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Thoughts on 182 park skis for 5'8 rider

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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
aight so hopefully this will get some responses, previous sizing threads havent helped me. i've pretty much decided im gonna be getting a pair of 182 alpha 1's and im sure curious of what people think of the size? i'm just over 5'8 and 140 lbs, i've been riding 171's for the past 4 seasons and im thinking its time to step it up. 176 seems too short and 182 seems like it could be a little too long. i'm a strong park rider who rides alot of rails but im getting more into jumps, i thought a bigger ski would be more stable for landings when im jumping and i've heard the alpha 1's ride short. but i wanna hear some opinions, do you think a 182 alpha 1 will be a bad choice?
Sep 29 2010 2:07PM
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iffe
Posts: 984 - Karma: 120
182 cm is 10 cm taller than you, pretty big for park in my opinion. I think I would go with the 176 cm. The rocker in the Alphas does indeed make them feel shorter though, so it's a tough call. Remember that even though they feel shorter, they still have the swing weight of a longer ski.
Sep 29 2010 2:10PM
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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,751
Alphas are pretty stiff. I would get the 176 if I were you. Unless you plan on hitting the gym a ton and making that 140lbs a bigger number, I'd get the 176 so you don't give yourself a hernia from yanking around those skis around. Not to say they are heavy, but I really think you don't need to go above a 175cm for park if you're only 5'8"

Sep 29 2010 2:13PM
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Chaka
Posts: 424 - Karma: 79
I don't think you would have a problem with the 182. If you are using these for mainly park than I am guessing you are going to mount them close to center. That, coupled with early rise in the tip and tails, makes them ski shorter anyway and since they are a light ski to begin with I do not think you will lose any sort of park performance while gaining all mountain performance with the longer length and more stability on jumps. And if you are still growing than you will be fine. My brother was on 183 A1s for some of last season and was very close to your size. He didn't have a problem.
Sep 29 2010 4:14PM
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HiTz
Posts: 1467 - Karma: 11
definitely go with the 176... 182 at your weight is going to overpower you unless you go hard all the time.
Sep 29 2010 4:29PM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
the difference between 171 and 181 is about 4 inches, that's 2 inches more ski in front and back of your ski, then if they have some rocker you know the deal...not to much more length if you look at it that way, still id get 176's
Sep 29 2010 6:47PM
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Juice.Doctor
Posts: 2791 - Karma: 293
im 5'7 and i just got 174 rossignol s4s and they are like an inch above my head. im really happy with them. if youre an inch taller and the skis will be rockered, then i would lean towards the 182. but still it could go either way...
Sep 29 2010 6:54PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
If you think you can really handle it then why not. When I was 5'2 I was on 173's and it only made me a better skier.
Sep 29 2010 7:45PM
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BerGNARdo
Posts: 406 - Karma: 44
im in a similar boat as you op. i'm just short of 5'9 and ordered 181 blue steeles for this season. if they came in 176's that'd definitely be my ideal ski. however my only other option would be 171's and i think that may be to small. i've heard a longer ski will be more stable and a little faster, but harder to spin and a little heavier. any thoughts anyone have?
Sep 29 2010 8:21PM
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Testicles
Posts: 1432 - Karma: 13
rocket science.
Sep 29 2010 8:31PM
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wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
my brother is 5'9" and skis 185 volkl wall's without any trouble.

actually he likes them a lot more than 170-175 range
Sep 29 2010 11:15PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
THREAD JACK: Im 5'9/5'10 175 and i was finding 178's (some older s2's) really long. Im not sure if down sizing is good either tho. Ive basically got my mind set on Ar7's and im not sure if i should get the 181's or 176' expecting they dont run true.


Sep 29 2010 11:43PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
^post of the day, 10/10 for u sir
Sep 30 2010 7:10AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
I'm 6"4 and I have an 182 ski...
Sep 30 2010 7:28AM
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ShredAZ
Posts: 1054 - Karma: 641

I'm 6'1 170lbs and I ride 180s 50/50 all mountain/park and I find them perfect size. Also have my 171s park specific skis that I find a ton easier to manuever.

180 was pretty managable for my build though, I just find that a kid with your specs might struggle a little to throw that around. But then again, you can always adapt to your skis...

I started off mounain biking with a 50lb clunker and moved up to a 30lb climber. Starting off on something much more cumbersome but in the end allowed me to control a lighter bike like it was nothing.

It's the athlete that makes the tools, not the other way around.

Sep 30 2010 11:12AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 204
when you were 5'2" you met my crew in stanley park on our way up to whistler to buy those 173s. the running joke was that you'd be some 12 year old and roll up in a sketchy white minivan. sure enough, the prophecy came true, and it made the trip that much more awesome, so thank you for that, frodo.

this thread may now continue, sorry.
Sep 30 2010 4:02PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
bump just cause
Oct 3 2010 2:42PM
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DGOskeeze
Posts: 140 - Karma: 34
Send it man...They will ski shorter and I have found that always skiing longer skis has done nothing but improve my riding. They are faster and way more stable. I got $20 that says you won't regret it.
Oct 3 2010 3:37PM
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