Member of the Month

JalmarKalmar
April, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

173 too big?

profile picture
_anderson_
Posts: 164 - Karma: 1,783
I want to buy this pair of skis for 250 and the only size left is 173cm. I'm about 5'6 and I'm wondering if they would be too big. I currently have 168cm skis and they're fine
Apr 10 2015 10:59AM
5 0
profile picture
VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,564
Depends, what are you planning on doing? What and where do you ski? How long have you been skiing/how solid a skier are you? What skis are they?
Apr 10 2015 11:14AM
0 0
profile picture
MESKI
Posts: 942 - Karma: 220
I think you will be fine bud. With a center mount ski you'd hardly notice the difference. With any sort of early rise/rocker it will ski shorter anyway. I can rotate from 178 -185 without much problem.
Apr 10 2015 12:32PM
1 0
profile picture
S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,182
What skis are you currently skiing on and what skis are you planning on buying? Either way 173 will be fine
Apr 10 2015 12:51PM
0 0
profile picture
.FRY.
Posts: 5620 - Karma: 22,855
yeah I think you'll be fine
Apr 10 2015 5:02PM
1 0
profile picture
supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
im 5'10 and ride a 179 so you should be fine also what skis are you buying and what ones do you have now
Apr 12 2015 4:36PM
0 0
profile picture
TreewellMagnet
Posts: 100 - Karma: 69
I'm 5 ft 6, 145 lbs.

I ski 178 bacons, 171 chronics and 181 Jeffery 114's no problem. So I think you'll be fine. Also if a ski has a lot of rocker you can go a bit longer without too much problems.
Apr 12 2015 5:51PM
0 0
profile picture
Daski
Posts: 658 - Karma: 2,316
Depends on rocker profile, what type of ski (park, all mountian, pow, etc), how good a skier you are, a lot of things
Apr 12 2015 6:16PM
0 0
profile picture
qazwsxedc34
Posts: 2886 - Karma: 2,252
I’m 5’7” 140lbs and ride a 176 park ski and the 184 SFB’s, which probably are 181 true to length.

You’ll be fine. You’ll progress a lot faster.
Apr 12 2015 7:52PM
0 0
profile picture
270on420out
Posts: 7495 - Karma: 50,836
I'm 5'8". I ride 180 ninthwards, and 178 moments, you'll be fine.
Apr 13 2015 10:52AM
0 0
profile picture
AlfredHitchCAULK
Posts: 119 - Karma: 10
that changes is like 2 inches so you'll be fine
Apr 13 2015 1:27PM
1 0
profile picture
Level9Sports
Posts: 60 - Karma: 51
A lot of personal preference is involved in picking the right ski length. Personally I'm 5'7" and use a 174cm ski but we have co-workers who are 5'9" and use around the same length. It really comes down to what kind of skiing you're aiming to do and what you've used before. There are pros and cons to choosing a longer or shorter ski...

A long ski will provide more stability at higher speeds and with a center mount, it gives you a more solid "platform" while stomping a trick. The downside is a greater swing weight and overall it takes more energy to control the ski.

A shorter ski will be easier to flick around and to spin with. However you will lose some stability at higher speeds.

If you're a more experienced skier, you can easily get away with a 173cm but at the end of the day, the only one who can tell you which is best is yourself.
Apr 13 2015 2:33PM
0 0
profile picture
.otto.
Posts: 3493 - Karma: 12,892
Im kinda in the same boat as you OP I recentley bought a pair of Volk ledges for dirt cheap, Im 5'10 and they are 179, not sure if they are to big for me either... but what the others haves said i defiintalty think its personal preference, but a larger ski is gonna take more energy to spin around
Apr 14 2015 11:17AM
0 0
profile picture
whiteboi
Posts: 477 - Karma: 1,228
.otto.Im kinda in the same boat as you OP I recentley bought a pair of Volk ledges for dirt cheap, Im 5'10 and they are 179, not sure if they are to big for me either... but what the others haves said i defiintalty think its personal preference, but a larger ski is gonna take more energy to spin around

I was 5'9 when I got my Faction Soma's in 179. Rode them at -1.5cm (because they came mounted like that), then center mounted them, and they are rad in either spot. 179's will work great
Apr 15 2015 10:09PM
0 0
profile picture
colder152000
Posts: 589 - Karma: 1,176
there is no such thing as too long of a ski if you know what your doing. a longer ski provides more stability at higher speeds, but amplifies mistakes. A shorter ski is easier to maneuver and to make turns with, but looks like your on ski blades when you have crappy technique. at 5'6'' you will def be able to ski 173s if your past the pizza turns
Apr 15 2015 11:41PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)