The Burnin Luv is their top of the line "women's" ski. My wife (same level as you) has been skiing on them for 3 years and claims they are the best.Don't spend the money if you aren't going to challenge them though. They are meant to go fast while still being VERY responsive.AgentBristow: I skied these today and they were great on the ice. they gripped it like it wasn't even there. I am an advanced skier 5'5" 140 pounds. I skied the 156cm because it was the longest my demo center had. I would prefer a longer ski. This is K2's top of the line women's ski and would probably be too much for your neice, but not too much for you. This ski should help you with the icy hard pack. I handled ice a lot better with this ski than my own skis. This was a nice ski, but if i were looking to buy skis, this wouldnt be the ski for me. Everyone has their personal preference. It is best to demo skis before buying them. You should call your mountains and ask if they have a demo center.

This seems to me to be a more advanced demanding expert ski, unless you charge hard this is going to be to much ski for you. My wife who is 45 and has been skiing all her life switched to a soft twin tip ski 3 years ago and swears she would never ski a conventional ski again. It opened up a whole new world of sking for her, plus softer skis are a lot easier to ski and absorb all those impacts better then older bones do. If you look around there is some excellent women's twintips out there, my wife who is a advanced-expert skiier loves the volk peal. good luck in your decision making, but keep in mind skiing is ment to be fun so why not get skis that put a big smile on your face everytime.

You need a ski with more side cut not less. This provides grip on ice and gives you control while guiding a basket down the mountain. Would you want a ski patrolmen with powder skis on a steep ice area taking you down the hill. The fat skis are the in ski now. But make skiing easier for your self by having a good all around ski with no chatter.A good tune will help chatter also. The ski requires medium stiffness to hold an edge on ice.

if you are staying on the groomers than this ski will be just fine. i would not be timid to get a ski that may be a little more advanced because by the end of the year you will be a better skier. if you think you will graduate into the steeper and deeper snow you might want to look at a wider ski.