I would.My center point of boot appears to be approximately 34.5" when i pull a tape from tip on my 173. tails feel like they get caught up at times. thinking of moving them back further.
I finally bite the bullet and order 172cm Moment Bella Tours and ATK Crest 10 bindings. We will see when I can get them mounted. My DH always mounts our skis and he is recovering from ACL and meniscus surgery and used to mount skis at REI. Living in the middle of nowhere it can be a struggle to find someone who I trust to mount skis. That will be my next mission. Keep you posted on how they ski. It might be more of next season before I truly get a feel for them @tri-ski-pucker.I know a bit nervous to get a longer ski for the backcountry. Then I might not even notice. I still haven't bite the bullet.
how do you like skiing on the head SLUpdated quiver:
Head World Cup Rebels i.SL RD Team 150
Volkl Yumi 147 (which I plan to sell and replace with not sure yet) lol
Faction Agent 1.0X 154
I really like my SLs. Edge grip is fantastic on them (I have the side bevel set to 3 and the base is .5) and I LOVE the bases on them... super slidey. Wish all my skis had the base my SL does. They are not the most forgiving skis in bumps or in chopped up crud, but I feel like having to learn to adapt to these conditions with a ski that is particular about how it wants to be skied has only improved my skiing.how do you like skiing on the head SL
Lol I'm also 5'1" /115. My powder skis are 169cm and weigh over 8.5 lbs WITHOUT bindings. Although I reflect on my sins everytime I carry them to the slopes, they are a blast in tracked out Sierra cement.I've heard the advice to women skiers to "get a length that scares you," and that was definitely true of my experience.
I love your story and your skis! I just ordered a pair of Head Power Joys bc I wanted a true carving ski again. My daily is a Volkl 90 waist (Kenja) in 163. I am 5'7ish..My first ski was a 140- then I went to 156 and 163 feels right. If I were to get a true powder ski - I guess it should be 170. Those fat Nordicas are SO pretty!!Been meaning to post my quiver evolution. A little background: I learned to ski as a kid (5th grade) at Mammoth Mountain (my family lived in Bishop, CA then). Fun fact: On that same class field trip where I learned to ski was my classmate Chris Benchetler who grew up to become a professional skier and the designer of the Atomic Bent Chetler skis. He was already a MUCH better skier than any of the other kids.
My family didn't ski and I only skied every now and then for most of my life. It's always been one of my great joys in life, but it wasn't until only the past two years that I've skied regularly enough to justify having my own pair of skis as an adult.
I'm 5'1", 118 lbs, ski mostly Oregon, and came back to the sport as an intermediate. I bought a pair of Blizzard Black Pearl 88s in 147 cm. Skied a couple powder days in them and promptly realized that if I wanted to continue skiing those types of conditions (my fiance is a powderhound), I'd have a better time on a wider ski. So then I became something I never thought I'd become: the owner of TWO pairs of skis. Added a Blizzard Sheeva 10 in 156 cm.
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The next season I came back stronger, had taken a bunch of lessons and progressed really quickly. I was skiing faster and harder than I used to, and noticed that my Black Pearls were folding up on me when I tried to ski through crud, or really just any kind of variable snow. Suddenly they felt super flimsy to me, so I decided I wanted a stiffer/longer ski and bought the Nordica Santa Ana 93 in 158 cm. I was honestly scared of these skis, especially after I mounted them and the bindings added that much more heft to them. But let me tell you something, my first day out on them was a revelation. These skis make me so much more confident, and they are such a hoot to ski. I'm literally hooting and hollering finishing some of my runs on these things. I've heard the advice to women skiers to "get a length that scares you," and that was definitely true of my experience.
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After the first day out on the Santa Anas, the Black Pearls were officially dead to me (RIP, thank you for your service), so I traded them in through Powder7.com (got a great trade-in value on them too) and swapped in a pair of Nordica Santa Ana 110 Frees in 161 cm, which brings us to my present quiver.
I have not had a chance to ski the 110s yet, and probably won't this season? I actually sprained my knee while demo'ing a pair of Salomon QST Stellas earlier this month (a contender against the 110s that I ultimately decided against). I should be back out in April, but planning to do easy groomer days on the 93s for the rest of the season. So this is kind of the outlet for my new ski excitement, since I can't actually ski them for awhile.
Anyway! Thanks for letting me babble. I love this forum! And as you can tell, I really love gear!
Good to know that length is good for you. I’m the same height and still on 159.I love your story and your skis! I just ordered a pair of Head Power Joys bc I wanted a true carving ski again. My daily is a Volkl 90 waist (Kenja) in 163. I am 5'7ish..My first ski was a 140- then I went to 156 and 163 feels right. If I were to get a true powder ski - I guess it should be 170. Those fat Nordicas are SO pretty!!
I've really appreciated your posts sharing your thoughts on the Faction skis. I was seriously considering the Faction Dancer 3x (short list was the Dancers, 110 Santa Anas, or QST Stellas) and it was really hard to find reviews/thoughts on the women's skis. I ended up having to settle for reviews of the men's version and flexed the men's version at Evo. It ultimately felt like the more risky choice and perhaps too burly for me. But I am super partial to the purple topsheet on the Dancer, and love the look of the Faction skis in general. Maybe later! And yes, the tracked out Sierra cement (or in my case PNW cement) is no joke. I kept getting shop people steering me toward softer surfier powder skis. I'm sure they're fun in the morning, but right around lunch time you start getting your ass kicked, haha.Lol I'm also 5'1" /115. My powder skis are 169cm and weigh over 8.5 lbs WITHOUT bindings. Although I reflect on my sins everytime I carry them to the slopes, they are a blast in tracked out Sierra cement.
They are pretty, thank you! Although, I did have some hang-ups about them looking so similar to the 93s I already had, but ultimately they were the best choice for me I think.Those fat Nordicas are SO pretty!!
FWIW, there is no difference in construction between the men's/unisex and women's Faction skis. Only difference between the two lines are the topsheet colors and lengths available.I've really appreciated your posts sharing your thoughts on the Faction skis. I was seriously considering the Faction Dancer 3x (short list was the Dancers, 110 Santa Anas, or QST Stellas) and it was really hard to find reviews/thoughts on the women's skis. I ended up having to settle for reviews of the men's version and flexed the men's version at Evo. It ultimately felt like the more risky choice and perhaps too burly for me. But I am super partial to the purple topsheet on the Dancer, and love the look of the Faction skis in general. Maybe later! And yes, the tracked out Sierra cement (or in my case PNW cement) is no joke. I kept getting shop people steering me toward softer surfier powder skis. I'm sure they're fun in the morning, but right around lunch time you start getting your ass kicked, haha.