realskiers

Brendan,
I mentioned that I'm 5'81/2 and 154 lbs and ski the 170 length.

Not sure what length ski you ski now or where your ski level is. I personally think the SS is a ski that requires strong technical skills to get the most out of. I went with the 170 length cause my RX8s were 170, and I think the extra length works well in powder and broken snow. My turn shapes run anywhere from short carvers to very short along the edge to medium and long swing carvers that create great G forces and a huge I just had sex smile.

If you are a skill strong skier (PMTS) or maybe have a race background, the 170 length should be cake. I have not skied the 165 length and don't know anything at all about the performance compared to the 170. Ron's point, ski both if you can demo. If you find the ski a bit more than you're comfortable with..the new Magnum SS looks pretty slick....again depending on your ski ability.

For me, there's a lot of enjoyment with the 170 SS in the way it starts, holds, and finishes each turn. If you have good balance skills, utilize counter rotation, and can commit to the down hill edge....this is one fantastic ski.

Best,
Gary