 Poster: A snowHead
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My daughter wants to buy her fiancé some skis. He's 6'7" (2.0m), and an OK skier, blues and reds, nothing meaningful off piste. He won't get a chance to try, and anyway it's meant to be a surprise! I think something c. 80 - 85mm underfoot would seem about right, but unsure about length. He's quite a slim chap. In 'theory' he should have 190+, although I've never really grasped what physics is behind 'the taller you are, the longer the ski'. Especially for very tall people. My instinct is something around 190cm if it has modest rocker. Any thoughts/suggestions?
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How do the skis know how tall he is?
Weight more important...
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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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I agree! Only logic I can think of is leverage, but unconvinced!
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I'm 6'4" (94kg) and rented 172cm skis this year (I too am Blue/Red competent ) and I wouldn't want for anything much longer than 175cm.
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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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@MaxiMac, many thanks.
I thought a bit wider because he might well nip off the side of the piste on occasion, but probably won't be heading for the deeper fluffy stuff.
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Ramon Zenhausern the Swiss slalom skier is also 6’7” and skis a 165cm!
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So... most manufacturers have online guides and skinny/timid -5/10 cms (or whatever) and pie-eating/aggressive +5/10 cms (or whatever).
All/mostly on piste, <90mm underfoot, ~80mm probably mainstream these days.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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185-190 for a medium flex all mountain ski. 180-185 for a more piste oriented GS type Ski. Shorter still for a stiff slalom ski. Don’t be afraid to go wider eg 80-90mm. Plenty of great all round skis that will all be piste oriented at that width eg Kastle MX 84
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| moseyp wrote: |
| Ramon Zenhausern the Swiss slalom skier is also 6’7” and skis a 165cm! |
..but he has mo choice. Clearly manages ok!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@moseyp, which is actually a little unfair... should be weight handicaps.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Christ on a bike I will look plain stupid at. 5'8" with my 207 skis to compensate for my 108kg
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@Jonny996, I’m 5’6” and regularly ski on 203s...
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You know it makes sense.
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Probably the longest one of whatever model you choose - so this could be 188 in a Rossi Soul 7 or 177 in a Head Titan or probably shorter in a sl ski
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Length of ski is more related to weight, ability, style and terrain than to absolute height. So it is hard to give a generic answer without more detail, particularly on weight and level of ambition (i.e. will he be looking to progress). One thing I do note, most early intermediate skiers progress much more quickly and effectively on a piste oriented ski with progressive flex than an "all mountain" set-up and I would advise anyone with ambition that this will give the best platform to learn before venturing into more variable terrain. I would advise a relatively narrow, progressive flex, with a length more related to weight than height and at least one step up from current level of ability.
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Poster: A snowHead
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just adding physics into the mix here, if we are referring to length as a factor to weight & saying actual height does not have a great say in the matter are we then getting into realms of it is the actual surface area of the ski that is comparable with weight.
This leads me to ask if we then venture into 84+ size width skis does the required length come down as the surface area will be greater with wider skis.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jonny996, why would the surface area be important as that (on piste) doesn't factor much (if at all?) into ease of turning.
Effective running edge length (taking in to account rocker, etc.) and effective (not the one marked on the ski, although it is an indicator) more important.
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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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I'm 6'3" and 17st ..I ski on 190cms with 100 width and really have no troubles but then again I learned on 210s so these are short I like the stability of a longer ski
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I will ask him, but I'm guessing he's 13-13.5st.
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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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I'm 6'7", although sadly I haven't been 13 1/2 stone since university... I'm probably the same level - condident on pistes but don't head off.
I usually go with whatever the hire shop recommend (give me) and have had all sorts. Have mostly gone back and forth between 179s and 185s with no trouble. This year I had some 188s - all mountain skis that were probably for someone of better ability but I thought I'd give them a go. 185s/188s always feel big to start with, but you soon get used to them and I can't really tell the difference. In my head 179s are "easier" but I think that's just psychological. I wouldn't want to go any bigger, but I'd be happy with anything between 179 and 188.
Here were mine from this year - would certainly cope with most things: https://www.rossignol.com/uk/rossignol-experience-88-hd-skis-alpine-2017-2018.html
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Very helpful. Thanks.
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| noggy wrote: |
| I will ask him, but I'm guessing he's 13-13.5st. |
I'm a couple of inches shorter and a might lighter but also a bit of a beanpole. My piste skis are 177, and I would not want to go longer. If he's a blue/red run skier then I certainly wouldn't go longer even if he is a touch heavier.
The key thing I found as a lighter skier is not to be suckered into too heavy and stiff a ski. Anything calling itself a GS ski is unlikely to work well for the gangly skier in my experience.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Your instinct of circa-190cm is not incorrect using the normal scales of size, but basically the only things you will get in that 190 and upwards will generally be proper GS skis (which are likely to be reasonably challenging for your future son in law and not great for day to day ski) and powder-centric wide things. There are some exceptions but this is basically what you're looking at.
I'm 6'7" and also 105-110kg so probably at the top end of the scale.
Realistically I have been generally limited on ski length due to what is actually available. On piste I normally use Head Rev80s which, whilst 'all mountain' in design, are perfectly good for all day on the pistes. The biggest they ever sold it in was a 184 so that's what I've got.
I also ski Whitedot Preachers on piste and mildly off piste, which are 189 but have a bigger tip and tail rocker so effective edge is probably roundabout the same.
If he's 13st and 6'7" then find him some skis he'd like and buy the biggest length they sell. I can't suggest that anything sub-180 would be ideal but at the end of the day the run of the mill ski manufacturers that you see on the shelves of most ski shops are going to top out at somewhere around 185cm so that's going to be what you get. A bit of a closer look at the skis will reveal the effective edge and this should maybe be your priority anyway, as I pointed out above you could get a ski in 184 and a ski in 190 and find the effective edge to be the same and this is ultimately the 'length' that actually matters.
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I've recommended some Dynastar Legend X84s at 184. Whether she accepts my advice....?!!!
Thanks
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