 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
I am looking forward to some serious input on your forum. I have used forums for several other hobbies and sports and know enough to assume that my first question is the type that will open a whole can of worms but I am looking for all input.
Ski 6 years Eastern snow Pa, NY, VT approximately 2-3 times per week, male, 190 pounds. Like to carve long turns while running full out and standing on the edges. (no tricks, jump only when I am thrown into the air and no helo taxis onto glaciers).
I recently purchased Atomic Nomad Blackeye through a local, and (I think), highly knowledgeable ski shop that has been super helpfull in my pursing this past time. I use Nordica Doberman Agressor boots and atomic Nomad skis. I recently purchased the Nomad Blackeye as an upgrade from my first ski purchase (atomic e3, 170 length) that I purchased on ebay for $99 when I started skiing.
The saleperson/store owner sold me into buying a 164 length ski (because of the side-cut/shape) when I was accustomed to skiing the e3 in 170. I used the ski for the 1st time tonight and found the blackey to be a super ski, it rides the edges like a Japanese bullet train. But at high speed I seemed to lose sight of them underneath me ( a little unnerving) I also seem to be able to generate a bit more speed from my old 170's. I am just concerned (probably in some part due to the price I paid for this ski ***wow***) that they may be a little short for me. I am 5'8 and weight 190. Like I said they ski great but am I missing something by not staying around the 170 cm mark. Will I lose speed and maybe some effectiveness if I get into some powder. The other issue is that the Atomic blackey is only made in like 150, 157, 164, 171, 178 and from what I understand with the shape of these skis compared to my old atomic e3 i should indeed have gone down in size. but was 6 cm too much. They just look so short on me (very weird) but is approximately 3 inches going to make a huge difference. Someone please tell me that I did the right thing...spent a lot of doh-re-me on these sticks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mcr122, welcome to snowheads.
The general rule with skis now would seem to be stand them on the gound and the tips should come to somewhere between your nose and your forehead.
From your post you like the feel and find you are going faster, so they sound just perfect for you.
Your only worry is losing site of them when going at high speed.
I think this is just a sign of the incredible speed you are now managing: as you appraoch light speed the length of objects seems to decrease. 
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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 for the advice, I am sure I will get several on either side of the arguement but yours sets me at ease, somewhat... What about my weight being 190 (calculate in boots and several pound of water weight when the waterproofing need to be reapplied to my jacket and pants...) I understand, from reading posts after I bought the skiis, that weight is the primary concern????
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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mcr122, Sorry, I cant awnser your question but I am sure sombody will come along with the advice you need soon.
By the way welcome to  'heads
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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mcr122, I'm not in your league ability wise, but do have similar stats (apart from being a woman!!). I'm a fairly nervous beginner, so don't need skis that are too long, but have just bought my first skis - they are 160cm and come to about the tip of my nose if I have no shoes on. I thought these might have been too short and instigated a couple of discussions on the subject of ski length. My findings (as I interpret things) seem to go something like this:
Ski length is only part of the equation - there are such things as sidecut, the vital stats of the skis - waist and tip lengths, how rigid they are both in a straight up and down flex and a flex that twists them across their length. I concluded that you had to look at the whole package - rather than just looking at pure length.
It also seemed that on most skis, unless you're the sort of expert skier that is trying to ski the bases off the skis, that no-one ought to miss 5cm in either direction so you might argue that your new skis won't perform far different from a 169 (which is nearly the 170 you think you ought to have).
Also, in the course of buying my skis, I did speak to someone that ought to know what they are on about and they said that with few exceptions everyone ought to be able to ski something around the 160cm mark and that no company made a bad ski. I think there might be something in this - if you read this forum some folk get very hung up on very technical issues, such as ski length, but when you look into things it is all very subjective and very much seems as though its horses for courses and the actual performance of a ski depends on a lot of factors to do with its construction AND the person skiing them .
I've probably bought skis that are too technical for me at present - but I will no doubt get used to them and end up having fun on them relatively quickly (I hope anyway!). If you are having fun on your skis and they are stable enough for you to have fun on then from what this beginner has picked on I wouldn't worry - I'd just go and have fun on them.
N.B. Sneaky suspicion I had better go and get my tin helmet in expectation of of howls of dismay from the masses
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My god. Megamum has become a ski geek. 
mcr122, no real man skis anything less than 180cm.
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parlor, I knew I'd get the mickey taken  OK, its obviously wrong, shall I delete it and replace it with 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue'?
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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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Megamum, to be honest, I only got as far as reading the bit about "how rigid they are", it was enough for me.
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I just see a lot of folks getting hung up on length and the more I learn the more it seems that its the overall performance of the ski that matters and that seems to be influenced by lots of things. I just wondered if my rather more basic view of things might be useful - I fully admit to being no expert - just a novice student in all things plank shaped.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Spyderman, 
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Megamum, strangely it's a little different to real life. On here men are always worried they are too long. As you say, real women don't care about length, it's all about control and comfort. And on that bombshell I'm going to bed. 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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spyderjon, I thought you had the Crimsons already?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| parlor wrote: |
| mcr122, no real man skis anything less than 180cm. |
Agreed. The girlies like a man with big sticks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Kramer, We like them more with large wallets
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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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comprex, I'm just in the process of selling the Crimson's - afterall I've used 'em for a week which is a long time for me so it's time for a change
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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No point in having long skis if you can't use them.
Why not be like me - I've shorter skis, ... and I can't use them either.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Wear The Fox Hat, Now about those 225cm's
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Never mind the length, feel the width
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LOL, I am reminded of my last trip out west to ski Kicking Horse.
I was lucky enough to go with a buddy of mine who knew the locals, we even had a couch to crash on! BONUS!
Anyway, just before leaving I bought a pair of Scratch BCs 181. I am 6ft tall and weigh about 190. Everybody around here (Quebec) told me that I was crazy to buy such a big ski.
When I took out my skis for the first time there, one of the locals said: "Hey nice skis, can my girlfriend use them?"
OUCH
Everybody out there skied on 190cm+ but they are skiing in the big POW!
I like my skis though, even if they are for a girl  !
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FAQ
. All though they are taller than me 
