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Backcountry "Expert" Recommendation

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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I'm about 5'7", 130lbs. I ski probably 30% park, 40% trees, 30% groomed. I am currently on 155's, I know, way too small for me right now. I can 7 on the 155's, but I want a longer ski. I bought 3 years ago when I was a lot shorter and lighter Anyway, I want to buy some Rossi S3's, and the guy at backcountry recommended 160cm for me. I was thinking more 170cm for me. I live in the Midwest, but I get out west about once a year and I ski Mount Bohemia every now and then, which is just as good as anywhere out west, in bounds that is. Any opinions on this? 160 or 170?
Mar 4 2010 6:08PM
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Gooseling
Posts: 1028 - Karma: 10
170 for sure
Mar 4 2010 6:13PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
DO NOT get anything shorter than a 170
im 5'9 and im on 180's
Mar 4 2010 6:14PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
Thank you, I was afraid to hear an expert tell me 160cm, I'm like "ummmmm, you sure?"
Mar 4 2010 6:16PM
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FerrisBueller
Posts: 8280 - Karma: 5,173
170.
Mar 4 2010 6:20PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
just to jam the point into your brain a bit further 170.
Mar 4 2010 6:25PM
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ESK
Posts: 408 - Karma: 39
My suggestion would be next years Line 172 Bacons or Mini EP. Both would be ok in park but are very good all-mountain skis for the most part. Then when the powder drops its game on due to the rocker on both of them.
Mar 4 2010 7:07PM
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Mt_Baker_Man
Posts: 2012 - Karma: 105
Dude, I am 5'10" and ski on everything from 130cm teaching skis to my 185 EPs. Its just preference. I think that he could use either length and be fairly happy.
Mar 4 2010 7:14PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
yeah but you teach on the 130s. if you were going out to ski some tough terrain or carve or go into the park (not just to fuck around) then i doubt you would use them.

but what i was saying is that im 5'9 and i use 180s, therefore its not a bad thing to use longer skis. it can be done. i know its preference, but a lot of people dont know that and just go by the "tip to the chin" rule.
Mar 4 2010 7:52PM
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yeahitsdave
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 10
EP Mini is a cap constructed junior rockered pow ski.

170.
Mar 4 2010 10:27PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,273
170
Mar 4 2010 10:35PM
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.brian
Posts: 1710 - Karma: 233
mini ep comes in somewhere close to 145 and 155, definitely not
Mar 4 2010 10:35PM
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Forkstealer
Posts: 508 - Karma: 16
It's definately a matter of preference, but i can tell you that you'll have no problems handling a 170. Im 5'8" 160lbs and i get a lot of chatter on 169s and i wish i went for 179.
Mar 4 2010 10:38PM
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NoBigDeal
Posts: 2790 - Karma: 629
those are bigg as park skis, you could deffintly go shorter than 170, i wouldnt go under 165ish
Mar 4 2010 10:53PM
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Twig
Posts: 6417 - Karma: 60,329
From what I remember, there is a 159, 168 and 177. You definitely want the 177! They measure short as hell. 177 was almost identical in length to my 171 Moment Jibs. The running length is also short, you won't have any problem on them. I am 5'8/9 and about 135 and I was kicking myself for not taking 186s.
Mar 5 2010 3:35AM
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ESK
Posts: 408 - Karma: 39
Yes & no. EP's handle everything well except extreme hardpack really. Believe Pollard is using these in the park now also.
Mar 5 2010 7:29AM
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HDennis
Posts: 22 - Karma: 10
Same over here, I'm 177 and took the 177. They measure really short.
Mar 5 2010 7:35AM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124

I hesitate to call myself a backcountry expert. Kind of like fishing just when you think you really know something you find out you don't really know jack

My advise " Move west young man"

get a quiver I dig 196 pm gear lhasa pows for big open bowls and 3 turns in a 1k chute,

but ski 186 if I'm in trees or antcipiating bushwhacking on a get out

Mar 5 2010 7:39AM
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Chompo.
Posts: 4952 - Karma: 88
170 no doubt
Mar 5 2010 7:51AM
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,124

