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Benefit from ski lengths

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Gooseling
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 10

Okay well yeah im like 5'9'' and my skis are 169 and they feel fine length wise.  but i was just wondering what is the benefit of having a longer ski.  for park?  and all mountain?

May 12 2009 7:05PM
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VCharette
Posts: 4276 - Karma: 1,047
 woah get bigger skis man. Bigger skis will make you fast and therefore you can land more easily big jumps. Also they are more stable. You should get 175's. Also people will make fun of you if you have mini skis.
May 12 2009 7:10PM
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Gooseling
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 10
my skis arent small.  they are like as tall as me
May 12 2009 7:16PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
169 cm = 66.535433 inches
5'9" = 69 inches

66.5 does not = 69

Also, you have to take into account running length vs. tip-tip length and also if skis are measured before or after they are pressed.

I'd say go for a 175 or maybe 172.  It also depends on what you feel more comfortable on.  Are you still growing?  How much do you weigh?  All of these can help you decide on what size you want.
May 12 2009 7:25PM
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VCharette
Posts: 4276 - Karma: 1,047
you're right I assumed he was doing a lot of park sorry.... And if your really 5'9'' your 169 cm skis are for sure not as tall as you.
May 12 2009 7:25PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
k2s measure out longer so they might be if he is wrong about his height
May 12 2009 7:53PM
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olly124
Posts: 53 - Karma: 10
long skis more steeze
May 12 2009 8:02PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
It also depends on skiing ability and weight. I ski on a 182 now and I fucking love it. I had shorter skis before, 168 to be exact. The change was almost inconsequential but I feel so much more confident.
May 12 2009 8:55PM
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DBeck
Posts: 1275 - Karma: 63
I think the majority of newschoolers feels like the longer ski you have the bigger your dick will be cuz every thread i see about sizing people are telling other to go longer no matter what. there's so many factor that go into ski sizing, ability, aggressiveness, what you ski i.e. rails, jumps, groomers etc, skis flex, skis true (after press) length, skis dimensions and sidecut, personal preference so on and so forth. So don't always listen to people on here cuz alot of time they're just saying go longer without knowing any of the above mentioned determinants cuz they want to make it seem like they charge hard. So go to a shop, talk to someone who skis park there get their opinion, use best judgement and do what you think fits your style of skiing best.
May 12 2009 9:16PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
9/10 times the guys at the store who "ski park" are actually douchebag gapers. I had a 45 minute argument with a guy at my local store about ski length he said I should get the 173 punx but that they would be a bit "long". I told him that it would probably be better if I went longer. He basically said I couldn't buy the longer ski "because it was dangerous" in actuality he was just a stinky douche who knew nothing, I saw him at the hill this year. His skiing=suckage. I am on a 182 punx right now, and I fucking love them. LONGER SKIS FTWWWWWWW
May 12 2009 9:34PM
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DBeck
Posts: 1275 - Karma: 63
oh i totally agree man, i've had people tell me i should be on 161's before and i'm 5'8". Hence why I said use best judgement right after talking to someone at a shop. And go to a legit shop, not like an rei or scheels or some shit where people are douchebags like mentioned above.
May 12 2009 9:42PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
Well that makes sense. It was a REI.
May 12 2009 9:45PM
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
I would think 169s are probably fine, but if you're ready to get more aggressive or if you don't feel confident on them then I would go longer. I'm about the same height as you and going to a 185 was an awesome decision.
May 12 2009 9:49PM
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Gooseling
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 10
yeah but i was just wondering what downsides are there to having a longer park ski?
May 12 2009 9:54PM
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VCharette
Posts: 4276 - Karma: 1,047
...none if they're the good size, except that it will be a bit harder on rails( switch ups and such) you just gotta get used to it.
May 12 2009 9:58PM
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Gooseling
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 10
yeah on this thread i was not really asking what size should i get i was more asking what is the benefit or negative of having a longer or shorter ski in the park
May 12 2009 10:02PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
Basically, shorter are better for rails because they are more maneuverable, while longer are better for jumps and out-of-the-park riding because they are more stable and can handle the speed better.
May 12 2009 10:25PM
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AALT
Posts: 1775 - Karma: 60
im 5'1 and i ski 165
May 12 2009 10:29PM
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Zoro
Posts: 1253 - Karma: 37

pls reply:

im 5'6" and im thinking of getting a 171cm   hows that gonna works out?

