184's too long? Wrong ski?

They are fine if you are an expert skier. Judging from your review however it sounds like you have never been in a position to point your skis straight down a 45 degree face. Those skis at that length in relation to your height and weight need you to be able to point them down the fall line and rock. If you can't do that you would be much better on a 175cm maybe a 179cm but that is on the edge.

I am 5'10" about 200lbs on a light day and have been skiing 7 seasons. O and I am an old dood.  Anyways, when I started skiing, a 170 Volkl was my ski for two seasons. Moved up to a 178 season 3.  Season 4, I tried some 187 skis and loved the length, didn't like the ski (Bluehouse Districts), so I bought some 187 Thunders that could be a handfull in the steeps. At the end of season 5 I bought some 184 MR's that were much easier to ski. This season my everyday skis are between 179 and 185. My point in telling you all this is I am no expert, maybe advanced at this point, but I just like the way a slightly longer ski feels. So give them a try. If you hate them you can always put them on Gear Swap here, ebay or Craigslist.

Yep to much ski for you. The max you should ever need for 90% of the snow out there is 177cm.

If being dropped off by the Heli then maybe you'll want more.

I'm 5'11" 200lbs with ski gear, my Gotamas are 177cm. Just last year I got the volkl Kendo in it's longest lenght 177 and use that as my everyday ski in VT when the snow is good. Pretty much since 2004ish I have been on a 170 for everyday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Capacity 

Yep to much ski for you. The max you should ever need for 90% of the snow out there is 177cm.

 

If being dropped off by the Heli then maybe you'll want more.

 

I'm 5'11" 200lbs with ski gear, my Gotamas are 177cm. Just last year I got the volkl Kendo in it's longest lenght 177 and use that as my everyday ski in VT when the snow is good. Pretty much since 2004ish I have been on a 170 for everyday.

 

 

184 too much ski? Ok.

Also the Kendo comes in a 184.

Be patient, learn how to get on top of them and drive them. 184 shouldn't be too long but it is a big jump up from what you are used to. You will get used to them and it sounds like they will serve you much better for your trip out west than your previous set up. If they are rockered (early tip rise?) then they should ski a bit shorter anyway.

Can't comment about the ski or rocker, but 184 is not too long.  To put it in perspective, I'm your same height and 5-10 lbs heavier and my shortest ski is a 186 with the longest being a 194. 

Take a private or semi private lesson the first day you ski in Colorado. Then you will at least know what you are supposed to be doing and your fairly steep learning curve will be focussed and not so painful literally and figuratively. 

Ski'em, they will work just fine.

Next time, demo some skis in various lengths and widths, you may or may not find that you prefer a shorter ski.

Fuhgeddaboutit and enjoy.

Me...5'10" 165 skiing 172, 180 and 201.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecimmortal 

184 too much ski? Ok.

 

Also the Kendo comes in a 184.

Is that new for 2012 ? I believe the 2011 didn't come in that lenght. I could be worng, wounldn't be the first time.

If the OP is buying the ski for out west then yes I agree he might like a longer ski. But if he's spending most of his time in the mid-west, I'd go with the 170cm in a all-mountain ski.

Skis are fine.  Your technique might need a lot of work.  Whether or not you should just bite the bullet and take the steep learning curve or stay at your level with an easier-to-cheat on ski depends on your personality. 

I have the Enduro X-Wing in 170 and I would never go longer in that ski. Mind you, I weight 155 lbs. For an expert 184 might be ok although it would be challenging in bumps and tight trees, but since the OP indicated that he had trouble in a few inches of powder, my feeling is that the 184 Enduro will be too much ski. 

Most people here interpret "trouble in powder" as needing a longer ski, but we all know that is probably not the case. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Capacity 

Is that new for 2012 ? I believe the 2011 didn't come in that lenght. I could be worng, wounldn't be the first time.

 

If the OP is buying the ski for out west then yes I agree he might like a longer ski. But if he's spending most of his time in the mid-west, I'd go with the 170cm in a all-mountain ski.

 

 

 

I only want to say a ski at 170 in length can a bit sqirrely at speed if you progress and start skiing some steeper longer runs where you straight line it. Skied some 167's at Breck and the bottom of the bowls straight lining it were a bit sketchy.....You sound like an intermediate but get aski that will allow you to grow at least a bit...
 

I'm 5'10" and my everyday ski is 189cm. So I think you would be ok, might take a little getting used to but if you've been around skis for a while I would bet on you being able to handle them. If anything they'll just make you a better skier! Cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoFoSho 

Wow...I can't tell all of you how much I appreciate the well thought out responses and advice. I think I'm going to keep the skis for now and give them a whirl. Wish me luck! No matter what I'm sure it'll be a blast and I'll be back to comment on my experience.

Great decision.  Enjoy.

One time, years ago, I was skiing a set of 177 mantras through a bowl at Sunshine and somebody asked me how long they were.When I replied 177 he said "At least the colour matches your skirt."  He had a point.  I started going longer and ended up going faster, it just happens.  The longer skis require more balls but pay off in stabilitly, speed and a nice ride.  Step it up, those 184's should work fine with a little work.

That's nonsense.  I'm 5'9', 200lbs and I never ski on anything less then a 180.  If your a good/ great skier, you can ski on anything.  My personal opinion is that todays skis are generally too short.  Get going fast on a pair of 170cm or smaller and tell me they don't wobble and wiggle all over the place.  Stability is lost with short ski's that have a pronouced sidecut.  I guess I'm dating myself, but I learned on big ski's, biggest pair I ever had was 195's and a buddy of mine still ski's his 210 Kastle's.  We put too much emphasis on ski size.  Its not as relevant as you think, its more about skill. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipirate 

 

 

 We put too much emphasis on ski size.  Its not as relevant as you think, its more about skill. 

I could not agree more.  There are so many people claiming all you will ever need is a 170?  That must be a joke because anyone who skis at speed can tell you the faster you go on a shorter the ski….well it gets downright scary. Sure you don’t want to try to ski some 210’s in moguls if you are not an expert skier nor would you want to be steering a ski that long through some tight trees.

But a 184? Not really a long board in my mind.  If you want to rip groomers all day long on some 170’s more power to you but if you want to run with the big dogs at the top of the mountain or in any kind of off piste you would be much better off on the longer boards.

For me I spent a few days in CO on some shorter skis and they actually held me back.  I am used to longer boards at home and trying to downshift to the shorter skis for an advanced or expert skier can really limit you.

Good luck with those avengers, I skied them and pushed them hard and they were floppy and unstable at speed. I am 200 #’s and ski on some 189 Fujas ( I realize these are not GS skis and aren't exactly stiff)…………but for a carver made for groomers they seem a bit soft

don’t ever forget that twins ski shorter and even more so rockered twins….

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnpedro75 
If you want to rip groomers all day long on some 170’s more power to you but if you want to run with the big dogs at the top of the mountain or in any kind of off piste you would be much better off on the longer boards.

Well as a Big Dog, you'll already know that a) you won't see many 80-somethings at the, uh, "top of the mountain" (except maybe outside Two Elk?) and b) that OP already stated he planned to get a pair of pow skis to complement the Rossi's. Which most folks at his level find to be a nice frontside ski, and has gotten strong reviews. 

Now back to the regularly scheduled posturing...