Suggestions for a good tight tree skiing ski around 165 in length

Whats the chicken head under the snow? That your tails catch on? I've never heard this term.

nmwninjartWhats the chicken head under the snow? That your tails catch on? I've never heard this term.

It's a piece of ice sticking up that looks a bit like a stalagmite or pyramid shape. I don't know if that's a real term but it's what the old local dudes called them in Washington. I always thought death cookies was something they made up too, but it turns out that it's a real term!

CyanicenineI'm strongly considering the Armada arw 106 UL or the Atomic bent chetler 100. I currently have a pretty large ski assortment, but none of the skis I have are great at riding trees with only a couple inches cover. I was riding my 169 rossi slats in the trees the other day and it was speedy with only a couple inches on reef and I kept getting frustrated because my tails would get caught on a chicken head under the snow and then slam into the other ski. I need something I can shut down speed on in a narrow space, and I've been thinking something with a spoon / boat hull type tip and tail might be the ticket, in a bit shorter than I normally ride. I'm 5'2 and most my skis are 170ish. I'm open to suggestions though, or insight from people that have ridden the aforementioned skis. Thanks! +K

I think the spoon tip/tail is pretty irrelevant, I've only ever noticed it in deep snow or when i totally lose it buttering because there is no edge there. Personally, for what you are talking about, I like a fairly stiff ski with quite a bit of rocker and a fairly forward mount.

The stiff flex makes shutting down speed easier and the rocker/forward mount makes them pivot in tight spots. Short turn radius is a bonus. The Bent 100 has a full camber tail and I don't think it feels that loose in small spaces. The Arw 106 UL would probably work, but it's likely wider than you'd want. The 96 would probably do better and the Faction Prodigy 2.0 could also work.

For me, the Dynastar M-Free 99 could be the best shout in a 171 (actually a 169) though that is slightly longer than you suggested. On paper, a short ON3P Jeffrey 102 (or 96 if you could find one) would likely do the same job.