Best park skis for 6'4" beginner

Posts: 9 - Karma: 18

Jan 23 2016 6:40AM

hey,

I'm in the middle of lining up some work at a resort in australia for this coming winter which will be my first time skiing a whole season, then more work over the next season in japan or whistler - so I figured it would be a good time to get stuck into the park bc I'll have plenty of time to heal up if things go bad and I won't be wasting a trip.

I've done a tiny bit of park before but i'd be full beginner at the moment. if I really go for it, I can box slide sideways! 85kg 6'4". i like to hit pow, trees, longer lines, backcountry, bit of natural features. I have a pair of bacons that i want to sell and buy on3p billy goats, and then get some cheap 5yr old park skis to get started on. new or used.

I'm pretty sure I want them fairly buttery because I'm a bit under average weight for my height and I'm more interested in jib than air for now. my plan is to just use my days on the mountain to find a box or rail to practice on and just charge it all day, so I'll be clipping/unclipping and carrying them a fair bit.

also I'm after recommendations for size - do I need to go as big as 185+ or can I go smaller to make learning spins etc easier? or will that not give me enough stability? and is it easier to learn rails with a wide or narrow underfoot ski?

cheers

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japanada

Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957

Jan 23 2016 8:20AM

Get some 189 sherditor 102s and kill it everywhere.

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Swandog7

Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,019

Jan 23 2016 10:52AM

Honestly, Id try and find something smaller than you mentioned. A size 178 might work, but you could really go anywhere from 178-188. Id also try and find something that isn't quite as used as people tend to not be honest when they sell used skis and also last years models can be not much more expensive than a pair of used skis.

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Deforestation

Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,192

Jan 23 2016 10:56AM

Swandog7Honestly, Id try and find something smaller than you mentioned. A size 178 might work, but you could really go anywhere from 178-188. Id also try and find something that isn't quite as used as people tend to not be honest when they sell used skis and also last years models can be not much more expensive than a pair of used skis.

I wouldn't recommend the 178. The skis would be lower than his head! Anything over 180 would probably be more suitable.

OP, look in sell and trade forum for relatively cheap used skis.

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Swandog7

Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,019

Jan 23 2016 10:58AM

DeforestationI wouldn't recommend the 178. The skis would be lower than his head! Anything over 180 would probably be more suitable.

OP, look in sell and trade forum for relatively cheap used skis.

I know, depends on how soft/stiff the ski is, but I put that at the bottom of his size spectrum. Some models tend to run in a size near that.

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fffffff

Posts: 9 - Karma: 18

Jan 24 2016 4:19AM

I haven't done much diving yet into older models - just starting to look into it as ive been researching billy goats and other 115ers mostly - but so far the few models i like the look of top out at around 180... so i was wondering if that's just how park skis (and by extension park skiers) are meant to be.

that's another thing - I don't know of any pro park skiers that look over 6', nor do I ever see taller guys in the park. if I start charging the park am I going to just end up with a lot more bruises than skill?? i guess im gonna find out anyway.

@japanada I do really like shreditors, the new graphic especially. My first proper new pair of skis were k2 extremes which are basically where the shreditors come from a few name changes back, and i really like skis like that. but for this coming year I'm keen to have a 2 ski quiver.

@swandog if my size spectrum is 178-188, which end is going to make it easier or harder to learn park? planning to do about 60/40 jibs/jumps

cheers 4 replies

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