Ski Length Question

[seldon]

you told the poor guy to head over to EpicSki right away, I'd call that an absolute flame

I think that EpicSki is actually useful for some things, namely getting a perspective on skis (if you like them short) that is unavailable here. I didn't mean it as a flame, only a suggestion. There is nothing wrong with liking short carving skis and groomers/bumps - it's a valid type of skiing, though one I don't particularly enjoy.

[BanditXXX]

I have a pair of Rossi XXX 185's for wide open days when there hasn't been much new snow. Which just about covers this whole season.(PNW)

Then on days where there has been a huge dump, I like to head into the trees with my Big Stix 106 170's.

My point is that ski lengths are based on personal preferance, what feels good, conditions, ski type, etc. etc.

The best way to decide is demo and have a quiver so you'll be wide open for options.

[PhysicsMan]

I've skied 190 Exploders for about the past 4 or 5 seasons and love them, ranted and raved endlessly about them, etc.. Last season I got a pr of 165 Exploders (the Wiz semi-TT model) and was amazed to find that I love 'em too.

In some skis there is a huge difference when you go up or down a size. In the Explosivs there is a surprisingly small difference, at least IMHO. They are both fat and stiff so they are both fast (as in low-base friction, minimal snow compaction energy loss, and minimal snow displacement energy loss). IMHO, the main benefit of the 190 is stability at high speeds, ie, over a true 35 mph, and the main benefit of the 165's is extra mobility at under 10 or 15 mph (ie, teaching, trees, etc.). In between (ie, normal EC resort speeds), there is a huge range where they both do very well. In fact, a lot of times, I'll forget which pair I picked for the day and have to look down to tell.

For the last two seasons, when it's either slushy or we got some new snow, I usually picked the 165's out to teach on (mostly because I like the extra mobility they give me, incl. skiing backwards in slop, doing real quick turns to move around between students, etc.). If I'm not teaching and feel like going stupid fast that day, I pick the 190's, but if I find myself on the "wrong" pair, I usually don't even notice it.

Bottom line - - - (1) Neither you nor I know if there is going to be a major or minor difference between lengths in any one ski model, so you've absolutely got to demo different lengths on back to back runs to really tell. (2) Only you know if you really spend most of your time at 30+ mph where length helps. Just like religion, if some internet forum wiz tries to tell you that you're a stupid jong if you go shorter than 183.752 cm, go elsewhere for advice.

Just my $0.02,

Tom / PM

PS - I'd love to try Splat's 160's. I believe him.