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Why does everyone always say to get longer skis?

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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
Every time a thread pops up on here asking what size of ski to get everyone always says to go for the longer one more or less without fail. Obviously, by a certain oint you dont need to make a thread on NS to decide how long you want your skis to be. I feel i am fully capable of this by my self and pretty much always have been. However, upon deciding what size to get my new skis in I came very close to giving into peer preasure and getting a bigger size, but the more i thought about it the more i realised that doing so would only hold me back.
I am 5'6 and 10 stone, I have riden 170s for a while now but before that i rode 161s. When I was deciding what size of skis to get this time I knew that I wanted the 162s cos they are lighter for switch ups, less likely to get caught on rails when spining on, easier to reach for 'true' grabs and i know that they will hold up fine for me on big jumps from experience. Part of me couldn't stop thinking about getting the 172s instead though, I knew i could ski them and I knew it would be what NS would say to get and almost did untill I asked myself why, so I ask you, Why?
Aug 28 2009 12:14PM
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currentwestman
Posts: 3292 - Karma: 330
1.  long skis look better
2.  most of the time if some one needs to ask NS what size they should get, they're gonna grow

thats all i could think of
Aug 28 2009 12:49PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
peer pressure on NS?
Aug 28 2009 12:51PM
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PappaG
Posts: 931 - Karma: 797
3. Ski length is in direct correlation to penis size so it's a no-brainer if you want all the ladies know that you got the goods.
Aug 28 2009 12:53PM
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Midwestjibski
Posts: 1676 - Karma: 77
4. Stability on rails and jumps.
Aug 28 2009 1:32PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
encourages the youth to partake in the incredible activity of leaving the park on a powder day.
Aug 28 2009 2:14PM
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C.Wood
Posts: 2524 - Karma: 180
this for sure

and think about it 10 more cm on a center mount ski is only 5 cm that you will really notice
so its basically the same ski but it provides more
Aug 28 2009 2:28PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9210 - Karma: 5,357
When i asked around to size what size disorderly's i should get, either 159 or 169, everyone said 169. I stood on both and thought the 169 felt too long. But now that i skied them a season, i wish i had gotten longer, sometimes i feel like when landing, having a longer ski would have helped. But i still like the length i chose most of the time, it's fine for everything, a little longer would be nice, but the 169's were more like 174's.
Aug 28 2009 2:31PM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
I understand the jumps part, but really, if you don't know what size of ski to get you aren't gonna be going off jumps that big yet and there has to an equilbrium between making the tricks easier to do and making it easier to land them once you get that far. As for rails, i can't see how longer skis would make any aspect of rail skiing easier.
Aug 28 2009 2:37PM
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Franny
Posts: 3980 - Karma: 77
Shorter skis are better for rail.
Aug 28 2009 2:45PM
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Twaddler
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 109
probably part of it
Aug 28 2009 2:47PM
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joly.sp
Posts: 2305 - Karma: 585

I am 5'10 150lb and ski 176 dumonts and I couldnt imagine skiing anything shorter. I guess because the mounting point on park skis is center or close to it, it doesnt seem that long at all. they ski shorter is an alright way to put it i guess.

Aug 28 2009 3:08PM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
in all honestly when i tell kids to get longer skis, its because getting short skis is like cheating. Itll allow you to do that 1080 you saw in the mag or spin that 450 on no problem, but youre gonna look like a huge boner doing it. Everyone on this site wants skiing to move more towards the style aspect of the sport, and encouraging kids to get longer skis so they learn slower stomped tricks with proper grabs is part of that.
Aug 28 2009 3:22PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,373
because as you get better at skiing you can handle bigger skis, lets rethink the past,

LONG ASS FUCKIN SKIS were the norm
THEN SHORT PARABOLIC SKIS WITH LOTS OF SIDE CUT
THEN CENTER MOUNTING GOT COOL SO YOU CAN GET A BIGGER SKI SIZE
NOW ROCKERED SKIS ARE COOL AND THEY SKI SHORTER SO YOU CAN GO BIGGER SIZE

as you become a stronger skier or change skiing styles you should get bigger skis. having a ski 5cm longer is not going to prevent you from doing switchups and adding that extra 180 to your dub corks
Aug 28 2009 3:34PM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,327
as stated above it really does help with stability, even in the air just because they are heavier. it makes your grabs looks better too.
Aug 28 2009 4:02PM
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III
Posts: 2041 - Karma: 22
Shorter skis are better for skiers who aren't as good, but if you're going for it you're going to want the extra length so you don't over power your skis and break your ass bone.
Aug 28 2009 5:24PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
they add inches to your dick and radii to your balls
Aug 28 2009 5:39PM
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paige.
Posts: 1930 - Karma: 907
This.
A lot of the time the kids asking about ski length are around 14. Maybe the shorter skis would be better short term but they will grow out of them really quickly. If they can handle the longer skis (which do have other advantages, as others have stated) they will be the better ski in the long term.
Aug 28 2009 6:23PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Short skis suck, long skis truck.
Aug 28 2009 8:00PM
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basedjase
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 640
hahah yes that is true
Aug 28 2009 9:25PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I remember when I rode 162s, that was back in 8th grade...


