Help picking skiis

[SEJ]

I'm having Sean build Gretchen a set of skis for XMAS. Problem is, I don't know squat about them. I would label her as a solid, but not aggressive intermediate.

She could get down most stuff if she had to, but prefers to cruise groomers. No bumps or pow. She's about 5'-8" and 140#. She is currently on a pair of '04 165 Dynastar 4800s.

Anybody have any input I could pass along to Sean?

Thanks, Scott

[BobD]

Maybe a ski version of the metal AX. Definitely decambered tip and tail, and progressive sidecut, and some metal. Maybe about mid 70s waist for when the pow is unavoidable. mid 160s for length.

Will be really interesting to see what you end up with.

[Sinecure]

Wow, that's a pretty nice Xmas present. Sean's skis aren't cheap. He's custom building them for you? How many of the details can you control?

Here's what I'd suggest:

170ish cm

118/85/112

Tip rocker/early rise to about 25-30cm

Bullet nose like on a PM Gear Lhasa Pow www.fkna.com

No tail rocker

5mm Camber underfoot

Flat tail (no twin tip - maybe 15-20mm tail rise max)

That's narrow enough to carve well, but wide enough to float in the soft sierra snow. The early rise tip will let it initiate turns like a shorter ski, but then hook up and hold well in the turns. It doesn't need to be too stiff, but not a noodle either.