 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm a 5' 9'' (1.75cm) / 140 (63.5kg) guy.
I've started skiing this year and I've only done it twice. I took lessons both times and progressed relatively quickly (thanks to my inline skating background). Both times the learning center rented me 130cm skis, which I suppose are relatively short. Next time I go, and in general when I start shopping for skis, I would like to try skis that are more appropriate for my height and weight. I've researched this question online, and the recommended ski lengths actually vary anywhere from 150cm to 180cm.
Right now I'm inclined to rent 150/155cm skis next time I go, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to easily make the leap from 130cm.
Any ideas/recommendations are appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I would guess 160-ish is the standard length for someone your height/weight - give them a try and if you don't like them go back and switch to some 150? IME only specialist short ski teaching places are going to have 130/140cm skis that fit adult male boots - mostly 140 and under are fitted with kids bindings? aj xx
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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ajhainley, thanks for the reply. I'm just wodering how the small differences in ski length 10cm-20cm translate to the maneuverability and stability of the skis?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It's quite noticeable, I rented 160cm skis on my last but one trip to see how they compared to my usual 170s - after two days of seeing if I would 'get used to them' I switched back to my 170. The difference in stability was marked. Even 5 cm can make a suprisng difference.
Turn initiation is trickier on longer skis, and they won't feel so 'nippy', but I just like the more stable feel I get from a longer ski - others feel comfortable on shorter ones. It also depends a great deal on the ski itself obviously, some are designed to be skied long, others short. Finally I think it depends a lot more on your weight than standard charts and recommended heights would suggest - all you can do is try a few and see what you like! If you tend to travel fairly slow then short skis are (IMO) much more manouverable and appropriate - if you like to hoon around the place then I find a little extra length gives me the stability to stay out of trouble!
To give you an idea I'm 5'8" and 95kg (200lbs :-O) - I find 160 too short, 165-175 just fine, anything over that intractably long nowdays (although I did used to ski 185 in straights and I was much lighter back then!). My boyf is 6'2" and about the same weight as me - he also skis prefers 170s to 160 or 180.
HTH, aj xx
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Hi isusanin, 130cm is not so short that you are losing stability at speed (which sub-110cm snow blades tend to do), so increasing ski length will do nothing for you other than make it harder for you to turn, and make you build up speed much more rapidly when facing down the fall-line.
Although you progressed quite quickly, until you feel 100% comfortable across a variety of terrain - steep, ice, moguls, combinations of all three - then what would be the point of "upgrading" to longer skis? Especially given your inline skating background I would say stick to 130cm skis until you just find them too damned slow!
My advice would be take your next trip as an opportunity to master the techniques across terrains with a ski length you are already very comfortable with. Only when you really feel your equipment is holding you back should you change a formula that is working IMHO.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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what sort of skiing are you wanting to do?
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isusanin, Even as a short ski fan I would think 130cms is very short for your size. I should try 150 to see how they are, but I agree with AJ that 160 would probably be comfortable for you. You will notice a difference, but on 150s if they're good carvers they should turn very readily for you.
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I'm 6ft 2", 11st 6lb and ski 160cm slalom skis and find them perfect when carving, just not so great flatlining (which I don't tend to do anyway).
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