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I'm 6'0" 160lb and I recently picked up some s-bound 98s in 189 for backcountry touring with some more moderate downhills, like ski hiking or even just exploring in the woods. I went a little longer than the recommended 179 to hopefully aid in the touring sections. I'm pretty new to XC but I'm an experienced winter hiker. I was hoping to just get some more fun out of milder local terrain rather than driving to the White Mountains all the time.Woodserson wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 8:52 amIt's all over the place depending on what you are trying to do and what kind of skis you are picking. Can you give us more info?
What kind of skiing (groomed tracks, snowmobile trails, breaking trail in deep snow, golf courses, turning or traveling?)
What kind of skis
How much do you weigh and how tall you are
What's your experience
I think you did well. I'm 6'2" and have had the 189cm S98 and currently have the 179 S98. This is a compact geometry ski, what lengths work in this type of ski don't work in other types of skis, like traditional length skis like the E99, which are sized much longer.Alex Wotton wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 2:16 pm
I'm 6'0" 160lb and I recently picked up some s-bound 98s in 189 for backcountry touring with some more moderate downhills, like ski hiking or even just exploring in the woods. I went a little longer than the recommended 179 to hopefully aid in the touring sections. I'm pretty new to XC but I'm an experienced winter hiker. I was hoping to just get some more fun out of milder local terrain rather than driving to the White Mountains all the time.
I've also got some cheap skinny waxless rossis I took out in the groomers to try to find my ski legs and had an absolute blast.
It sounds like sizing really depends on the specific ski then.Woodserson wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:23 pmI think you did well. I'm 6'2" and have had the 189cm S98 and currently have the 179 S98. This is a compact geometry ski, what lengths work in this type of ski don't work in other types of skis, like traditional length skis like the E99, which are sized much longer.Alex Wotton wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 2:16 pm
I'm 6'0" 160lb and I recently picked up some s-bound 98s in 189 for backcountry touring with some more moderate downhills, like ski hiking or even just exploring in the woods. I went a little longer than the recommended 179 to hopefully aid in the touring sections. I'm pretty new to XC but I'm an experienced winter hiker. I was hoping to just get some more fun out of milder local terrain rather than driving to the White Mountains all the time.
I've also got some cheap skinny waxless rossis I took out in the groomers to try to find my ski legs and had an absolute blast.
Fischer puts us both on the 179 S98, but the target demographic is the snowshoe shuffler who needs to be kept happy. If you have any sort of skill or athleticism the 179cm is quite slow as the ski is compressed when kick & gliding and the scales drag a bit much for efficient travel. I exclusively use the 179cm ski when I know I am going up & down in conditions that merit a waxless ski. I don't mind draggy if I'm climbing a hill, I'm not going to gliding anyway. THAT BEING SAID I found the 189cm more difficult to bend and subsequently turn, but I found them to be far superior in terms of kick & glide and touring around, knowing I would have to muscle the ski a bit more in the longer length to turn it. There was some struggle with this ski on the way down, but it still "turned" and so it goes... there are trade-offs.
And as far as the cheap Rossis, the best skis are the ones on your feet at the time you are skiing! Sounds like you are getting hooked.... OOOOooOOOooooooOOOoo
Welcome to this little weird corner of skiing!