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Buying gear thats way out of your league

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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
So this year, I bought the Salomon Czars, to use as an every day east coast ski. I live in one of the powderiest areas in the east, the central new york snow belt. 200"+ of lake effect from Ontario every year. I bought these knowing that they were a little burly for my purpose, but figuring that working with what I had would make me a better skier. Im just wondering, does anyone else do that? Purchasing gear a little out of your league with the hopes that you will master the ski no matter its size?
I figure that if you can ski the normal shit pretty well most days on a pair of pow skis, then by the time its a powder day, you'll have the ski so far on lock that youll slay it hard

or am I out of my mind?
Nov 27 2009 2:06PM
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five4ty
Posts: 153 - Karma: 19
I subscribe to the NS belief that buying the longest skis available makes you cool and manly.  At the same time, I've found that it took a brief period of time to adjust and, ultimately, increased my skiing abilities.  Now, I hate skiing anything less than 180.  I'm 5'7 and ski 193 EHP's.
Nov 27 2009 2:48PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
holy shit, Im 6' and my czars are 174. Of course, Ill admit it, I grew up skiblading
Nov 27 2009 2:49PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
i'm 6'1 175 lbs
i live on the east coast in southern vt

i have 192 cm moment garbones, some of the stiffest skis on the market
191 cm on3p caylors which are 120 underfoot
186 spatulas which are full reverse/reverse and 125 underfoot

my shortest skis are 179 and i use them solely for long tours

i have a few others and i love my skis, couldn't imagine riding smaller wimpier skis. people always give me shit for having so many/such fat/long skis and living on the ec but they're fucking awesome and why should i ski short park skis if i like long fat ones better?
Nov 27 2009 3:15PM
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T_orageskiier
Posts: 580 - Karma: 13
5'9 and i'm like 125 pounds i have 2010 walls 177
Nov 27 2009 3:29PM
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DirtyMick
Posts: 1496 - Karma: 21
No, you're not out of your mind.

And after you get used to longer/bigger skis, smaller ones will feel tiny.
Nov 27 2009 5:48PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,248
i grew up skiing skis that fit between my chin and nose, and that was my philosophy for so long, and then i asked for NS's advice and i was told 170 MINIMUM length, and i was looking at 161s haha. So i think I am going to get a pair of 170-172's this year and grow into them/ master them.
Nov 27 2009 5:56PM
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ScuffDUFF
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 143
i may have misunderstood the OP but, if you're saying that mastering a pow ski as an everyday ski will improve your pow skiing, then you are trippen.  If thats not what your saying, then im trippen.
Nov 27 2009 7:10PM
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*Nickdel*
Posts: 2264 - Karma: 956
5'8 160 and i ski 178 anthems and 183 amplid infradarks
Nov 27 2009 7:14PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
to the OP, with the exception of mega stiff skis, almost all popular skis on NS are well within the limits of just about any skier. Czars as well. that isnt a particularly huge ski, and considering you live in an area that gets lots of snow, it sounds like a great ski for the area your in. width has WAY less effect on a skis hardpack performance than people worry about. unless your skiing slalom or on ice, fat skis generally have better edge grip and let you carve deeper (less boot hooking) than a skinnier ski.

if your still worried, i rode hellbents for a whole season in ohio, on flat, icy midwest shit, and loved um. big fat skis are super fun.
Nov 27 2009 9:22PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
Holy shit, bents in ohio? Your a man
Thanks for that, your probably right and I shouldnt worry about it
Nov 28 2009 9:32AM
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blindside
Posts: 5619 - Karma: 1,199
so true. I rode hellbents most of the season in similar conditions (avila, small quebec mountain) and loved them.
Nov 28 2009 11:24AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6661 - Karma: 10,905
Absolutely not.  I grew up skiing at Snow Ridge so I know what so they get. A lot.  Plus that ski has camber underfoot and in a 174cm you won't have a ton of early rise (Salomon progressively changes the amount of early rise depending on size) to make things weird.  I might have opted for the Shogun, but you'll have a blast on the Czar. Good choice.
Nov 28 2009 12:37PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
look at it this way

if you didn't buy gear slightly out of your comfort zone, skiing wouldn't be nearly as fun. this year i bought garbones. they're very long and as stiff as a ski gets but i'm stoked to ski them for the challenge. they'll force me to keep forward as much as possible and once i'm used to them i'll get to take advantage of having a long stiff ski. same with my spats, if you can ski a reverse/reverse ski on hardpack you can ski anything...
Nov 28 2009 12:42PM
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fouldsys
Posts: 7404 - Karma: 39
im 6' 220 and wouldnt consider riding anything soft(with the exception of my eps, well see how that goes i guess), or anything
Nov 28 2009 12:43PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
thats exactly what I figured.
Good shit, just checking
Nov 28 2009 12:45PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
well czars are normal camber and sidecut, just with a bit of rocker, so they'll be totally easy to ski everywhere

