Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site mako.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!decvax!tektronix!orca!mako!jans
From: jans@mako.UUCP (Jan Steinman)
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: Re: wood core vs foam? Comments on Selecting Skis.
Message-ID: <390@mako.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Dec-84 12:31:12 EST
Article-I.D.: mako.390
Posted: Thu Dec  6 12:31:12 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Dec-84 02:42:09 EST
References: <813@vax1.fluke.UUCP>
Reply-To: jans@mako.UUCP (Jan Steinman, PSIA)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 36
Summary: 

Lowell Skoog writes:
> ...on the notion that an intermediate skier should buy top-of-the-line
> competition skis... you have to consider what these skis are designed for. 

Here, here!  (Switch to Nordic, please.)  I remember working in a ski shop.
We carried the (in)famous Kniessel Running Star klister ski, the ones that
take a twelve-ton press to make the bottoms touch.  Needless to say, not many
sold, most of those sold were returned, so they ended up on sale, very cheap.
One day three nuns walked in.  We did everything to try to change their mind.
The store manager (a devout Catholic) even offered them some nice 
light-touring skis at cost, which would have put them about $45, still $10
more than the Kneissel liquidation price of $35.

I don't imagine those nuns used them more than once.

> To say that a competition ski is best for all conditions is like
> recommending a Ferrari for four-wheeling.  Skis are tools--to choose the
> right one, you have to decide what you want to use it for.

Very aptly put, and equally applicable to XC.

> (Racing skis are macho.)

...and so are telemark skis.  Many a person who fancies him/herself a hard-
core outdoorsperson asks me about buying telemark equipment.  When I find out
they actually only climb Mt. Adams every other year, I try to steer them
toward the heavy end of light-touring equipment, rather than full-blown
telemark stuff, which is heavy and unresponsive for any but it's intended use.

XC or downhill, special equipment is for those with lots of money who don't
mind having four or five different pair of skis, three pair of poles, etc.
Figure out what you do, and go for compromise if you do more than one type
of skiing, or commit to having more than one of everything!
-- 
:::::: Jan Steinman		Box 1000, MS 61-161	(w)503/685-2843 ::::::
:::::: tektronix!tekecs!jans	Wilsonville, OR 97070	(h)503/657-7703 ::::::