Ski Length Suggestions
Shaped skis are meant to be skied in shorter lengths than were "straight" skis. This is as true on the World Cup as it is for recreational skiers. The following suggestions are guidelines only. The best way to determine length is to test your choice in a couple of different lengths. Shaped skis exhibit more significant changes in behavior length-to-length than was the case with older technology.
When in doubt, try it out!
[ lengths are for males of average build—females subtract 15 - 10 cm ]
Giant Slalom skis
Rossignol D2 Race GS
Typical race length: 180+
Typical recreational length: 175-178
Race Carver
Volkl Laser SC
Typical length: 160-170cm
All Mountain Carver
Head Peak 78
Typical length: 165-180cm, depending on speed and weight
Big Mountain Carver
Dynastar Legend Sultan 85
Typical length: 175 - 180cm
Cross Carver
Fischer Progressor 9+
Typical length: 165 - 175 cm
Slalom: race
Nordica Doberman Sl Pro
Modern slaloms are meant to be skied really short. For example, some racers have been using sub 160cm skis on the World Cup, although new rules stipulate 165cm as the shortest legal length for males.
For racing: 165
For recreational skiing: 160 - 176
Deep snow, free ride, big mountain and powder skis
Völkl Gotama
Wide deep snow skis (90 to 99mm waist): 170 to 200cm
Stöckli Rotor 106
Salomon RockerUltra-wide free ride skis (100mm + waist): 175 to 200+cm
Poles
Traditional pole sizing was determined by donning boots, inverting the pole, placing the hand grip on the ground and grasping the shaft below the ring, with forearm parallel to the ground.
Modern technical skiers use poles about 1" shorter than traditional length.
Bumps skiers, hyper-carvers or extremely fast skiers may use a pole up to two inches shorter than traditional length.
But, be careful. Lifters and high-rise bindings add about 1.5" to the stand height of the ski. Simply using plates could make the pole effectively too short. Try to measure length while simulating stand height—the distance the sole of the foot is above the ground. Any competent shop can assist in this measurement.
