 years and have a lot of experience with winter snow/ice travel in general, plus a decade or so of backpacking in the High Sierra. I can't stop dreaming about getting into the backcountry in the winter and getting some fresh lines!
One thing I've learned after years of outdoor recreation is that, in my opinion, it's worth it to spend more money on the top quality gear and not end up having (or really wanting) to purchase newer/lighter/better gear later down the road. I wish I had someone truly knowledgeable about ultralight backpacking to coach me on my purchases before I bought all my backpacking gear. I would really like to avoid that same mistake with my skiing gear.
Nonetheless, my intuition tells me I should buy a cheap pair of skis to start, partly because there is a big difference between ski and backpacking/climbing gear, which is that your skill level has a big impact on what type of skis are appropriate for you. So even though I can get a pair of BD Aspect ski's for 60% off right now, and even though I feel that this is exactly the type of ski I will want down the road when I am capable of ski mountaineering, I'm thinking it would be really silly for a newbie like myself to buy these. Any thoughts on this?
But now my real question, should I also hesitate to buy the top quality bindings and boots at this stage? In the past I've gotten advice that I should consider shelling it out for top quality boots before I consider top quality skis. I can also get BD's Prime boots right now for about 40% off (through theclymb) and I am tempted to get them. Any advice on the wisdom of these purchases for a newbie (but a newbie that is 100% certain backcountry skiing will be a big part of his future) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!
I would like to start backcountry skiing, but, I have no ski experience. I have been snowboarding for about 15 years and have a lot of experience with winter snow/ice travel in general, plus a decade or so of backpacking in the High Sierra. I can't stop dreaming about getting into the backcountry in the winter and getting some fresh lines!
One thing I've learned after years of outdoor recreation is that, in my opinion, it's worth it to spend more money on the top quality gear and not end up having (or really wanting) to purchase newer/lighter/better gear later down the road. I wish I had someone truly knowledgeable about ultralight backpacking to coach me on my purchases before I bought all my backpacking gear. I would really like to avoid that same mistake with my skiing gear.
Nonetheless, my intuition tells me I should buy a cheap pair of skis to start, partly because there is a big difference between ski and backpacking/climbing gear, which is that your skill level has a big impact on what type of skis are appropriate for you. So even though I can get a pair of BD Aspect ski's for 60% off right now, and even though I feel that this is exactly the type of ski I will want down the road when I am capable of ski mountaineering, I'm thinking it would be really silly for a newbie like myself to buy these. Any thoughts on this?
But now my real question, should I also hesitate to buy the top quality bindings and boots at this stage? In the past I've gotten advice that I should consider shelling it out for top quality boots before I consider top quality skis. I can also get BD's Prime boots right now for about 40% off (through theclymb) and I am tempted to get them. Any advice on the wisdom of these purchases for a newbie (but a newbie that is 100% certain backcountry skiing will be a big part of his future) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks folks!