Finally decided to cross over from fixed-heel to free-heeling this
season and seek some advice from those with a bit more experience in
the matter.

I laid out the $$$ (don't ask, it was a lot) for a good pair of boots
(Scarpas) and am left with very little money to buy skis.  That's no
big deal since what I plan to do is just buy some used downhill skis
and mount a pair of Voiles or something on them.  Mostly I figure to
do resort skiing this year with the new setup and work on my turns and
technique before hitting the backcountry.  By then maybe I'll have
enough money to get a decent pair of tele-skis.

My questions are:

1) Does it make sense to do it this way?  Am I compromising future
technique or possibly gaining bad habits by starting out this way?

2) Any suggestions regarding what might constitute a good pair of
first skis for this endeavour?  What might be good skis to graduate to
in the future?

3) Currently I'm skiing on 205 cm downhills, fairly aggressively.  In
my tele classes I've been renting 195s or so.  I`m wondering if
shorter/longer tele skis facilitate learning.  (I'm 5'8" [about 170cm]
and weigh 135 lbs [60kg])

4) My knees are not in terrific shape, due to various ancient rugby
and skiing mishaps.  Nothing serious enough to warrant any operations
yet (knock on my wooden head), but sometimes stiff for awhile if I
land hard on them incorrectly.  Am I putting them in grave future
jeaopardy by switching over to tele-skiing?  What shoud I watch out/be
careful for?

5) Any other tips or info would also be greatly appreciated.

advTHANKSance.

| _, launce gouw * internet: lau...@apollo.med.utah.edu * ooniversity of ootah
|(_) medical center * dept of human genetics * help, help i'm being repressed!
___) we apologise for the previous opinions. those responsible have been sacked