Length suggestions
Shaped skis are meant to be skied in shorter lengths than were "straight" skis. This is as true on the World Cup as it is for recreational skiers. The following suggestions are guidelines only. The best way to determine length is to test your choice in a couple of different lengths. Shaped skis exhibit more significant changes in behavior length-to-length than was the case with older technology.
When in doubt, try it out!
[ lengths are for males of average build—females subtract 15 - 10 cm ]
Giant Slalom
Fischer World Cup GS
15 to 20cm shorter than old-style ski.
Typical race length: 180+
Typical recreational length: 175-178
Race Carver
Head Supershape
20 to 25cm shorter
Typical length: 160-170cm
All Mountain Cruiser
Dynastar Legend 4800
15 to 25cm shorter
Typical length: 165-180cm, depending on speed and weight
All Mountain
Head i Monster 78
20 to 25cm shorter
Typical length: 175 - 180cm
Cross
Fischer RX Fire 8
20 to 30cm shorter
Typical length: 165 - 175 cm
Slalom: race
Stöckli Laser SL
Modern slaloms are meant to be skied really short. For example, some racers have been using sub 160cm skis on the World Cup, although new rules stipulate 165cm as the shortest legal length for males.
For racing: 165
For recreational skiing: 160 - 176
For masochists: anything longer than 176
Deep snow, free ride, big mountain and powder skis
Salomon X-Wing Fury
Elan 888 Alu
Ultra-wide free ride skis (100mm + waist): 175 to 200+cm
Wide deep snow skis (80 to 99mm waist): 170 to 200cm
Poles
Traditional pole sizing was determined by donning boots, inverting the pole, placing the hand grip on the ground and grasping the shaft below the ring, with forearm parallel to the ground.
Modern technical skiers use poles about 1" shorter than traditional length.
Bumps skiers, hyper-carvers or extremely fast skiers may use a pole up to two inches shorter than traditional length.
But, be careful. Lifters and high-rise bindings add about 1.5" to the stand height of the ski. Simply using plates could make the pole effectively too short. Try to measure length while simulating stand height—the distance the sole of the foot is above the ground. Any competent shop can assist in this measurement.
Is it worth $20 to:
- avoid costly gear mistakes?
- find out which sale skis are as good as the new models?
- ski better with less effort?
- master the whole mtn?
Our thousands of subscribers think so:
Subscriber comments
"Whoever doesn't think this is worth twenty bucks is making a mistake. You changed my ski life!" - Geoff
"Peter's ski advice, along with Harald's technique ideas, has improved my skiing beyond any level I thought possible." - Ray
"I subscribed to Inside Tracks and as I leaf through other mags, I miss it more and more. I just dropped my check in the mail. I anticipate roaming the secret vaults of RealSkiers!" - Gene
"Old reviews are very helpful for those of us who buy less than brand new equipment." - Mark . . . more
© 1999 - 2008 GreatDay Productions