I'm just going to mail order. Probably today so I can mess about with them next weekend. Think I'm going to go with some metal edge skis as there aren't any nordic centers on LI but there are a ton of poorly maintained state park xc ski trails and parks that allow xc skiing but you have to break trail. If I go to a nordic center I'll just cough up $20 to rent and eventually buy myself another pair of the skis I'm passing on. Second Ascent in Seattle still has them in my size on clearance for $90, which I think is pretty good for what you get.

I just watched another youtube vid on waxing and think I'm gonna go with wax skis again. I didn't know they had dab-on klister and glide wax. That changes everything. Hooray for shortcuts!