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Learning on Hellbents

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cope+
Posts: 756
Ok so this season I want to put in some time learning to ski (I'm a boarder 10+ years).

I think I will pick it up easily ish as an experienced boarder.

There are some hellbents for sale near me for really cheap with bindings already mounted for my boot size. Think it's a bad idea to go for them to learn on?

Thanks in advance
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Sep 11 2014 4:11AM
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DingoSean
Posts: 22589
If you want to actually learn how to ski, control your edges, and use efficient technique, Hellbents are definitely not what you want. Get something narrower with natural camber for learning on. If you want to get pow skis down the road once you have a really good feeling for two planks, then that's fine, but I would absolutely advise against buying a pair to learn on - unless you live somewhere where it's just constantly going to be powder all the time, they're going to be more detrimental than helpful.
Sep 11 2014 4:32AM
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cope+
Posts: 756
But they're soooo cheap haha. I get what you're saying though.
Sep 11 2014 4:42AM
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pj21
Posts: 400
DBUSHBut they're soooo cheap haha. I get what you're saying though.


how much?
Sep 11 2014 5:30AM
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cope+
Posts: 756
200 with markers
Sep 11 2014 5:57AM
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DingoSean
Posts: 22589
Then buy them and another pair of skis as well. There are plenty of folks on here that would probably sell you an extra pair of decent dink around sticks for learning at a hundo or something.

Also note the condition.. if they're really beat, then consider passing no matter the price. Nothing's worse than slow as fuck pow skis.
Sep 11 2014 10:52AM
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LastChairMedia
Posts: 860
Honestly, its your choice. Hellbents might be a weird ski for you but they could also make skiing really fun for you. Do what ever you feel is a good idea. Plus $200 for bents is a really good fucking deal. I wish I could buy them.
Sep 11 2014 10:53AM
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elm.
Posts: 1021
learning on pow sticks isn't bad, that's how i learned. But, take a few days and rent or demo some normal skis before getting on the bents. your gunna look like a huge goober trying to get down a blue on them when your learning. also make sure the bents aren't too big.
Sep 11 2014 1:02PM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14948
DingoSeanIf you want to actually learn how to ski, control your edges, and use efficient technique, Hellbents are definitely not what you want. Get something narrower with natural camber for learning on. If you want to get pow skis down the road once you have a really good feeling for two planks, then that's fine, but I would absolutely advise against buying a pair to learn on - unless you live somewhere where it's just constantly going to be powder all the time, they're going to be more detrimental than helpful.


Agreed. I feel like learning on Hellbents is not the greatest idea. Possible yes, but not the best way to do it. Buy the Hellbents since they are a steal and then find a cheap pair of skis that are better for all mountain riding.
Sep 11 2014 1:08PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637
Don't turn into one of those park rat kids who can kill the park but can't lay down a proper carve. Learn on full camber normal skis...practice techniques everything comes with time / practice. Hellbents are retarded to learn on let alone ski most terrain unless its pow
Sep 11 2014 3:28PM
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Noddard
Posts: 2616
I had hellbents my first year skiing but I also had some park skis. I'd suggest getting them if they are cheap but you are gonna need a traditional cambered ski to learn edge control. Hell bents have a flat mid section and are only ideal for pow. It's doable but like I said not ideal.
Sep 11 2014 4:59PM
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IKEA
Posts: 622
KravtZDon't turn into one of those park rat kids who can kill the park but can't lay down a proper carve.


You jelly breh?
Sep 12 2014 12:48AM
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pj21
Posts: 400
KravtZDon't turn into one of those park rat kids who can kill the park but can't lay down a proper carve. Learn on full camber normal skis...practice techniques everything comes with time / practice. Hellbents are retarded to learn on let alone ski most terrain unless its pow


I can proudly say I'm one of these people, took lessons until I was 10 taught myself everything I know from then on. I can Backflip comfortably in the park but A-frame when I try to carve.
Sep 12 2014 7:16AM
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fluffyclouds
Posts: 166
As long as you got a fair amount of snow you should be good I guess, super easy ski to ride.
Sep 12 2014 6:09PM
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Kretzschmar
Posts: 6279
KravtZDon't turn into one of those park rat kids who can kill the park but can't lay down a proper carve. Learn on full camber normal skis...practice techniques everything comes with time / practice. Hellbents are retarded to learn on let alone ski most terrain unless its pow


I know quite a few kids at my home resort like this. It's pretty hilarious actually. One of them landed switch off a rail going fairly slow and couldnt carve away from the trees and ate shit haha

Jerome.The.LlamaI can proudly say I'm one of these people, took lessons until I was 10 taught myself everything I know from then on. I can Backflip comfortably in the park but A-frame when I try to carve.


While thats great and all, I feel like being an overall, being a well balanced skier will help you quite a bit more in the park than you probably think. Pros have incredible edge control and balance from their traditional skiing background when they were young. For example, Jon Olsson (among countless other pros) was/still is a racer and killed it in the park. Also, a lot of park pros have transitioned flawlessly from being "park rats" to being incredible allmountain/pow skiers (think Candide, Sean Pettit, Tanner, even Henrik killed the FWT his first year, PWhite, the list goes on) Plus, being able to ski outside of the park is pretty fun, especially bombin through trees, cruising pow, or just down a sick groomer run without having to worry about eating shit because you can't turn.

**This post was edited on Sep 12th 2014 at 6:22:59pm
Sep 12 2014 6:21PM
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toastyteenagers
Posts: 1834
Just BECUASE your a good snowboarder does not mean you are a good skiier.

i recromend just getting some cheap directionals or just rent.
Sep 12 2014 7:03PM
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Al.Capone
Posts: 661
Try and find some cheap classes around if your hill prices are expensive. They'll usually throw in a day on rentals with the class. Once you really learn how to get on your edges and carve your going to have fun just bombing groomers. Afterwards when the deep days come around and you have some fat skis you'll have fun slashing and getting them faceshots.
Sep 12 2014 7:22PM
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GrahamGould
Posts: 713
if you know how to ski those are really fun, but they are kinda hard to control on anything that isn't soft snow. I would still buy them so you have them for once you learn to ski, or even just for pow days while you're learning to ski, but I would also get something with some camber so you can learn what proper edging feels like.
Sep 12 2014 8:20PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642
Nothing wrong with it, if you only want to ski Hellbents. They ski pretty weirdly.
As just about everyone has said, probably best to learn on a more conventional ski.
I'd still grab them if they're cheap and not ruined though, because they are super fun skis once you can drive them properly.
Sep 12 2014 10:02PM
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