i wouldn't worry
Nov 28 2009 12:46PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
all my skis are too small
:(
but i have the biggest sizes in all of them
Nov 28 2009 12:53PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
the only thing retarded about this is getting them in 174
Nov 28 2009 12:55PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
explain
Nov 28 2009 12:55PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
that is way to small for you
you should have gone 181 for sure.
Nov 28 2009 12:58PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
that is way to small for you
you should have gone 181 for sure.
i was 6 foot last season
my bacons felt small at 182 with no rocker
your 6 foot this season your czars are gunna feel like snowblades
Nov 28 2009 12:59PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
well, lets see. 620mm rocker, (62cm) and its a 174. 174 - 62 = 108

...fuck.
Well, at least flips and spins will be a little easier. Maybe.
Nov 28 2009 1:03PM
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fouldsys
Posts: 7404 - Karma: 39
half my post didnt post?
Nov 28 2009 1:23PM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
I noticed that
ns is a bit squirelly lately
Nov 28 2009 1:46PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
bacons are way too small for anyone over 5'7

mine were crazy short, i wish they made a 192
Nov 28 2009 8:47PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 361
yeah
Nov 28 2009 8:57PM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
I'm in the same situation haha. I'm 5'8" I bought 179 ll2's and I really should have bought the 189's. The usable edge is so short. Should be interesting
Nov 29 2009 12:11AM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,351
same as me, but you wont regret it. at first i wish i had gotten the 189's but then when i couldnt stop smilin while skiing them and i knew i made the right decision. the longer would be nice but the 179 will do you just fine
Nov 29 2009 12:55AM
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Jules.
Posts: 768 - Karma: 9
I  think it does matter to a certain point, but I mean im5'7 and I ride 188's,
Nov 29 2009 12:58AM
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blackoutbill
Posts: 2918 - Karma: 282
Good to know. I just need more than an 18 inch base at my mountain to actually go ski them. I'm so stoked
Nov 29 2009 12:59AM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,351
probably so. seriously, if they are your first rockered skis you will be gigglin no stop at first, so much damn fun
Nov 29 2009 1:15AM
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wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
it just makes things interesting that first day out on the groomers.

last year i had 158 scratch pro fs's (basically the scratch sprayer a few years back) and they are noodles after a couple seasons of use
this year i bumped up to 169 volkl walls, a pretty stiff ski and i was recommended a 161

i didnt grow much at all between the seasons, so going from noodles to a stiff ski will be pretty awkward for a bit but will definitely increase my abilities to ski anything

btw, everyone on ns is huge, my 169s are at least as tall as i am, while everyone else is talking about 180s and shit.
Nov 29 2009 1:42AM
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PhuzzyWuzzy
Posts: 358 - Karma: 82
You scare me...
Nov 29 2009 2:00AM
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swan3609
Posts: 99 - Karma: 11
I am riding a pair of 07 armada Pipecleaners and I decided for a fattter sent of pow skis this yea ra and just sent in my pro form for a set of Czars.. I am 6'1' I wanted the 190's soo bad but they were out of them so I am going to have to settle for the 182's But I ski 181 Cleaners so I am not really buying longer skis..   
Nov 29 2009 2:46AM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
how tall are you? I think 158 is grom territory, no offense if your a dwarf
Nov 29 2009 8:37AM
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Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
im 6 foot tall and 155 pounds heavy and ride the 189 hell bents for pow and the 185 walls for park.
works out just fine for me.
i dont like small ski. they feel so bumpy and unsafe at higher speeds.
the length is gonna work out fine.
Nov 29 2009 8:54AM
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T_orageskiier
Posts: 580 - Karma: 13
how tall are you? I also just got this year volkl walls but in 177 i'm 5'9 125
Nov 29 2009 11:14AM
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meat_sack
Posts: 160 - Karma: 10
everone here is talking about their meaty ass rockered skis that are 8 feet taller than them. I'm starting to feel insecure about my 166 afterbangs that are only a bit taller than me...
Nov 29 2009 11:48AM
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EastCoast315
Posts: 3136 - Karma: 137
dont worry son, my skis are up to my mid nose, 174's on a 6 foot tall guy
Nov 29 2009 11:57AM
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Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
imo thats too short, but its all preferences. theres advantages and disadvantages to longer and shorter skis. have an awesome season guys/gals
Nov 29 2009 12:01PM
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Ian.Ham
Posts: 1688 - Karma: 1,154
so they are just way over your head?  that is kinda wack, but for pow it doesnt matter as much i guess

Nov 29 2009 12:21PM
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