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Surface One Life Sizing Question

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Hack.The.Pow.
Posts: 1294 - Karma: 25
So I'm about to purchase the Surface One Life skis. I just have a question on whether I should get the 179 size or the 189 size. I'm 5'10" 155 lbs and have been skiing on short skis my whole life. My "All-Mountain" skis (Volkl Bridge) are 169 and they are the longest skis I've ever skied on. I was originally going to go with the 179's but numerous friends are telling me to go with the 189's. I know that the rocker makes the skis seem like they are much shorter than they actually are. I was just wondering how much shorter they would actually be/feel.

P.S. Does anyone know if there is any difference between the one life's and the LAE Jeff Brown's besides the graphics?
Jan 3 2010 7:04PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,626
The 189 is a big ski, measure yourself up to the 179 and look to see if its right for you. I just had my first day on the LAE (no difference btw, just nicer graphic). The ski kills it in everything. I'm 6'2, 175lbs though. And ski big mountain. So I like a big ski. And the LAE is my only ski, so my everything ski. No park though. It does feel shorter, wouldnt know how to put it though.

I'd just say measure up to them if you can...
Jan 4 2010 1:47AM
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Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
I'm 5'10 185 lbs, on the 179s. They are pretty sick, but I wish I would have gone longer. But I am heaver than you, I donno. It depends on where you are going to mount them too. Mine are centered, so I bet if you got 189s centered that would be sick, or 179s set back like 4ish cm, depending on how you want it.
Jan 4 2010 1:51AM
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Hack.The.Pow.
Posts: 1294 - Karma: 25
thanks for the replies guys. My one friend rides on the 189's and he loves them. He's a bit bigger than me though and has them center mounted. It was weird though cause when I measured my bridges up to the one life's they barely seemed longer. i would love to measure myself up to the 179's but I don't know a shop that has them. I would consider getting them center mounted on the 189's because it seems with that long of a ski I would have enough length in front of me to do whatever I wanted. Only problem is I've never ridden a center-mounted ski. You think it would make that big of a difference?
Jan 4 2010 11:40AM
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Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
id say go 189. i own hellbents in 189 (actually 195) and they are heavier than surface skis, and they are just the perfect length for me. go for the big-boys
Jan 4 2010 11:48AM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
^yeah, and not to mention the difference from 179 LL2s and 189 LL2s is 10cm of flat surface(It's about 98cm long on 189s, 88cm long on 179s) so the 189s will feel more stable on groomers, and will turn short where you want.  At any decent speed the 189s will feel much more stable..  and I personally would mount center of the running surface over true center(Center of running surface is about -1.5, or about the "Here" mark).  That means that what is in contact with a groomer you are centered on, instead of ahead of center.
Jan 4 2010 12:08PM
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Hack.The.Pow.
Posts: 1294 - Karma: 25
So you're saying to mount them over the center of the contact patch of the ski? Thats not the "True Center" of the ski?
Jan 4 2010 1:33PM
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I_ski123
Posts: 421 - Karma: 24
i'm like 5.11 and 150lb and i ride the 189 and its feels a bit small sometimes. If your planning to ride more park get the 179 but if its for pow get the 189
Jan 4 2010 3:44PM
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Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
Actually the "HERE" line (the mounting line that is the farthest up) is the center of the running length. This line is about 1.5 back from DEAD center on the ski (which is actually more forward than running length center).

So mount on the HERE line, surface isn't stupid, they give you a correct center of the running length.
Jan 4 2010 4:01PM
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chazz.
Posts: 2721 - Karma: 23
No, Surface isn't stupid, but topsheets are commonly incorrect on mounting points and that is why it is so important to learn how to measure out and mark your own skis when you get them mounted. My LL2's are mounted in the center of the flat spot underfoot, and that line is somewhat off from HERE on one ski and even more off from HERE on the other. Overall, the center of the flat spot, according to my measurements, is about 1-1.5cm back from true tip-to-tail center of the ski.
Jan 4 2010 4:20PM
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Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
Yes I am aware of this but thanks for bringing it up, but it's a given that you just ALWAYS measure to make sure the marks on the top sheet are good. And often times the marks are correct (my LL2's were correct), but just measure to make sure.
Jan 4 2010 4:34PM
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julski
Posts: 281 - Karma: 50
definately go with the 189's. my friend is about your same height but lighter and he has the 189s and has no trouble with them. they are super light and nimble and turn on a dime so you wont have any trouble. i mean i have 179s and i am only 5'3. i have no problem. they are easier to ski than 169 hellbents by far. hands down best skis ive owned since namm.
Jan 4 2010 5:53PM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65

That's what I said it was in what you quoted me on, Here is -1.5ish from true center(dead center) and is center of the flat surface.

And yeah, I would mount there if you were considering true center(if you want to use the ski as a jib ski).  It makes more sense, not to mention pow performance will be better at -1.5 of dead center than at dead center.  My LL2s are getting warrantied and I will mount the One Lifes there.  If I wanted to use them for always skiing forward and no park I probably wouldn't go any back from -3 of true center, this ski just has a small money spot which seems to be from Here to -3(so -1.5 of true to -3 of true).

Check your topsheets though, mine were almost 1cm different from one ski to the other.

Jan 5 2010 9:56PM
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Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
word. Must have read your post wrong, my bad.
Jan 6 2010 1:38AM
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
I've got 189's and I love them although they still almost feel a bit short (I'm 6'3"), especially after skiing by friends 189 Hellbents.  You won't go wrong with the 189's.
Jan 6 2010 1:59AM
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snobo7250
Posts: 3 - Karma: 10
I have the same question. I am 5'11'' about 180, I want these skis of course for powder, but I also want to be able to have fun with them in the park.  Would the 189s be too big? Will they still be fun in the park? I keep hearing different opinions and I can't decide.  I dont want to get a ski and feel that they are too big.
Jan 12 2010 8:35PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
im thinking about getting these too. my threads
Jan 20 2010 10:08AM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
Nobody should ski these shorter than 189! they are so playful at 189. My 13 year old, 5' 4" brother used my 189's and LOVED em.
Jan 20 2010 2:40PM
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Matty_C
Posts: 2598 - Karma: 236
my ll2's the lines were out by about 5mm. mounted them 1.5cm/2cm (i forget) from true centre. that was the here line on one and 5mm behind on the other. skis are incredibly light and certainly ski very short on groomed. i can't see why anyone that isn't a midget would ski the 179s. for what its worth they are stupendously fun skis, and thanks to being stiffer than most other rockered bc freestyle twins, they are also pretty stable chanrging too.
Jan 20 2010 2:58PM
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