Interesting to see a lot of perfect, some in the wrapper 35M skis for sale. Like real-deal stock, with sidewalls pulled, topsheets sanded, bases structured and loaded with wax, etc. minimal use.....or never skied ready to set up. I'm seeing many of them, as predicted by
@ScotsSkier a while ago, for $100. Want bindings? Add $150-200 for almost new race bindings. I'm also seeing people asking prices at which they will never sell.
Our son picked up some from a friend who is a WC skier. His tech literally wanted to get rid of them. Headed to a dumpster otherwise. I assume a pair will make it my way if I'd like them.
My wide open fast ski is a real-deal WC ski cross ski. A 193cm Stockli with about a 28-29M radius. So, I'm "OK with that." I can only ski it on days when we're pretty much empty, or at least not crowded, and skiing with people who understand the concept of fall line and ski fast.
Think the 35M's probably would be great fun on those kinds of days.
Not sure that I would use them as a U14-U16 SG. Designed for very different skiing, very different pilots. A 195cm purpose built jr. SG ski is a very different animal. Just one man's opinion. For example most 35M skis have some design element to help make it easier and faster to transition that the ski's design would normally allow. So think a quicker switch. Which you are typically trying to calm down in SG.
The worst crash that our son every had, in a long race career was in the SG at his first J3JO's. So 13 years old. A long time ago. Good SG skis at that time were just hard to get for his age, and the courses were set at JO's to keep kids from the entire Eastern region safe. Huge disparity of skill and experience. And size.
So he was on a 193cm GS ski, with a Derbyflex plate to make it more damp. He came over a blind rollover, carrying a lot of heat, and just crushed the boot on a right footer, hooked up SO hard and so fast, and blew up. No bad injuries, but a lot of soreness, bloody nose, cuts, etc. Saw a lot of crashes over the next 15 years, but that one I recall. Much more scary than a number of big boy NorAm speed crashes. That was his last SG on a non SG ski. He grew a ton over the next few months and was ready for a real women's SG ski.
Not telling anybody how to coach or parent, but that memory sicks with me. In 50+ years of race experience. Depends on a lot of factors.
Some of these 35M skis can be cut up into a lot of nice cribbage boards, BTW.