Oh yeah the next time you come out west look around

there is nothing at Mt. Brohemia or anythplace else in the midwest

http://www.pitonproductions.com/SkiingVids/Fantasy.wmv

It's hd so it will take some time to load but worth the wait

Mar 5 2010 8:18AM
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bikerocker
Posts: 1427 - Karma: 461
anything bohemia rates as a "triple black diamond" wouldn't even be rated in the west.  I know.  I'm from the U.P. originally.  You can tell bohemia isn't hard core when the one cliff band they have right under the chair which maxes out at maybe 35 feet if you take off 10 feet behind the cliffs edge is still untracked 3 days after a 2 foot dump. 

That being said, s3's are sick do it all skis, but get a 177 at the very least.  my shrimp ass 5'6'' 130 lb little brother ran some 177 s7's in mqt last year there, and loves them here in montana as a daily driver.  and he is by no means an expert.

SO yeah,  look between 170 and 180 in a narrower rockered ski to step your game up.
Mar 5 2010 11:06AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,684
That's just plain retarted. Ya, let's recomend 110+mm boards that have the material properties of wet cardboard to a guy who and skis in the Midwest. Normally I would ask you to remove yourself from the gran pool, but I am satisfied that your total lack of a thought process will be sufficient birth
control.
Mar 5 2010 3:03PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,684
By everything you must mean low angle powder at speeds not exceeding 10mph.
Mar 5 2010 3:05PM
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ESK
Posts: 408 - Karma: 39
My bad o great one. Actually I read his post wrong as thought he was moving out west thats why I recommended those skis. Yeah there not so much good for midwest LOL.
Mar 5 2010 6:10PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
The tree skiing at mount bohemia met and exceeded any tree skiing that I have done in Beaver Creek, Breck, Keystone, A-Basin, and Crested Butte. That's all the places that I have to compare it to though.
Mar 5 2010 6:52PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I grabbed the 170's by the way. 92mm waist. I kinda wanted to keep it at a medium length, anything longer would have been a too long for a park ski.
Mar 5 2010 6:59PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
They S3 Pommier's are the 2009 model. I know they come in 160 and 170cm. I just measured, and the 170cm measure to 169cm.
Mar 5 2010 7:06PM
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bikerocker
Posts: 1427 - Karma: 461
HAHAH

Don't ask for a BC "Expert" ski if you wanna ski park. 

and obviously you didn't do any steep trees at A basin because nothing at bohemia is even close to as steep.  and hollerado is not a place to compare steeps to some other western resorts.
Mar 5 2010 9:30PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
haha, why are you asking for a BC expert to recommend you all mountain skis, especially when you don't even ski double blacks, let alone backcountry?


and i guarentee you crested butte has steeper trees than anything where you're from. you just have to hike to get to it.
Mar 5 2010 10:19PM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
Backcountry.com ski gear "Expert" is what I'm saying.
Mar 6 2010 12:32AM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I am not looking for a backcountry expert, I was merely saying that the guy at backcountry.com recommended 160cm skis for me, I was looking for someone to backup my claim that 160's would be too short for me.
Mar 6 2010 12:35AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
160's would be good if you aren't an advanced skier but if you are planning on getting better go with the 170's.
Mar 6 2010 1:28AM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I'd consider myself an advanced skier. Just, I've been skiing skis that are way too short for me as it is, I wasn't sure if the 15cm step up was too much after what the guy from backountry.com said. I researched around and figured the 170's would be the best fit for me, regardless of what I skied before.
Mar 6 2010 1:49AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
word. i think you'll be happy with your choice.
Mar 6 2010 2:19AM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
I've skied double and triple blacks in Colorado and the Lake Chutes at Breck. I just really liked the tree skiing that Mount Bohemia offered. I guess I can't really compare it to Crested Butte either, considering I went there the firs time I skied like 4 years ago.
Mar 6 2010 1:39PM
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