what SS iSpeed length for me?

Post your questions/comments about Gear here

what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:18 am

I'm interested in buying Head SS iSpeed skis. Why? I finally realized what a carving ski can do. I bought a used pair of Atomic FIS Slalom Redsters at 155. Plate under the binding. Gently used by a junior racer. I skied them all day on boilerplate and boy was that a revelation.

Those things grip the ice and make it easy. I discovered that I can handle those skis, do arc-to-arc carving, and I'm working on bending them good at the fall line to sharpen the turn and releasing fast for float. Working on it, getting some sense that this is indeed possible for me. I'm also working on getting upside down at the top of the turn by flexing fast, completing the turn by continuing to flex all the way until the turn is over, and so on. But those race skis are not appropriate as my daily drivers; I want to ski bumps in the east without changing skis, but carve hard snow otherwise, all on one ski. I'm reading here and beginning to think the SS iSpeed is it.

I weight 145lbs. I ski all day without tiring, and enjoy skiing slowly, doing drills, working on perfecting my initiations, getting all three releases working well, etc. After a day on ice with the Redsters, I now know I can enjoy speed on skied-off freeze-thaw-refreeze "snow" here in New England. My current daily skis are 84 underfoot and 170 in length (Kastle FX84s). They just don't want to do anything near what the Redsters do as far as carving goes, but they work well in the bumps. I used to love them before skiing the Redsters.

I think the Heads are in my future, given what I hear of their longitudinal flex.

What length? Suggestions?
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby jbotti » Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:22 am

How tall are you?
Balance: Essential in skiing and in life!
User avatar
jbotti
 
Posts: 2184
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:05 am

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:44 pm

Oh, right.
5"4" and shrinking.
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby jbotti » Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:39 pm

163 is probably the right size. My wife who is 5 5" and 120 lbs skis the original SS in the 160 length and they are perfect for her. 163 will not be too much ski. Could you ski the 156 length? Probably without issue as well but it will be less versatile as the longer length will aid your fore aft balance off piste.
Balance: Essential in skiing and in life!
User avatar
jbotti
 
Posts: 2184
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:05 am

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby DougD » Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:41 pm

Excellent ski for your purposes. They're my one ski quiver for Eastern conditions... near race ski edehold but also fun in the bumps.

I ski the 163cm based on Diana's recommendation but I'm taller yet lighter (5'10" x 130lbs), so it's unclear how that maps to you. I defer to jbotti or a coach, but if you're comfortable on those 84cm x 170cm Kastles, the SS i.Speed in 163 won't feel like too much ski.
DougD
 
Posts: 572
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:22 am
Location: Connecticut, USA

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Wed Dec 06, 2017 1:09 am

I have grown comfortable on the 170s. The length on the Kastles feels perfect.
The shortness of the Redsters at 155 feels right, too. Skiing is complicated, huh?
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby jbotti » Wed Dec 06, 2017 5:35 am

LiquidFeet wrote:I have grown comfortable on the 170s. The length on the Kastles feels perfect.
The shortness of the Redsters at 155 feels right, too. Skiing is complicated, huh?


Only if you make it.
Balance: Essential in skiing and in life!
User avatar
jbotti
 
Posts: 2184
Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:05 am

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:36 am

I don't take responsibility for the complication resulting from different ski lengths, different flex patterns, different binding deltas, binding placements, different sidecut patterns, different camber patterns, different waist widths. I didn't make this stuff complicated; it just is.

Answers from people who have more experience help those of us with less experience navigate this complicated stuff. I am not making it more complicated than it is, just asking questions.
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby Max_501 » Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:44 am

HH has made skiing as simple as possible.

Boots/footbeds/alignment = HSS
Skis = HSS
Technique = 100% PMTS
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:27 pm

So... what length SS iSpeed do I need? I really want to know what you experienced folks think.
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby Max_501 » Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:51 pm

LiquidFeet wrote:So... what length SS iSpeed do I need? I really want to know what you experienced folks think.


Jbotti and Doug already answered the basic question by sharing their opinions/experience on length. If you want more guidance please post video of your skiing so we have a reference point.
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:33 pm

OK, 163 is the recommended length. I somehow missed that earlier. How did I do that? No idea.

The next size up is 170, which is the length I'm used to with the FX84s. I gather that 170 would probably be too much ski for me. I trust this info.

But I am wondering what that means. What differences would a skier notice between the 163 and the 170? If nobody answers, that's ok. As I said, I am simply curious. Thanks to all for the help.
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby Max_501 » Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:10 pm

LiquidFeet wrote:The next size up is 170, which is the length I'm used to with the FX84s.


Why are you on a 170cm FX84?
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby LiquidFeet » Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:37 pm

Can't remember.
LiquidFeet
 
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:42 pm

Re: what SS iSpeed length for me?

Postby Max_501 » Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:15 am

When you have a chance double check the length of your FX84. Is it 168cm?
User avatar
Max_501
 
Posts: 4124
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:39 pm

Next

Return to Gear

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Majestic-12 [Bot] and 13 guests