Are ski shops selling Divas short?

[NWskier]

I am so happy to find this forum as I feel like I have been told a million different things with regard to ski length!

I have been skiing for about 5 years (mostly in the NW). I can ski all green/blue runs and easy blacks and do not like to ski very fast. I tpically skied on rental 150s but decided to buy this year as I been skiing a lot more the last couple of years.

I purchased K2 True Luv's, 153cm without demoing them as it was a great deal ($339 for brand new skis/bindings/poles). When the arrived I was a little nervous as they seem significantly longer than my previous 150 rentals, they come to my eyebrows (I am 5'2" and 140 lbs). When I went to get my bindings mounted the guy at the ski shop told me they are way too long for me and they shouldn't go above my chin, any thoughts? Have I made a huge mistake?

 

[RachelV]

I can ski all green/blue runs and easy blacks and do not like to ski very fast. ... they come to my eyebrows (I am 5'2" and 140 lbs). When I went to get my bindings mounted the guy at the ski shop told me they are way too long for me and they shouldn't go above my chin, any thoughts? Have I made a huge mistake?

I don't think that's too long at all. Sounds like you're a confident intermediate skier, and Tru Luv's aren't an overly stiff ski -- I think eyebrow height is fine. Guys especially tend to sell women skis that are too short. My new carving skis come just past my eyebrows, and I just got some twin tips that are as tall as I am, and I can ski them both no problem.

 

[Jilly]

NWskier - my friend owns a ski shop and I help out. (I can't say work, as I don't get paid, just really good deals) We judge length by first anywhere in the face. Then the actual length depends on the skiers ability. An expert - top of the head/face. Beginner - chin to mouth. Also the type of ski. So I think that you will be OK on the 153's as said above the Tru-Luv is softer.

 

[IntheClouds]

I am so happy to find this forum as I feel like I have been told a million different things with regard to ski length!

I have been skiing for about 5 years (mostly in the NW). I can ski all green/blue runs and easy blacks and do not like to ski very fast. I tpically skied on rental 150s but decided to buy this year as I been skiing a lot more the last couple of years.

I purchased K2 True Luv's, 153cm without demoing them as it was a great deal ($339 for brand new skis/bindings/poles). When the arrived I was a little nervous as they seem significantly longer than my previous 150 rentals, they come to my eyebrows (I am 5'2" and 140 lbs). When I went to get my bindings mounted the guy at the ski shop told me they are way too long for me and they shouldn't go above my chin, any thoughts? Have I made a huge mistake?

I know nothing.... I have that exact ski, love them, think they are too short now. They hit at my nose level. I got them last year for a song & skied them all winter, but suspect they are too short. I'll be demoing longer & a bit more advanced ski's this year. I'm 5'7 & about 135. They are a relatively soft ski, so I really think you will have lots of fun on them. They are easy to ski so my bet is that at your eyebrows is a good range with that ski. Go have fun with them!

 

[abc]

I am so happy to find this forum as I feel like I have been told a million different things with regard to ski length!

I have been skiing for about 5 years (mostly in the NW). I can ski all green/blue runs and easy blacks and do not like to ski very fast. I tpically skied on rental 150s but decided to buy this year as I been skiing a lot more the last couple of years.

I purchased K2 True Luv's, 153cm without demoing them as it was a great deal ($339 for brand new skis/bindings/poles). When the arrived I was a little nervous as they seem significantly longer than my previous 150 rentals, they come to my eyebrows (I am 5'2" and 140 lbs). When I went to get my bindings mounted the guy at the ski shop told me they are way too long for me and they shouldn't go above my chin, any thoughts? Have I made a huge mistake?

Pop over to read the other thread. K2 Luv series measure differently. Because the tail is turned up (don't touch the snow), they LOOK longer than they really are.

 

[altagirl]

Pop over to read the other thread. K2 Luv series measure differently. Because the tail is turned up (don't touch the snow), they LOOK longer than they really are.

That's K2 skis in general. And even on the models that don't have any turned up tail, they measure longer than other brands. (meaning like a 167 K2 might be about the same overall length as a 170 or 172 in other brands)

 

[abc]

I know nothing.... I have that exact ski, love them, think they are too short now. They hit at my nose level. I got them last year for a song & skied them all winter, but suspect they are too short. I'll be demoing longer & a bit more advanced ski's this year. I'm 5'7 & about 135. They are a relatively soft ski, so I really think you will have lots of fun on them. They are easy to ski so my bet is that at your eyebrows is a good range with that ski. Go have fun with them!

Yep, I suspect your suspicion is right!

I'm quite a bit shorter and lighter than you. And I found it was just right for me. So, if it's long enough for me, it's quite likely too short for you.

If you had posted this earlier. I would have gladly taken it off your hands!

I just got a pair of brand new one devlivered a few weeks ago!

 

[volklgirl]

It sounds like K2 is one of the manufacturers that measures their skis based on running or contact length or effective edge length. That means they don't include the turned-up portions of the tip and tail in their length calculations.

 

[Born2ski]

I just had the same experience! Took my new 167 Burning Luv's into get the binding adjusted & the guys at the shop just about took them from me. Said they werew too long & offered to sell me a different pair for another $700! They were pushing something like a 150?
I was on a 190 so these 167 seem short...

 

[Squaw]

The guys in the shop have been smoking something....

Many sell us "short." Agree with all said about the twin tip measurement and all. I'm about the same size, and ski a 160 in the green Phat Luv from several seasons ago.

You will have a blast with them!
Jen

 

[NWskier]

I got out for the first time yesterday on my "too long" skis and they were fantastic! I didn't feel like they are too long at all. The only way you can truly know how they feel is to ski them.

 

[Squaw]

All right!!!!

 

[Severine]

The only way you can truly know how they feel is to ski them.

Definitely. That's why so many on here recommended demoing before buying. But I do agree that many are trying to sell skis that are too short.

 

[Pequenita]

I got out for the first time yesterday on my "too long" skis and they were fantastic! I didn't feel like they are too long at all. The only way you can truly know how they feel is to ski them.

I think I must've missed this thread when you first posted it, but unless the binding guy was just looking for an excuse to strike up a conversation with you, his comment is pretty idiotic. Actually, it's an idiotic pickup line, too.

That's a great deal you got on the ski package, and I'm psyched you had fun on them yesterday!

 

[NWskier]

Hah, well the guy who told me that was about 35 years older than I am so hopefully it wasn't a pick up line....

Can't wait to get back out there!

 

[jaydog]

Which shop was it, so I know not to go there? No shop here in the Seattle area has ever downplayed me. In fact, I was once put in MORE advanced boots than I had been intending to get and longer demos than I had thought I could handle.

One thing those shop guys didn't take into account is that your weight matters just as much as your height when it comes to choosing skis. That is something a lot of people don't realize. He also didn't seem to think that you were capable of improving your skiing ability, i.e. growing into a pair of skis. That, I find particularly insulting. And if you're skiing more frequently, you WILL improve!

 

[SnowHot]

Hah, well the guy who told me that was about 35 years older than I am so hopefully it wasn't a pick up line....

Can't wait to get back out there!

Who you gonna listen to next time:
That little voice in your head that says Whoooo Hooooo, or some shop guy who doesn't know what a SkiDiva you are?