 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm new to this board, so I apologize if this topic has been worked to death.
I ski 5 to 9 days a year - usually Breckenridge or Vail. I'd love to ski more, but can't make it happen since I live in the flatlands. Been skiing for 25 years at that rate. Although my technique is nothing to write home about, I'm a fairly aggressive skier. Prefer to ski blacks - steeps and moguls - and I'm capable of handling just about any slope (although it's not always a thing of beauty). To me, skiing is all about the challenge of pushing myself to the next level and improving my technique. I'm 5'11", 165 lbs., 43 years old and reasonably decent shape.
I've rented demo skis for years. But last year I rented a pair of K2 Escape 4500s (167cm). I loved them so much I decided to look for a pair on eBay. I eventually found and bought a pair of 4500s at a steal price. The only difference is that this pair is 174cm. I figured 6cm can't make that much difference.
I'm now starting to wring my hands about whether, ideally, I'd be better served with a shorter pair at 167. I've seen the standard sizing charts which can be found online. If I'm reading them right, they do seem to suggest that 160-something is generally the recommended length for someone of my height and weight. I don't know what to think.
Can some of you help me out? For a skier like me, what is the ideal length?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Greetings and welcome from another flatlander.
| Sooner Dragon wrote: |
| For a skier like me, what is the ideal length? |
Depends on the ski model and its design purpose. Someone your size might ski a ski 155cm to 185cm, depending on whether they wanted short turn capability, powder float, or GS racing prowess.
In that ski, you should be fine on 174cm until you choose to upgrade.
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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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Thanks much. I guess the main thing I'm looking for is short turn capability. I don't care about racing prowess and I don't ski powder all that often. Spend most of my time in moguls or steep slopes. My usual focus is improving my prowess and control within moguls.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Out of curiosity, what year 4500?
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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'd say 174 for your height, weight and experience but Americans like to ski short
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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They look to me 2001 or m'be 2002. I suspect the ones you rented were a more recent design. The length is correct for you for that model year, though.
What boots are you using? Will you be taking lessons?
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I guess I was too much of an equipment novice to consider the significance of the model year. I pretty much assumed that, except maybe for aesthetics (color, etc.), the engineering of the 4500 would be the same regardless of the year. Is that wrong? The more I try to research skis, the more all the variations and specifications make my head spin! There's so much I don't know.
My boots are Salomon Performa 8.0, which I also recently bought but haven't yet tried out. I gather they're a mid-line boot. What's the consensus opinion on those boots among people in the know?
I'd love get into some higher level equipment, but so far it's hard for me to justify the cost when I'm not able ski any more than I do. The fact that I don't readily comprehend the distinction between a $500 and $1,000 pair of skis is also a factor. But I hope to get there some day!
I haven't taken lessons in quite a while. I often have to divide my ski time between time with my wife and kids (who aren't as adventurous) and my solo time. Haven't been able to bring myself to spend my coveted solo time on lessons. But I realize I could probably benefit from some more advanced level instruction.
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