Thread: Skis for my daughter

My daughter is 11, about 5'2", 120 lbs intermediate skier. Looking for a new ski for next season -- twin, early rise tip, 155-160cm, 80-85mm underfoot. This will be her only ski, and will be used all over the mountain in all conditions at Mt. Baker, including some gate bashing (but not that seriously at the moment). I was thinking of the Salomon Lord/Lady or the Gotama Junior. The Lady seems like a better choice, but I can get the Gotama in a 158 for $150 bucks. Any other ideas?

Check out the Head Wild One. Very solid ski, not a balsa toy like most kids skis. It's not a twin or rockered though.

K2 Missdemeanor?

Uh, you realize your daughter is (on average) about a year from peak height velocity. She's going to a bunch of inches in the next year and a half, gain significant muscle mass, the whole nine yards. Whatever you get, keep that in foreground.

Second, if she's playing around with gates, you describe needs as all-mountain, unclear why you're looking at fat twins unless that's what's she specifically asked for. Otherwise, personally I'd go with a clean used Blizzard or Fischer in the 80's, at her size now will be same float as a 110 for average sized male. But a hell of a lot happier on hardpack or in bumps. She could handle the Blizzard Eos (female version of Cronus) in a 159, Fischer Koa 84 in 159 or 151. Very nice prices on latter new, in fact, right now over at O2. If she grows some, these can handle it, so you won't have to buy another one in two seasons, you can spend the difference on her lessons...or a real powder ski, like a S7 female version what-ever-it's-called.

If I were in your position I'd get something uber economical at this point, something nimble and playful, but not something you expect to have her use for more than a season because she's gonna grow a bit in the next year and in two years(if not sooner) she's going to Rock the mountain well on the way to kicking your butt, because girls who have parents who inspire the way you do are bound to rip!

That being said, its tough to find something with an early rise tip in the width you're looking for and much wider will be big time overkill for her current size.
The Eos mentioned above is a good choice. I've skied it and thought it was a tad soft for me, but I have a few lbs on her.

Not to be too "girlish" but the Roxy Shazam and Hocus Pocus are both great options for a flex soft enough for her size and found inexpensively enough to be great "tweener" skis.

This is all assuming that she doesn't need something for the gates.

Another thought came to mind after I posted.....Moment has a few good options in this size category too.
When I checked out the 2011 skis, the Pika really stood out, but with 112 under foot that's not really what you're looking for, if I'm not mistaken, so looking at the other options...
The Spade looks like it may be something to look at...
http://www.momentskis.com/skis/spade.php
The Sierra may be an option but I'm going to guess that it may be a tad too stiff for her current weight...

My wife is about about 5'3", 114
She's and advanced skier and is very happy with her Armada Cantikas in 157cm.

I have fisher rx8 in a 160. used only a few days, perfect conditon, can do $150 shipped

http://www.ski-mag.com/en/ski/clanak.php?id=19117
Like these, just more solid orange. if interested I can send pics

Originally Posted by mtb

My daughter is 11, about 5'2", 120 lbs intermediate skier. Looking for a new ski for next season -- twin, early rise tip, 155-160cm, 80-85mm underfoot. This will be her only ski, and will be used all over the mountain in all conditions at Mt. Baker, including some gate bashing (but not that seriously at the moment). I was thinking of the Salomon Lord/Lady or the Gotama Junior. The Lady seems like a better choice, but I can get the Gotama in a 158 for $150 bucks. Any other ideas?

Please pm me where you can find the Gotama Jr 158 for $150- rei has the got jr for that price but they don't carry the 158 online. My 11yr old (4'9", 85lb, expert skier) had the 148cm this year and loved them, great float in the pow, will rail a straightline, decent performance on the hardpack. No twin tip will really work well for gate bashing.

rei also has vodoo 90 (formerly scratch girl bc) for $234 new. My daughters are both on this ski and they're a great one ski option. They rail hardpack and are pretty decent in crud and powder.

Scott P3

The Volkl Cosmo if she wants something a little stiffer. No joke ski that would give her room to grow. Volkl Pearl if she wants something lighter and soft flexing. My 16 yr old is on the Cosmo and 14 yr old on the Pearl. You should still be able to find 2009 versions of each ski for cheap. Graphics on each are pretty cool.

does splat have any of the 164's left? might be a bit too much ski now, but in 8 months... better than getting something too small, and having her growth spurt to the point that they are way too tiny.

I have 174 Soft BRO's and though I enjoy them, I often wonder if I'd get a lot more out of them if they were 164's.

I'm trying to keep in mind that the daughter in question is 120 lbs, but she's also a developing 11 year old who probably doesn't have all her muscle tone that she'll need to ski something super stiff or high performance.......yet

I'm pretty sure the 164 Softs would be a bit too much ski for this young girl.......and I'm a fan of PMGear.

I have ONE pair of 164 Bros left - $229.

Originally Posted by splat

I have ONE pair of 164 Bros left - $229.

Is that directed at me or mtb?
I'm sucha gear ho, you know I'm tempted
Must resist.....

Thanks for all the input. @Beyond and @SnowHot -- it's a good reminder that now is probably not the time to spend huge money on skis. I also know that the characteristics I describe are a little contradictory -- the twin tip is her requirement and the early rise is my suggestion after riding Lhasa's all season. She does want to do the Mt Baker race team (where the emphasis I'm told is more on team and all-mountain than it is racing), so the more race-oriented skis that can handle chop and powder might be the better choice. Pat -- I love the Lhasa's (but the speed scares me sometimes :-), and I think SnowHot wants to buy the 164s.

mtb, to give you a comparison, I'm 43 yo, 5'6" 130 lbs and somewhat athletic. I do a lot of mentoring with young girls in volleyball and skiing so I'm familiar with the stage your daughter is at, and though she's only 10 lbs lighter than I am, she has not reached her muscle tone, strength and coordination potential, even if she is an athletic young lady.

IMHO putting her on a ski that is too much for her at this stage(too wide, too stiff, too....) may be demanding for her which will likely discourage her.

Get her something that is just right for her, like the Blizzard EOS, Roxy's or .....(lots of great options out there) even if she only skis them for a season, it will ensure lots of years of fun skiing with her in the future, probably on some of the more aggressive skis that are listed here, including the BROS.

I want to see her be a rippin' chick a few years from now!!

Originally Posted by SnowHot

mtb, to give you a comparison, I'm 43 yo, 5'6" 130 lbs and somewhat athletic.

MILF. Pics?

Outside the box option, Line Afterbang, 155 115/85/115

Although it is symmetric sidecut, it is a light easy skiing ski. $345 shipped

I will not admit nor deny that there are any such pics

The Line Afterbang is a great thought for this girl.