OK Long version. Most of this is alpine skiing:
K2 made some easy skiing tele skis back in the day. But I’ve had the sense their skis tend heavy and/or soft or just soft, maybe cheap. Didn’t help moving production to China as far as perspective.
I tried some volkl years ago, really nice, energetic. But recently demoed some Kendo 88s for hardpack and moguls and they seemed too light and stiff, grabby and squirrely, made me ski slow. I think K2 bought them out and moved some production to China, maybe quality suffers, or I just didn’t get along with that one.
Salomon and Rossignol seem kind of cheaper too, mass production. I had some nice ones at one time, but also tried some that weren’t so good. Like Atomic, the ones without wood cores are suspicious.
My daughter had some Elan Ripstick with the asymmetrical thing, bought off the shelf no demo. She ended up not liking and my wife didn’t like them either. For some reason.
My wife and I tried some skis recently looking for hardpack old snow skis. Both of us coincidentally preferred the Blizzards (Brahma, Black Pearl) over the Volkl or Rossignol offer. The Rossi experience is a nice soft but locked in carver but hard to maneuver in moguls etc., rather too locked in.
Fischer skis, I’d buy without trying if they’re the right length width etc. The above brands I’d be hesitant to do that. Also Nordica or Blizzard I’d have confidence in. Although I did not like Blizzard Cochise skis when they were so popular, just seemed heavy and lifeless with the no camber thing.
You might look for a Ranger 99ti from a couple years back, those are apparently more directional with a flatter, bigger tail. Out of production now.
https://www.powder7.com/Fischer-Ranger- ... s/for-sale
