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The skis of choice for the past season have been a pair of 182-centimeter shape skis. I used to ski on 200's, 203's and even 207's, and I thought if you're thinking about the purchase of a new pair of skis, and you're thinking about shape skis, you might be interested in my feelings now about what the upside and what the downside of these great little skis are. These are definitely my skis of choice. Now, if you're into high-speed cruising, using skidding turns, the shorter length is not really an advantage. But if you want stability, you can still get it on the little skis, you just have to hook the edges in, and then the 182's feel like a much longer ski.
Another situation in which they don't really shine is just travelling along straight on very flat skis, because the shaped skis, with an extra side cut and the short length, will tend to wobble as you go fast. But you soon develop the habit, I think, as I've done, of just sort of rolling gently from edge to edge, and then you get all the speed and you get stability as well. In a situation I was in recently, I found myself thinking that a longer ski would give me a more stable platform. But then again, in all but the gnarliest and cruddiest of snow, I think I'd prefer the shorter length for the extra maneuverability, and the ease of turnings.
So, what are the downsides of shape skis, that I've found? A little wobbly, but that's okay because I can put the edges in. High speed cruising turns where you're skidding? Okay, I'll either slow down a little bit, or I'll just hook the edges in again and do the full-on carve, and get that stability back. And for real deep, gnarly or cruddy snow... well, you know that's always a challenge for me. And it's a trade-off, I guess. If I have to give up a little bit of stability with the shorter skis, I'll take the extra maneuverability and the ease of turning. And for teaching, for skiing at a moderate speed, and everything else that I do, I love my 182's. I hope that's a help to you.
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