 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
I’m new around here.
I’m off to Les Arcs at the end of March, and would like some advice on what length of ski to rent.
I’ve skied since the late 60’s, but with a break of about 15 years while the children interrupted things like that. During that time, my 195 Rossignol SM Equipe VAS skis and Salomon 737 bindings that are in the loft have obviously become outdated, and I'll be renting equipment when on holiday.
I’ve recently had a few dry slope sessions, using 170’s, but am looking for advice on the ‘best’ length of ski for snow use.
I would consider myself to have previously been in the ‘advanced’ category, happily skiing red/black runs, with the occasional (not very good) foray into powder, but I’m not a great fan of moguls.
Height 180, and weight 85kg.
Am I better to go for a longer (180) length of ski, which may suit my older technique, or just go straight for a shorter (170) set?
Thanks
Douglas
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Douglas C, welcome to snowHeads 
I'm roughly the same height/weight, and my piste skis are 170s. I wouldn't force you to that length, I just think that if you can adapt your technique to the newer style of skis, the shorter ones will be easier to control, still give you plenty of speed (if you want), and will use up less energy.
Whichever you go for, make sure you have fun!
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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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Douglas C, another welcome. Like you I had a few years off and came back to skiing. Echoing WTFH's thoughts if you do get into a mogul field the shorter skis will be easier to handle as the bumps will have been created by others on similar kit. If you can't carve the newer, shorter, waisted skis perfectly, it's not a crime to skid them a bit as you would have done on long straight ones. I switched from long thin elderly Kastles and poor technique to shorter rented carvers 2 years ago. My technique is still poor but the fun factor increased dramatically especially in good conditions. If you want a general rule of thumb, ski tips to your eyebrows defines the length these days for the average on-piste skier. Have a good trip. If you are going to BSM by train there is a good rental place called Polaire Star near the station run by Gordon & Rosie and snowHead PG can get you a discount if you arrange it with him first by Private Message.
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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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Yes, nose height is about right, I'd say, for a piste ski which should have a waist size upto 74mm typically. And at this size they should handle forays into deep stuff well if you go there. Beyond that you are getting into specialist ski type areas IMO.
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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 Douglas. I'm about your height (well if I wear thick socks) and your weight (on a good day). Used to ski on 195s/200s before the change in equipment. At that time I was about your level. I would say that now I'm quite a lot more into offpiste, etc. I ski 175s most of the time (and for offpiste I prefer to go wider rather than much longer).
You won't go far wrong with either 180s or 170s, but in my view you would benefit a lot from starting on the 170s and, if you really feel you need more ski, exchange them after a few days - the shop should be fine with that.
(For piste skiing, even really good skiers don't go long, as long as we're not talking about competitive Super G or downhill of course. It's offpiste where length starts mattering again, for flotation).
As for the type of ski - an intermediate ski might be better to 'get' the new technique rather than a stiff one. If you start carving high-speed turns and need the stability, you can always upgrade of course!
Hope this helps.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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DouglasC, welcome to snowHeads!
Let me agree with the other folks with this caveat: My approach is to go as short as I can (but no shorter!), and it will depend on the specific ski, the terrain for which you want it, and the types of turns you like to make. You will definitely notice that these newer skis carve much more easily than the skis you used to ski. Tip 'em, stand in the middle, and ride 'em around! Of course, there are many more things to do on the skis, you can shape your turns and all kinds of things. But, play with the carving first to begin to see what they can do and how little input they really need.
That said, I'd start around 170cm, but wouldn't be afraid to go as short as 160 or as long as 180, depending, again, on the specific ski, snow conditions, and speed preferences. I ski fairly fast (recently have been told that I can get going about 50mph) and do so on a pair of 165cm Ficher RX8s and 162cm Atomic Metron:b5s. I am 185lbs and 6'. However, I have skied the RX8s in 170 and liked them a lot, and have skied other skis up to 180cm. The key is to match all of these things and pick ones that you like a lot because they fit your preferences.
Hopefully, this makes sense. And, again, welcome to snowHeads!
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I'd say that the most important measurement for skis these days is not length, but the side cut raidius. The same length skis can have completely different side cut radius, one ski will be good for short turns and another could be better for GS or raceing. A side cut from 12 - 16 meters is generally OK for shorter turns, anything longer will require more work to get them round and are more for speed. Downhillers I think have side cut in excess of 20m where as Slalom will have around 11 -12 m.
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All.
Many thanks for the info.
You've basically confirmed what I was beginning to suspect: That 170 skis are probably the best starting point, and take advice on the 'best' type of ski from the rental place to start with. I'm sure there will be enough combinations of length/sidecut/make & model to keep me occupied for the week! Hopefully my old knees can keep up.
(We are flying direct from Edinburgh, so the plan is to rent in les arcs.)
Thanks
Douglas
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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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OK, this is the return report!
Had an excellent week at Les Arcs, although the snow was a bit iffy (i.e. deep damp sugar) at lower levels in the afternoon, with bare areas. The pisted areas were corrugated ice in the morning. New snow was falling late in the week, which was nice to ski on, but just a bit difficult to see. The varying conditions were probably perfect for me, as they resembled Cairngorm in the 70's!!
I hired a pair of Dynastar Legend 4800, 172 long, with the intention of trying others as well during the week. However, they worked fine, and I didn't feel any need to change. Managed a whole week of skiing, from black moguls (admittedly not the icy ones, which were mostly closed) to easy blues, without a fall. Even did the Grand Col run without a stop, but my thighs were burnin' after that one!
I was using a pair of Salomon Crossmax 10 boots, which were extremely comfortable all week, never feeling the need to undo them at each stop. (The boots were secondhand, bought a couple of months ago.) I never felt that they were too stiff at any time, as they seem to be about the same as my last ones (Caber biosystem) which became mice bedding. No doubt an observer would have found fault with my technique, and could have suggested style/equipment changes to improve things.
I'm not bothered, I enjoyed my skiing, and felt that I skied well. Now I've got to start thinking how to fund the next trip.
Some observations:
Better manners in the (rare) queues.
English is still the most common language spoken loudly by numpties holding a conversation whilst skiing. Usually just before one of them falls.
One question:
Why do boarders feel the need to sit down in large groups in stupid places?
Thanks for the help, and suggestions.
Douglas
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Douglas C, nice to hear back from you!
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Why do boarders feel the need to sit down in large groups in stupid places?
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This is an aid for poor visibility conditions, traditionally poles are used to mark the edges of a piste and a boarder is used to mark the centre 
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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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Going back to the ski length thing, when I bought my pair last year, I was told that the length depends on your weight more than your height. I'm a 6ft 2" skinny rake at 75 kg and would need 170s to reach my nose but the bloke reccommended 160s which barely get to my chin. I found them significantly more manoeuverable than the 170s that I hired on the previous trip...
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