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Newbie here! Question regarding the Alpha-1...

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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
Hey NS. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I've been lurking around for the past few weeks and from what I've seen, most of you are very clever and funny!

Anyways, I'll get to the point:

I recently turned 16, I'm 5' 6/7", about 105 pounds without gear on, a type III all mountain skier on the West coast, and I'm a beginner/intermediate to park skiing. I've taken a proper 3 day camp at Mammoth to get down the fundamentals of park skiing, so I wouldn't consider myself a 'gaper'. *shudder*. I plan on dedicating the whole upcoming season to park skiing and working out to be in top physical condition. I purchased the 176 cm Alpha-1 but do not plan on mounting it until very late in the season and have the confidence to say that I am an advanced park skier. Was this a good choice or should I have gotten the 170's instead? I'm not going to buy another ski for about 2 years, so that gives me plenty of time to grow into them.

Thank you very much for reading my post! If there's anything else about me that I have left out that would assist in proper ski sizing, please do not hesitate to ask.
Sep 7 2011 10:42PM
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klindberg27
Posts: 19 - Karma: 20

you probably should have gotten the 170's if you are only 105 lbs

Sep 7 2011 10:56PM
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,640
176s shouldn't cause any problem.
If you feel you're a strong skier, and know how to control yourself and your skis, the 176 shouldn't throw you under the bridge. Feel free to correct me, but shouldn't they also run shorter? Along with the possibility of you growing over the winter.
Personally, I think you should start your season on them. You don't have to start in park right away, but you should get to know your ski. The more you know it, the better and easier it'll be to perform on it.
Sep 7 2011 10:57PM
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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
Yes, I've heard numerous reviews saying it skis much shorter than it really is! Thank you so much for your input. I guess I'm just having a bit of 'buyer's remorse', even though I love these skis to death. Thanks for killing my doubts there. +K to you! :)
Sep 7 2011 11:06PM
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JsThibz
Posts: 275 - Karma: 17
this for sure, and i think that 6cm bigger is not going to make that much of a difference ,
Sep 7 2011 11:06PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
Its a great ski, and while it may be long for a regular camber ski, with the rocker on the alpha 1 u should feel totally comfortable on them in a couple of days. Alot of people psych them selves out over length, but just be confident and authoritative with the ski when putting it on edge, and u'll be fine. I convinced my buddy who is 5'5" 140 lbs, and is a good skier, to get on the salomon el dictators (194 and stiff) last season just to prove my point that he should buy 180 pow skis. He went really fucking fast, but he was totally in control.
Sep 8 2011 12:02AM
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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
Oh I see!

Wow, really? 194's!? That's just.. Whoa! Really surprising! Hope he's killing it on the mountain now. +K to you as well! Thanks, AJ!
Sep 8 2011 12:38AM
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Newschool_Pope
Posts: 2473 - Karma: 267
dont worry, with the early rise in tip and tail theyll feel about 10cm shorter than a regular cambered ski. the early taper will add to this effect aswell. spend 3 days doing groomers, to really get a grasp on how this ski carves and skis switch. pop around and try some 180s and nose or tail presses with them. then you should know how this ski works. long skis have more steeze anyway. youre set!!
Sep 8 2011 4:37AM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
Since you are a beginner park skier I woulhave recxomeneded a true camber ski.
Sep 8 2011 8:59AM
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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
Thanks or the tip, Scuba! I'll keep that in mind. :) And to the guy above me (sorry I can't remember what it was, I'm doing this from my phone), I have a pair of Rossignol S2 Howells which I will be using until I am an advanced park skier.
Sep 9 2011 12:36AM
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Casey
Posts: 7891 - Karma: 24,914
why?
Sep 9 2011 2:32AM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
Well from what they said Thy have been skiing before and probably a lot of camber skis. And it will teach how to pop of rails so you don't catch your tips on switch ups. He will probably never learn tht since the rocker make it easier. And I am biased to full camber park skis
Sep 9 2011 9:05AM
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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
I have some S2's that are still fine and have a good amount of camber underfoot so not all hope is lost! As I said, I'm only going to mount my Alphas late in the season so I'll be good enough to hold my own almost anywhere in the park.
Sep 9 2011 5:57PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
ok then you should be fine, just so you get eh basics down.

make sure you mount those at recomended!
Sep 9 2011 6:15PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21674 - Karma: 4,188
mount center and ski um
/thread
Sep 9 2011 7:10PM
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Immeyouhe
Posts: 65 - Karma: 13
The factory recommended point is 2.5 cm back. If I center mounted it wouldn't it fuck around with how the ski works n' stuff? At least that's what I've heard, but 2.5 cm back from true center ain't that big of a difference if you ask me; plus that's what the factory says! Wouldn't want to defy the people who made the ski. :P

Sep 9 2011 7:33PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21674 - Karma: 4,188
park skiing = center mount
Sep 9 2011 7:38PM
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Shlobby
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 303
.
Sep 9 2011 8:19PM
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,640
Centre them, it'll give them the performance you want in park skiing. You'll find it easier to ski switch. Along with the mount being more suited towards the rocker shape of the ski.
Sep 9 2011 9:09PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 237
you dumb?


mount them at recomended, it will be easier to ski switch since the shape of the ski wont be fighting you
Sep 9 2011 9:52PM
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