May 12 2009 10:32PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
Just fine.
May 12 2009 10:33PM
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VCharette
Posts: 4276 - Karma: 1,047
It depends on a lot of things, what do you ski, how big are you, are you a good skier etc. but usually 171 is good for 5'6''
May 12 2009 10:40PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
i ski on skis way too small for me because, well, i buy too many guitars...  and my full tilts weren't cheap.

but no one can tell me that i don't have fun cause my skis are short. 
May 12 2009 10:46PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
im 6'2" and ski 175's
WUT got a problem with that, too bad.
on a more serious note they do feel fucking small and my 182 bacons are a more desirable park length. but i need longer pow skis. :)
May 12 2009 10:50PM
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DBeck
Posts: 1275 - Karma: 63
I tried to go long on my skis this year 178 Larose's and i'm 5'8" granted i'm 165 so i thought the extra length would help. But in my experience, the longer skis kind of got in the way, granted my hill has tiny jumps and only got to hit big jumps a few times. So basically I ski all rails and small jumps. Longer skis=less agile. like it took alot more effort to set em on edge or set a spin. so basically they just felt a little slower, but i guess the trade off there is everything was much more consistent since you'll never really over power anything i guess you could say especially on landings and what not? But the main thing for me was switch, obviously the length helped when hauling switch down groomers and what not, but spinning switch became much more difficult. I found I caught my tips alot, like i really had to wait to clear my tips from the lip when trying to spin switch. other than that i mean more swing weight is an obvious with longer skis, but i didn't really have to worry cuz my Larose's are super super light. also spinning off rails and doing switch ups your tips and tails catch more, but you get used to having to tuck more. So i guess the trade off is really stability vs. quickness and finding the balance between the two that works for you. for me i'm personally gonna go with something in the 172 range this coming year to fit my height, but go with something pretty stiff so compensate for my weight. Feel free to add to this people cuz i'm sure i missed some points.
May 12 2009 11:23PM
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Midwestjibski
Posts: 1676 - Karma: 77
Great points here.  heres my input.  I had a question that kept me up all night for a few months.  Should I get 171 or 178 park skis.  Basically I was super torn. Long story short here is my conclusion between 171 and 178.  (I was looking at invaders here so a center mount ski).

there is a 7 cm difference. this is approximately 2.7 inches.  That is adding 1.35 inches on each side to a center mounted park ski.  That is hardly anything.  And I think it is absolutely rediculous for people to fret over and get stressed out (like i did haha) about 7 cm. "Oh i won't be able to do switch ups!" give me a break.  Just get the longer one.
May 13 2009 5:53PM
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DBeck
Posts: 1275 - Karma: 63
yep, i don't think a longer skis affect swing weight as much people think, especailly now since skis are getting lighter and lighter.  and you're the 1.35 inches isn't much, but when it can make a huge difference in certain skis, like 1.35 inches more on a stiff as hell ski and it can rock your socks. but 1.35 inches on a buttery ski and its still manageable.  Then again the situation is different for everyone so don't quote me on this as being absolutely right.
May 13 2009 6:44PM
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WHO_DAT
Posts: 403 - Karma: 24
I'm 5'5" and I ride in CO and WI.

When I'm in CO I ride 171's... More powder, bigger features, steeper runs, etc.

When I'm in WI I ride 151's... Completely packed, smaller features, smaller runs, etc.


It's personal preference, what terrain you're going to be riding, what ski you're going to be riding, what ability level you're at... etc, etc, etc.

Like everyone else has mentioned, the longer the ski the more stable they are... but longer can make spins and rails more tricky.

If you're comfortable on the skis you're on, then stay on them... don't let anyone tell you they're too short or too long.
May 13 2009 8:11PM
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MyNameIsBryan
Posts: 46 - Karma: 116

Roric ur skis are fine, why did u even put this thread up? they are like perfect height for you... if anything u need shorter skis cause u need all the help u can get with spinnin

May 18 2009 3:33PM
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will-g
Posts: 1031 - Karma: 69

i agree with that

The place i ski isnt a mountain its a big hill with lifts and the runs r super short. Thus far there isnt hardly any big jumps and the features are all jam packed together. Which is why i ski 161 invaders at 5'8

May 18 2009 5:10PM
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