Ski Length                                                    

I am about 5'8", 170 lbs.  I was a weight lifter before taking up XC skiing in earnest.  I am a bit heavy for my height but most of that is the residual of years of weight training.  Just everyone wants to sell me skis about 190 cm in length.  I am a wave 3 Birkie skier. No great shakes but I do put my time in on the skis.  I find 190 cm difficult to control and uncomfortable.  Why do not the manufacturers make shorter skis ( I like 180 - 182 cm ) stiff enough for my weight range ? Not everyone in the 170 lbs. range is 6 foot plus with long legs. Any shop insisting on 190's loses my business. I do not care much about the "fit" guarantee.  How critical is it to have the "recommended" skier weight to ski length ratio?

The snow cannot feel how tall you are it can only tell how much you weight.  But the ski has to distribute each skier's weight (be they 115 lbs or 170 lbs) over its front and rear glide zones.  The longer the ski, the longer the glide zones can be and the less pressure on any one area of the glide zone and the faster the ski can be over a multitude of snow conditions. A longer ski (longer groove and edges) also likes to keep gliding straight much like a larger bike wheel wishes to keep rolling forward.  The broader the weight range the ski is asked to carry the less specific the ski can be for any one skier weight. 

Ski engineers must make a multitude of design choices between skier weight, height, track conditions, top end speed, edge hold, straight line stability, rebound..... The broader their design criteria regarding skier weight and height, the more they must compromise on the finest racing ski characteristics at any one weight.

That being said, if short length is your #1 selection criteria, you can find a shorter ski that will be suitable for your weight.  You weigh 77kg so in Salomon Equipe 10 skis (SkiPost works with Salomon) you would be looking for a ski that has a MF (midflex) of greater than 58 kg.  This flex can be found in the very stiffest of 182cm Hards. It will be a very nimble handling ski but will compromise a bit of float over the softest of snow and straight line stability in the stiffest snows vs. its longer brethren. If your local Salomon retailer does not have  a 58+ MF 182 cm Salomon they can custom order from Salomon for you. 

How Flexible is a Ski Fit? 

Hi Ski Post,

Is there a rule of thumb concerning when new skis would be appropriate based on weight change?  for myself, I have lost about 15 pounds (185 to 170 pounds) since I purchased my current classic and skate skis a couple years ago.  I anticipate keeping that weight off and may even lose some more. Everything else being equal (which they never are), does the loss make me 'new ski worthy'?  Are there certain weights the ski manufacturers' target?  For example do they try to make skis that will work for people in ranges from 120 to 150, 150 to 170, 170 to 190, etc?   GD
Anchorage, Alaska

GD,

I think everyone is new ski worthy. So yes, you deserve new skis.

Skis are very flexible and very particular at the same time.  Weight change, even up to 15 lbs, will not necessarily make your skis unusable but if you are particular about your skiing, a 15lb fluctuation will affect greatly the way the ski behaves. Just as you are likely changing some of your clothing. The exact answer on if you can still use the ski will be influenced not only by weight but also by any changes in your fitness, technique and aspirations.

read remainder of article in last weeks SkiPost here.

CXC Superfit Clinics

Get your equipment fit by using a state-of-the-art CXC 3D pressure mat or Salomon Light Table.

Bring your old skis to test if they have a good fit for you, learn what conditions they will ski the best and compare them to new skis side by side. CXC Team athletes and coaches will also assist in finding your best pair of skis from the store stock or from the hand-picked Super Fit stock.

Each Superfit Weekend is also about getting advice on technique, training and waxing. CXC athletes and coaches will be on hand to complement the store's staff and assist you with boots selection and fitting, poles selection and length, ski apparel and wax box insights.

'CXC Super Fit' is a weekend sale program at select store locations filled with seminars, presentations and store specials. Receive information firsthand - talk to the athletes about the type of skis you need for certain snow conditions and ways to make them glide fast.

BICYCLE DOCTOR: November 9-11 and CXC Citizen Technique Camp