Ski length, and why it relates to height. . .

Salomon skis are ok but certainly nothing special in comparison to the range of skis that are available these days, in fact they are well known for losing their stiffness quicker than most skis. As for soft flex, that would be the last thing you'd want if you're a half decent skier. Stiffer skis are much more stable when you're going at speed and won't 'chatter' on hard pack snow.

As I understand it, skis can be softer flexing now days while still having good torsional flex properties. Torsional flex is the worst thing in a carving ski and in the past it was neccersary to make a very stiff ski to prevent this. The latest skis also have far better damping. These properties have made skis that hold an edge while still being soft.

I do think it is easier to learn to carve on softer skis (with a small radius sidecut), but this is obviousely relative to the skiers weight. This does mean that as a skiers carving improves, they might want to upgrade to a stiffer ski.

I have seen people trying to carve on skis that are too stiff. Thier progress was very slow because most people cannot go straight into aggressive carves and therefor don't generate the forces to decamber the stiff ski.

Trencher

Trencher,

You are so right about the soft ski issue and learning. The problem is that "soft" is such a relative term.

For the past 10 years I have been testing skis and keep a file on all skis. Whenever I get a new ski I do all sort of "bench tests" using the same weights and same procedures.

After reading your comments I went back to my files and found;
1. all modern skis have softer flex than skis 10 years ago
2.torsion index has increased in some racing skis

The issue is how much "softness" is good for learner and still will allow skis to be "active" for at least 4 -5 years. I would love to do a 5 year study in this regard. Dave might get a new free ski next year if I can convince some ski companies to donate 5-8 pairs of skis for such a study!

Since I am meeting several reps next week I will offer them this study!

Also it is a shame that like in ski boots there is an flex index, we do not have any indication of ski flex index!

All I know is that I have 15 pairs of skis in my workshop, with all sorts of; breaks, delaminations and top ski peeling! Cause,,,,unknown. No ski company wants to face this issue,,yet.

I have asked racing coaches to keep records of ski breaks and they will provide me with information on the skier. I hope to do correlational study in relation to ski breaks and age, sex weigth and skier level. I hope to present the findings at an industry conference in 2007!

Meanwhile the debate continues and Dave wonders!!!!

Another thought on this height/weight/length discussion.

If you are a tall, light weight male, you might look at women specific skis, which I think have a softer flex for a given length. I'm not sure if the bindings have a different placement, but if they do, it would be forward and therefor better for carving.

Another option for light weight men or (average women), might be junior race skis.

Trencher

As per my post above, I think you are in a unique place for ski selection. Tall but light, you need a shorter ski for more generous flex, you don't want to go too short and sacrifice your sense of front/back stability and you are too heavy for junior skis - they just won't perform for you (maybe at first, but as you learn to carve well they will pig out on you - too bad because they are great skis and real cheap). Here's a ski that might do - a decent wood core model that should have about a 16m radius sidecut in a 160 - halfwayish between a slalom and gs ski. For you it will feel more like a slalom ski at that length.
http://cgi.ebay.com/skis-package-FISCHER-RX9-160-w-bindings-carving-NEW-06_W0QQitemZ120081571399QQihZ002QQcategoryZ62182QQcmdZViewItem

Race skis.com (http://www.raceskis.com/) still has some 1 year new-old-stock $325 - great price, but only 156s left, a bit short but that would be happy turning ski for you.
If I were you I wouldn't mess about. I'd just go for this year's model. They have them on sale for $550 and still some 165s - also a good price.
I've skied Salomon, Rossi, Dynastar, and Fischers and I think the Fischers are the best by far. Don't prat about with the SC, RCs etc. Go for the SLs - you won't regret it.

Cheers.

Thanks all for your help! I plan to make a purchase after the season ends. I need to do a lot of rereading of the posts, as well as a lot more research into all the different product offerings out there. Again, thank you all!

Dean

U bet - try as many skis as you can.

Cheers

HI, I just wanted to make a comment here ? you said that you hadn?t skied that much and that you had trouble selecting skis! You then went on to say that you were planning on buying new boots and skis this season (or was it next season?). May I suggest something that I did that may be useful! When I first started skiing about 10 years ago I didn?t really know much about skis and boots etc and wanted to get my own! A mate of mine suggested that I NOT buy skis and instead invest in some good boots and hire skis! The reason was that, as a beginner and then as I progressed to intermediate, I became more familiar with different skis and wasn?t stuck on the same old sticks week after week, year after year!

I spend a lot of time in a good boot store, bought myself some excellent comfy boots and had inserts made etc ? they have been the best thing that I have ever bought ? they are comfy, warm, fitted to my foot brilliantly etc etc. I have spent that last 8 years or so using hire skis ? because you can then switch and change each time, finding what you like, what you don?t, what suits certain conditions etc. I have found this to be terrific and each season I can now hire the latest skis and give them a whirl!

So, my suggestion is that you spend some time and money on really good boots and then hire skis for a few years until you get to know what you feel comfortable on! If it gets to the stage where you are certain of the type/length of skis your after then buy them then!

The only time when this may not work is if you plan to ski for an entire season OR ski for a number of weeks during the year when buying your own skis would work out much cheaper than hiring time and time again!