Conference bgsdev::skiing

    You might do better to offer to chauffeur her around with infinite
    patience while she chooses her own equipment (and of course to pay 
    for it).  Proper boot fit is of course a must, but there are also
    night-and-day differences among skis including the parabolics.
    The packages are also geared toward low-level intermediates, 
    probably not what would be best suited for her at this point.
    
    Among the parabolic skis, I have heard very good things about the K2 
    Three and the Rossignol Cut 9.9 and Cut Super 9.9 all from advanced 
    intermediate skiers.  Some of them like to swoop through one graceful
    turn after another, and some like to cruise pretty fast.  I've also
    seen people from the lift bombing straight down the hill on the 
    Rossi Cut skis, and they looked like they were quite under control.
    
    Just about every ski area has affordable shaped ski rentals so she
    can demo them and pick her favorite.
    
    Have fun,
    Tom

    
    
    I'd recommend scheduling a ski weekend close to her birthday and then 
    arrange for her to demo skiis - then she can decide what suits her best.
    Provide her with a gift certificate to the ski shop and then
    let her pick the gear.  Boots and skiis have to fit the person
    beyond shoe size and ski length - better to be remember for a
    great weekend than blistered feet and a ski that zigged instead
    of zagged...
            

    First take her to a good boot fitter and get her some good fitting 
    boots.  This is the most important item and needed to evaluate skis.
    
    Give her a check or promise or whatever for the skis, poles, and 
    bindings.  Take her to places where she can do lots of demos to 
    see what she likes.  There are end of the season deals coming shortly 
    so demo for a few days or weekends and then get something really good 
    for a really good price.
    

    I'll echo the sentiments here about letting her pick her equipment
    especially the boots.  Selecting a binding shouldn't be an issue as all
    of the major manufacturers are going to offer a decent piece of
    equipment.  You might also get away with selecting a ski as long as you
    don't go too radical.  It is still better as previously stated to have her 
    demo if she can and then choose what she likes.  Prices between brands
    will be comparable.  You might even be able to have her skis mounted to
    be used that day or the next if you hit it right and she makes a choice 
    early enough.    
    
    Brian

    
    Parabolic skis are offensive! ;-)
    
    (unless of course your in 18 feet of powder)
    
    Perhaps a gift certificate is adequate?
    

 I am not even going to touch this one. I always fan on gifts for spouse or 
 old girlfriends. It's like trying to teach them how to ski or drive a car.  
 And I use to be a instructor and I am a excellent driver. :-)

 Seriously, like previous noter indicated. Don't do the boots unless the store
 will let you buy it so she has something to unwrap. Then bring it back to have
 her fitted to a boot she should be in. If they don't have any boots that are 
 comfortable, you should be able to get a full refund and try at another store.

 You should be able to do the same with the skis as long as you don't have them
 mounted. We do this a lot during the Christmas season for that Santa Claus
 Surprise factor.

 Good Luck,

 Dave O'

    
    Hi,
    Killington has a Rossi demo and 1 hour lesson on how to ski 
    shaped skiies vs regular skiies.  The one hour demo is free.
    They have several lesson slots on both SAturdays and Sundays.
    
    Jean

    RE: .7
    
    I believe the Free Parabolic ski demo on either Elan SCX or Rossi Cuts 
    is at all ASC resorts.  At Sunday River the times for the 2 hour guided 
    demo on weekends is 9 AM, 11 AM, and 1 PM.  A couple of friends who did 
    the demo at Sunday river thought it helped them ski better on their 
    regular skis after the demo.
    
    	Roger
    
    
    

    My whole family took the "free" lesson and demo last year at Sunday
    River.  I agree that it also helped everyone to ski better on their
    regular skis.  
    
    At the end of the session they give you a short, NO PRESSURE, sales
    pitch.
    
    Inside hint: Sign-up for the 1 PM session.  It is the last session of
    the day and they let us keep the skis the rest of the day.  We headed
    for "White Heat" and "Obsession" to fully road test the skis.
    We plan to do it again this year during school break.
    
CAUTION: Doing this may be hazardous to you wallet !!! It won't take you
    long to decide what type of ski you want next .
    

    RE: .9
    
    I don't necessarily agree with your last statement.  I had a chance to 
    try the Elan SCX Monoblock(top of the line) skis in December.  I was in
    the Ski School for Instructors at Killington.  We learned how to ski on 
    them and how to instruct people to ski on them.  I picked up the
    technique in just a few turns.  They were interesting but I wanted my 
    skis back after four hours on the SCX's.  I had a chance to get a pair 
    very cheap and I passed it up in seconds!
    
    BTW, if they are not too busy they often offer the groups the skis for 
    the rest of the day for just $10.
    
    	Roger
    

    About a month ago, I demoed the Rossi CUTs at Balsam's Wilderness.
    The less on was at 12:30. You paid a $10 deposit. If you returned them
    after the lesson, you got your $10 back. If you kept the skis all
    afternoon, they kept the $10.
    
    They turned very nicely, and I'm a better skiier because of the
    free lesson. I found them slower thn my regular skiis. I couldn't
    glide up a hill at the bottom of the trail on the CUTs where I could
    on my own skis. They demo on the bottom of the line CUTs. (Red ones)
    I wonder what the orange or yellow ones are like. But they list
    on the $599-$799 range. The higher end CUTs have elss sidecut that
    the red ones. I may demo a pair some day, but I wouldn't plunk down
    that kind of $ for them right now.
    
    Bill