New gear, too short?

[Getting2Old]

Ok so I'm like 5'9" - 5'10", 150 lbs. I went to some gear swap today and told myself if they had the fischer nightsticks I was going to grab them (hadn't seen them in any shop in Vancouver so didn't have much hope). Anyways, while meandering through helping a friend looking for his 1st pair of skis, boom, I see them there, snap grab them although I thought 163 might be a bit small.

Had read a bunch of reviews, was pumped for them, but then read all the gear threads here and it seems like they may be WAY too small for me. Anyways, here are the skis I use as my all mountain ski (Vokl Bridges) and skied park on all last year as well (172 cm), and here are the nightsticks next to me (163 cm). Let me know if I'm way too small or possibly ridable, and if they are I guess I'm going to put them up on craigslist tonight. Thanks

 

[Getting2Old]

also to be clear, I bought them pretty much exclusively as a park ski, which is where I plan to spend most of my time this year

 

[TheRacker]

If those bridges are 172cm then there's no way you are 5'9" or 5'10". Especially since most skis are 1-3cm shorter than stated.

 

[chicken]

If those bridges are 172cm then there's no way you are 5'9" or 5'10". Especially since most skis are 1-3cm shorter than stated.

Pretty sure he knows how tall he is. It's pretty clear to me he is around 5'9" if those skis are 172.

 

[chicken]

The 163 park ski is not ideal, but it's not like they are going to implode on you if you ski park in them. They will be fast on rail tricks, but not necessarily as stable on jumps and at speed. Luckily you are on the lighter side, so they aren't WAY too short (like as in unusable). You would probably ideally like a park ski around 170-175 though.

If I were you I'd try to sell them for what you bought them for, and get something a bit longer. And if you can't sell them by ski season then just ride them. They will still be fun.

 

[Getting2Old]

If those bridges are 172cm then there's no way you are 5'9" or 5'10". Especially since most skis are 1-3cm shorter than stated.

hah, I am def. ~5'9, not sure how else to convince you. 172cm is 5'7.7" and you can see my head poking out above them

The 163 park ski is not ideal, but it's not like they are going to implode on you if you ski park in them. They will be fast on rail tricks, but not necessarily as stable on jumps and at speed. Luckily you are on the lighter side, so they aren't WAY too short (like as in unusable). You would probably ideally like a park ski around 170-175 though.

If I were you I'd try to sell them for what you bought them for, and get something a bit longer. And if you can't sell them by ski season then just ride them. They will still be fun.

Yea I guess this is my plan then, will post them on craigslist tonight and see if I get anybody interested by the start of the season. Thanks

Also just as an aside, so I know what I'm dealing with in the future, when you say not as stable on jumps is that generally in the air or on impact/landing?

 

[Swandog7]

hah, I am def. ~5'9, not sure how else to convince you. 172cm is 5'7.7" and you can see my head poking out above them

Also just as an aside, so I know what I'm dealing with in the future, when you say not as stable on jumps is that generally in the air or on impact/landing?

When you put on the landing gear. A shorter ski isn't as stable going high speed/landing big jumps etc. You will wash out more because you have less ski to rely on when you land backseat etc. A short ski will be more nimble, light, easier to swap, etc. Typically you'll want a park ski about you're height, within a few cm within it. On a pow ski you'll probably want to go slightly bigger than you're head for float

 

[Getting2Old]

When you put on the landing gear. A shorter ski isn't as stable going high speed/landing big jumps etc. You will wash out more because you have less ski to rely on when you land backseat etc. A short ski will be more nimble, light, easier to swap, etc. Typically you'll want a park ski about you're height, within a few cm within it. On a pow ski you'll probably want to go slightly bigger than you're head for float

Thanks, good info it's kind of crazy how much there is to learn, I've literally only ever just had a pair of skis and skied on it w/o much thought into length/stiffness/etc.

Curious right now I pretty much only hit pretty small stuff (S-M jumps, boxes, learning first rails). Knowing this will the length matter much on stuff this side? Basically I'm interested in if I'll still notice a major difference in how skis affect me while doing pretty low level stuff, or if it only starts to show once your on 40' kickers/etc.

Thanks again for all the info

 

[Swandog7]

Thanks, good info it's kind of crazy how much there is to learn, I've literally only ever just had a pair of skis and skied on it w/o much thought into length/stiffness/etc.

Curious right now I pretty much only hit pretty small stuff (S-M jumps, boxes, learning first rails). Knowing this will the length matter much on stuff this side? Basically I'm interested in if I'll still notice a major difference in how skis affect me while doing pretty low level stuff, or if it only starts to show once your on 40' kickers/etc.

Thanks again for all the info

Realistically if you're just more or less starting out in the park, you wont notice it all, it can be beneficial to have a slightly shorter ski when you begin. ID keep the skis if you're learning you're firdt 270s out and 360s and stuff. Once you grt to bigger features on a normal basis you'll want a ski that's more around you're height, sometimes just above or below you depending on rocker and how soft the ski is.

 

[BirtDike]

Sell them

 

[SofaKingSick]

swandog and chicken are on the ball. yeah theyre small for you but at your level it wont be a huge deal. try to sell 'em if you want, if not youre fiiiiine. we skiers really overthink this stuff. should you be on a longer ski? assuming youre decent, yeah. does it really matter all that much? no

feel free to shoot me any more specific questions. i know it's stressful to buy gear esp when you get so much info and so many opinions on NS

 

[1210020121]

Thats pretty short but last year I was 5 '4 and skied 139cm. That was partially because the rental guy didn't really care but I did just fine skiing.

 

[Getting2Old]

swandog and chicken are on the ball. yeah theyre small for you but at your level it wont be a huge deal. try to sell 'em if you want, if not youre fiiiiine. we skiers really overthink this stuff. should you be on a longer ski? assuming youre decent, yeah. does it really matter all that much? no

feel free to shoot me any more specific questions. i know it's stressful to buy gear esp when you get so much info and so many opinions on NS

Thats pretty short but last year I was 5 '4 and skied 139cm. That was partially because the rental guy didn't really care but I did just fine skiing.

Thanks guys, appreciate it!