New to freeskiing, need some advice

The ski you want is really dependent upon how much park versus how much freeride you want to do. If you want to focus more on park I'd get something in the 90ish waist range. If you want something more capable in powder I'd get something 100-110. Whatever you choose you'll be compromising one in favor of the other.

Currently my favorite park yet still freeride capable ski is the Faction Prodigy (98 waist). But being the jack of all trades ski that it is, it is not nearly as charging as my Volkl Gotama's for all mountain freeride. Likewise it's not as nimble or lively in the park as my Rossignol Scratches, and it definitely can't touch a dedicated 130 waist pow ski in the deep (I'll never quit my K2 Hellbents for that). There are some trade offs when going one quiver, make certain you know what you want those to be.

If you live in a ski town the ski swaps will be starting up soon (typically November, check google for your area). Ski swaps are the best way to acquire cheap gear. Oh and don't get caught up in male vs female skis, most of the time there is no difference asides from a top sheet with more pink on it and maybe a recommend mount point slightly farther forward. Source - a 5'2 woman with her quiver full of nothing but men's skis.

First off, Welcome! I came from racing into freeride, you've got the advantage because you have good techniques instilled in you.

Take a look at a few magazines, buyers guides should be out! And backcountry.com does a great gear review. Read the descriptions, identify your level, and go with the best!

Also racing may have changed since I last did it and I was purely alpine slalom no GS, but my skis were short, like 142. I ride 171 coming up for this year. Longer skis are going to help in variable terrain. Other ladies can back me up or maybe make a different suggestion on that one but every time i buy skis, I up the length now. Got gifted a pair of pow skis last year that are 163 and they just seem crazy short to me now.

all mountain twin tips pretty much do the trick. you can play around the 159-64 sizing i think, really a personal preference. i just picked up on k2 empress for cheap just as a play around ski, it's a pretty basic all mountain/park ski.