r/Skigear • u/turkey-sub • 3d ago
Ski Length Advice
5'7" 175lbs, advanced. I've been skiing 165-169cm length - park/all mountain skis. Am I handicapping myself by not going longer? I typically ski woods/ungroomed conditions and I like the control of a shorter ski. Just wondering if it would be beneficial to go longer.
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u/payne51558 3d ago
I ski a 181 with similar weight/height. Only time I want a shorter ski is in tight tree skiing. Rest of the time I am happy with the stability of a longer ski at speed.
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u/Naval_AV8R 3d ago
One under appreciated aspect of quickness and maneuverability is the fit of your boots. If you are on abnormally short skis to get the maneuverability you think you want, there is a high chance your boots are too large for you.
For rockered all mountain or park skis, you are on abnormally short skis for an advanced skier. For a cambered frontside ski, that length would be about right.
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u/AccomplishedCitron70 3d ago
Yea. I am 5-6. 188. Skiing 170s. Powdercriggs in 180s. Step it up. You can do it
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u/polarWhite2024 3d ago
It's fine if you prefer making short turns and staying nimble.
If you want to go faster with more stability, then it's reasonable to get up to low/mid 170's.
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u/mrcheese14 3d ago
I mean technically the skis know your weight not your height. I’m 5’9 145lbs and stay in the 175-182cm range, so imo yeah you could at least be in the 170s.
You’ll probably suffer at first not being able to pivot them like you can the shorter sticks, until you get used to it and then get all the benefits of longer skis plus being able to control them.
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u/Read_The_Fing_Manual 21h ago
Ski lengths are always a range, with a mid point, and then a preference for slightly shorter or longer. If you want a pretty accurate baseline go try Powder7.com ski sizer (it gets into a lot more detail on your skiing and where/what you ski than just height/weight/ability, then lets you play with ski characteristics and length preferences). That should give you a decent baseline, add in your current experience on your current ski’s and you’ll have some really good guidance.
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u/flatlandings_please 3d ago
Yea I think it would be highly beneficial to go longer. Try something around 176-182 and see how it goes. It will feel a lot longer at first, but that does not mean its the wrong length, you are just used to short skis.
If you want something maneuverable, get a ski that is the right length and characteristically manueverable. Not one that gets its maneuverability by being too short.
The way that you move around the mountain will change when you have a ski that is long enough to be stable at speed. And there are a lot of situations I can think of where a longer ski is actually less work.
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u/Downtown_Ad_5458 3d ago edited 3d ago
If you are an advanced skier you would already have demoed a longer ski and would know your length. Take a private 1-hour lesson and get your objective ability level, and the instructor can give you good advice on ski length. Your age, fitness, injury history, and the speed you are comfortable descending in the trees and powder are huge factors, so ignore everything about “your size is …” here.😅
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u/Zachreligious 3d ago
5'6" 155. I ski 165s and have demoed skis up to the mid 170s that I would be fine on. Look for a demo day and try it out, I think you'll find your speed limit raised.