From: djm@kbs.citri.edu.au (David Mills)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing
Subject: Re: Learn on short or long skis?
Date: 21 Dec 92 00:18:11 GMT
Organization: Collaborative Information Technology Research Institute

grant@clarinet.com (Grant Robinson) writes:

>In article <djm.723860511@phobos> djm@kbs.citri.edu.au (David Mills) writes:
>>>In article <1fo1cqINNkiu@skeena.ucs.ubc.ca> koichi@unixg.ubc.ca (Koichi J Kishimoto) writes:
>>
>>>-Long or short skis for learning?-
>>

>Rule #1.  Take all advice from the net with a grain of salt (or don't take
>it at all), my post included.

>>The first category.  The shorter the skis, the easier they are to turn.  This
>>applies to all levels and types of skiing.  

>But not all skis.  This generalization is simply not true.  There are
>countless examples of longer skis which turn more easily than shorter skis,
>without going into the gory details, it's usually newer skis vs. older skis
>(new technology, combination of sidecut, flex and materials), or slalom vs
>GS skis.

It simply is true.  If you take make of ski X and model Y, the the shorts
skis of that type will always be easier to turn than the longer ones.  Of
course there is variation between ski makes and models.  That is the reason
for their design.

>>Unless you ski faster than 40-60kmh most of the time, you will not need a ski
>>longer than 180cm.

>I ski mostly bumps and steeps, and the only time I hit those speeds is
>generally when I'm free-falling.  I ski 200's. I'd ski 207's if I didn't
>spend so much time in the bumps.

So you agree that going too long in the bumps makes life to difficult.  So
would you agree that a person who has not been doing a parallel turn for very
long would find his first attempts in the bumps MUCH easier on shorter skis
(say 185-195 instead of 195-205)?

>Where does the 180 number come from?

A guess for a particular level of skiing ability.

>>The mistake the public makes is that because a very good skier uses longer
>>skis (and lets face it most people would prefer to be thought of as a good
>>skier) then if I use longer skis it must be a sign that I am a good skier.

>I've only ever noticed this trait in more advanced skiers and racers, never
>the average skier or general public.  That's only one data point however.

>>WRONG!!!  It will inhibit your progress dramatically if your skis are too
>>long.  It's better to err on the side of too short.

>It's better to be in the right ballpark in the first place, if you are an
>extra 5 cm. longer or shorter won't make an earth-shattering difference.

Agreed.

>Factors to consider in choosing length of ski:

>	1) your weight
>	2) ability (and type of skiing you intend to do)
>	3) type of ski

>Some companies don't even sell skis by length anymore (directly anyways).

>It's impossible to say 185's are too long or short without knowing more,
>but the fact that your instructor was alarmed probably should give reason for
>pause, provided he's not also trying to sell you skis.  He should know all
>of the above and more.

You'd be supprised.  Many instructors have little or no ski teaching
experience, and most are not qualified (although this varies greatly from
country to country, resort to resort).  Many have little or no technical
training (theory).  Usually the better instructors end up teaching the more
advanced classes, so the higher the level of the class, the more I would trust
the instructors knowledge.  In the U.S.A. for instance, there are widely
varying resorts.  Mamoth mountain would have about 90% of its instructors
qualified.  Mammoth is also the home for many of the instructor examiners (i.e.
the instructors who instruct the instructors).  Whereas Winter-Park in
Colorado, or Goldmine at Big bear Lake would have few instructors.  I know of
several resorts world wide (not one of those mentioned above) where the 
unqualified instructors made up > 65% of the ski school.

>For a second and third opinion, go to a couple of ski shops, and tell them
>all of the above mentioned factors, and see what they recommend.  Don't
>express any intimidation/desire for longer/shorter skis, because as
>salespeople, they will let this bias their recommendations.  Between a few
>such opinions, and that of your instructor, you should be able to come to
>some kind of consensus.

Shops are the last source of reliable technical information I would trust.
Even if the sales person is very knowledgeable, they are unable to see you
ski, and may be misled by what you say in making a judgement.

>Grant Robinson -- ClariNet Communications Corp, Sunnyvale, CA (408)-296-0366

David Mills --	Member, International Ski Instructors Association,
		Fully qualified ski instructor.
		Qualified Race coach.
		Qualified Intructor trainer.