Gotama 176 for me?

[Ufdah]

So what do you guys think of this?

I'm 6'2" 175# and happen to have a pair of 176 Goats sitting here, new & unopened. I wasn't planning to use them but it's pretty tempting since I already own them. (Was planning on selling em.) I'd use them for 75% resort skiing, but only 25% of that on the groomers, and the other 25% in the Back Country.

Do you think I should follow through with my plan to sell em and get something in the mid 80's? Or keep em, try em out, and sell them used if I don't like em?

[GBB]

Sell them and get either 183s or 190s. I'm your size minus 5 pounds and I am skiing the 183s. If you search around you will find that they ski really short, hence the 190 recommendation. I would have bought a pair of 190s, but unfortunately they ran out before I could pull the trigger. The 183s work well in the trees because I still have that little bit of maneuverability.

Definitely sell the 176s and get a pair of longer boards.

[powdersoldier]

I ski a 2006 183 Gotama (the black one with the Buddha on it), and I'm 5'7", about 140#. I know that they changed them slightly between the 06 and 07 models (07 has a bit more sidecut and is a bit stiffer, and it looks like more camber as well), so this may depend on what year you have (I haven't skied the 2007 model).

They do ski pretty short in general, so for your weight I might suggest a 183 or even a 190, depending on your ability and how/where you like to ski.

[danhikeski]

They are way too small. You should be looking at the 183 or 190. FYI, if I were to buy gots, I would get the 168 or 176. I'm 5'4" 135lbs. So, sell um and sack up!

[Ufdah]

Thanks guys! I actually bought them from the Sport Conrad Deal and just sold them for $450. The extra money will make it a little easier to sack up!

Now I just have to decide, Gotama's, Prophet 100's or Scratch BC's...

[extreeski]

I have the 183 06 Gotamas. I love them in everthing except the icey stuff. They rail big fat long radius turns and make short radius turns like a knife through soft butter. Of course best in pow. But soft moguls are quite fun as well with these.

[GBB]

did you mount them right on the I on the sidewall?

[Bud]

why would you wanna mount them using a mark on the sidewall when theres a 'FS' and 'FR' mark on the topsheet?

....I assumed that 'FR' meant 'Freeride' and was the appropriate spot to mount my sport-conrad Gots.

[ColMan]

why would you wanna mount them using a mark on the sidewall when theres a 'FS' and 'FR' mark on the topsheet?

The sidewall 'I' mark is the center mount on the gots. From what I have read, a lot of folks have mounted their 183's at the I mark and are happy with it. Do not use the topsheet lines as they can be (and usually are) off, as it's very hard to perfectly line up the topsheets during the manufacturing process.

I’m planning to mount my 183’s on the I.

[Bud]

okay, that makes sense...thanks for the clarification.

[GBB]

Like what ColMan said, topsheets aren't an exact science, and I'm quoting that from someone on this board. Laying topsheets on the same place everytime on each ski is very difficult. However, marks on the sidewall are much more consistent.