At 5'6 you should be riding at least 170s if you're not a pussy. I could understand you maybe being hesitant on 176s, but 170? Cmon now. I'm 5'10 and I feel like I could go longer with a 176, 176 is just about perfect though. I'm actually contemplating some 181 pipe cleaners for those gnarly booters and the 176s to fuck around with on rails.
Aug 29 2009 12:51AM
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GKO
Posts: 1467 - Karma: 1,410
bigger is better
Aug 29 2009 1:17AM
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ski-swagga
Posts: 5276 - Karma: 219
in every way possible.
Aug 29 2009 1:31AM
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Valind
Posts: 4358 - Karma: 17
thats what she said
Aug 29 2009 2:42AM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
That is not a reason. Only you dishing out the peer presure that i spoke of, I don't enojy riding 170s as much as 160ish skis and for that reson i know what i'm going to get. If that makes me a pussy then i don't see how.
I'm pretty confident that paco garcia isn't a pussy and that is equivelant(infact i think its exactly the same) to what he has riden in the past, see this video, look at him do a switch misty ten, the see the size of his skis when he stands on top of the podium.
i dunno, i still don't see many of these reposes as good reasons.
Aug 29 2009 7:23AM
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dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
^man honestly we dont care if you ride short skis and we're not trying to peer pressure you into it, were just telling you the facts, which is that riding short skis signals to everyone that you are a grom, because groms ride short skis and have terrible style, and anyone decent will ride a ski that measures to their forehead or above. Go ahead and buy em, at least that extra 10cm in valuable ski material will go to someone who understands
Aug 29 2009 11:34AM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
long skis are better on rails because they improve your balance.  the way i think if it, they function somewhat like the long poles tight rope walkers use.  The longer the pole (skis) the more balance you will have.
Aug 29 2009 11:54AM
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Twig
Posts: 6336 - Karma: 57,072
firstly the OP is 5'6 which is 168cm according to google.. so 162 is gonna be eyebrow/forehead height anyway..

anyway, in essence you just said the only reason people do it is to look cool?
pretty sure everyone's hero here is tom wallisch and i've seen lots of footage of him on 169 amplid townships and he is at least 5'8 probably a bit more. thats pretty short.

it is true that you get a little more balance on rails (as mentioned.. tightrope walker effect), and i think longer skis are generally faster and more stable all over. a longer park ski is also gonna be a little more versatile in pow etc (not your concern i know).


Aug 29 2009 1:24PM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
Why did you make this thread then?  If you know what you want already..then get it.  Most of us said go longer, but you are set on shorter, so get shorter.  Believe it or not we do not ban you for getting a shorter ski, and it really doesn't matter at all what we say.  Personally, I think that the height thing isn't as important as most people say, and it is mostly preferance.  Most park pros use the 179-182 length in their brands park ski, but some use the 174ish length.  Do whatever you want.
Aug 29 2009 2:01PM
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SHampson
Posts: 2355 - Karma: 1,180
Bigger skis=Bigger Dick
Aug 29 2009 2:02PM
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Twig
Posts: 6336 - Karma: 57,072
he was asking why everyone always says longer is better, not which he should get.
Aug 29 2009 2:09PM
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Midwestjibski
Posts: 1676 - Karma: 77
how wouldn't longer skis help you on rails? The extra length will give you more ski on either side resulting in better balance. Therefore the rail will be easier to grip. Why does everyone always have bad balance on rails when using snowblades? Because they are so short.... duh.
Aug 29 2009 5:55PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
Do what you want, you asked for opinions so I gave you one, don't be upset that it goes against what you want to believe.

If you prefer shorter skis buy them and stop asking questions about length.
Aug 31 2009 1:16PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
I use longer skis because I like to feel like I'm actually skiing.  short skis just feel like walking around.  I like using the weight of the skis to throw them around, and that is the fun part to me, actually riding something.  I'm 5'11 and I rode 183 watch lifes last winter.  They were a lot of fun and its way cooler feeling to play around on them.  There is more ski, and in my opinion, more you can do with it.  I don't do a whole hell of a lot of switch ups, but sometimes I do, and they are fine.  You just have to actually try to move them around.  the momentum also helps in doing these things.

Aug 31 2009 1:49PM
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Steeze-On-Toast
Posts: 679 - Karma: 92
I'm 174cm and i ride 177 atm, I've ridden down to 166 before, and just hated it. Longer skis give a more stable spin, solid landings and no doubt they look a load steezier than looking like a snowblader, that phase happened 2 years ago and it isn't cool, be a real skier get a big ski.

/rant
Aug 31 2009 2:24PM
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edd1e
Posts: 679 - Karma: 16
i have 176 dumonts centre mounted, I am 5'11 and I hate them, well hates a strong word. I just know I should have gotten at least 181 plus salomon measure short. They are good on ideal conditions but anywhere less than ideal and well pow, forget about it (in a bad way),

I have tried 181 dumonts and they didnt really feel that much longer but a bit more stable.

I am probably going to get 181 ar6/pipecleaners or 178 chronic cryptonite if they measure long.

A longer ski gives me more confidence on the in run to bigger jumps...
Aug 31 2009 2:33PM
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Steeze-On-Toast
Posts: 679 - Karma: 92
from my experience, the Chronic measures up as it's sold, the Anthem and Invader I know do measure up slightly more than as sold
Sep 1 2009 6:09AM
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Bodeau.
Posts: 1637 - Karma: 48
slower smoother rotations in the air, easier to hit huge jumps on
Sep 1 2009 10:39AM
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steve0
Posts: 1119 - Karma: 1,036

Simple, they go faster.

Sep 1 2009 11:02AM
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