Ski sizes for big mountain

ZenyattaKick

ZenyattaKick

Member
Do you guys think that there is a specific size for going out west and trying powder, I’m an east coast skier and wanna treat myself after college. Currently ripping some Dollos you guys think they can handle all mountain more like outta bounds terrain or should I look into some 112 under foot etc.
 
Dollo’s wont hold you in Utah, Jackson, or Colorado. Grab a pair of Icelantic 105s, Salomon QST Blank, Black Crows, K2 Reckoner 112. You need more float than Dollos and a stiffer ski. If you are normal height, 5’9-6’ get 185cm+ Charge skis are longer than park skis. I run a pair of Armada Tracer 118’s in 188cm and some days I struggle to float out here on deepest of days. (I’m kinda fat)
 
For reference I am 5’11, I ride some ct3 in 185 for resort pow days and custom 122mm underfoot, 188cm sticks for BC. It’s all about personal preference tho, try something if you don’t like try something else.
 
TBH ive rode the deepest snow on 100 underfoot and it gets the job done. However i always have the longest skis and weigh only 160. longer skis will always handle deep snow better. I think if you wanna treat yourself for powder 110 underfoot is all you really need. If you go over that too much things start to get clanky.
 
14596464:BreknridgeKid said:
Dollo’s wont hold you in Utah, Jackson, or Colorado. Grab a pair of Icelantic 105s, Salomon QST Blank, Black Crows, K2 Reckoner 112. You need more float than Dollos and a stiffer ski. If you are normal height, 5’9-6’ get 185cm+ Charge skis are longer than park skis. I run a pair of Armada Tracer 118’s in 188cm and some days I struggle to float out here on deepest of days. (I’m kinda fat)
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quit yappin
 
14596464:BreknridgeKid said:
Dollo’s wont hold you in Utah, Jackson, or Colorado. Grab a pair of Icelantic 105s, Salomon QST Blank, Black Crows, K2 Reckoner 112. You need more float than Dollos and a stiffer ski. If you are normal height, 5’9-6’ get 185cm+ Charge skis are longer than park skis. I run a pair of Armada Tracer 118’s in 188cm and some days I struggle to float out here on deepest of days. (I’m kinda fat)
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bruh if youre struggling to float on 118s in 188 you need a ski lesson
 
You'll definitely want something other than the dollo's but you definitely don't need to go ridiculously wide with your skis, anything in the 105-115 range will do fine. I think shape plays more into it than anything. If you are skiing tight trees and shit then get something a little softer and narrrower like the m5 from fatypus. If you just want to ski open faces that are chopped up look into something stiffer with a more traditional shape, maybe even metal. something like the Nordica unleashed 108, armada whitewalker 116 or fatypus d-sender
 
have a pair of 2021 dollos they have managed to keep me afloat even though they are center mounted, although it would def be more fun to ride them in powder if they werent, if yours are centered I would recommend getting something else because it's just a bit of a vibekiller riding center mounted skis in powder
 
rule of thumb is to get charge or powder skis 3-7 cm taller than you are. with that the obvious sweet spot is 5 cm taller and that’s a good spot to start if you don’t know your preferences (if you like shorter or longer skis). from there you can thing about skinnier pow skis need a little extra length i’d categorize skinny pow skis as 104-112 and bigger pow skis as 115 +. wider skis can go a little shorter.
 
let the length and stiffness of your ski be decided by your terrain. longer(5cm over your head as others said) and or stiffer for faster more open faces, shorter and possibly softer for more mobility around the tighter areas, trees and moguls. width can be determined from your (possibly new) home mountain and how much snow you get annually, i think youre in a good spot there at 110ish. memberberries, you gotta ski groomers and crud to even get to and from the pow inbounds.

my quick recs for 23/24 would be, in no order, enforcer104/110 free, sender110free, armada ww, blizz rusty 11s, volkl revolt 114, never rode a bc atris but heard good things.
 
I'm 6 ft, 205 lbs riding 104 Line Blade Optics in 185. I ski in SLC mostly big and little cottonwood on park jumps and big mt. The metal makes them pretty heavy and stiff so charging is awesome, they eat through a lot of chop and 104 floats just fine for me even on deep days, just takes some bounding but thats good pow technique anyway

I do notice that the metal and stiffness make it tougher to ski trees and terrain that requires you to be more agile, but I got used to that and still make it work. I use them on jumps and have been spinning and buttering now that I'm used to the swing weight and force required to flex them.

They aren't ideal for stuff outside big mt and wide open faces but they get the job done and Ill ride them everywhere until I get another set of park skis next season.

My fiance skis ARW 96s and does all the same stuff I do.

Skis don't make the skier

What was the question? This feels like a tangent my bad *rips bong*

**This post was edited on Mar 7th 2024 at 1:40:19am
 
14596626:ZenyattaKick said:
Thanks for all the replies, I’m very curious to try the new Armada ARV 112, that’s so far my leading pick.
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I'd be cautious of getting on a ski in the first model year especially an armada with the amount of sidewall blowouts they've had on other ARV skis. To be fair they were mostly park skis and this is very much not a park ski but it's something to keep in mind. Definitely looks like a fun ski to try out, maybe look for a demo before committing to buy.
 
14596627:WittyCong said:
I'd be cautious of getting on a ski in the first model year especially an armada with the amount of sidewall blowouts they've had on other ARV skis. To be fair they were mostly park skis and this is very much not a park ski but it's something to keep in mind. Definitely looks like a fun ski to try out, maybe look for a demo before committing to buy.
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Definitely valid, I’m gonna wait until like end of next season, so I’m sure reviews will be out.
 
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