jBotti, I want to respond to your first post then move on to the others if I may.
In my humble opinion, fore/aft stability increases with width and length...certainly standing still on a big board in deep snow one can sense this....moving ones center mass fore and aft takes does more time to get skis to respond and certainly slower edge to edge, and without a doubt, larger turning radius....but more board seems to me stable GIVEN A VARIETY OF FACTORS.
But you yourself have twins and powder skis and may or may not have a favorite..but I believe that ski length is relative to weight and height for the majority of recreational skiers. We are talking about the use for the terrain and conditions? for the skiers specific needs.
I personally will take my 165 Head SS into powder up to boot high and just love them....I weigh 155lbs and they work beyond just fine for me. I also have fatter skis for snow above the boot. Why...it just plain makes all day skiing in over the boot snow much more relaxing....the skis are less twitchy using tipping and all mountain skills. I don't have to be as vilgilent with the amount of pressure applied to the edges and how much angles I create with my body.
I had a great experience with Helli skiing at Whistler where I was on my Head IM 82's and we had 4000 vertical runs...2 to make. I made the first run on my skis and asked the guide if I could try his Rossi B4's in a 195 length....big boards for me for sure. These skis didn't require more energy to turn just more patience. Again a specific purpose ski in my mind and I used every skill I've learned with the combined forces of both Harold and Clendenin.
Whether all of your ski length is touches the snow or not, if you have the skills to turn it in it's natural radius or turns less than that, if that ski spikes up your fun factor, it's all good in my book.
To me it's about the riders skills, weight and what the rider is looking to get out of the ski.
Finding the right ski that a skier can arc, one where the center mass is right on for ease of fore/aft balance are just as important as determining what ski you want to ride for the days conditions.
Gary
Home
Login
Register