The truth is, there’s no magic formula to determine the perfect ski length based on your height.
Height is the main factor when choosing ski length, but to find the right size, you also need to consider several other things — mainly your weight, skill level, snow conditions, terrain type, and personal preferences.
In general, the length of your skis should reach somewhere between your chin and your forehead.
However, more experienced skiers often choose slightly longer skis.
There are always good reasons to pick shorter or longer skis.
For example, shorter skis are always easier to control, while longer skis provide much better stability.
Carving skis with a narrow waist are usually chosen shorter, while all-mountain and freeride skis are typically longer than the skier’s height.
Reasons to choose shorter skis (closer to your chin):
- You’re a beginner or intermediate skier.
- You’re just starting with freestyle.
- You weigh less than average for your height.
- You like short, quick turns and rarely ski fast.
- You want carving skis with camber (without rocker).
- You mainly want to ride rails and boxes.
Reasons to choose longer skis (closer to your forehead):
- You ski fast and aggressively.
- You weigh more than average for your height.
- You plan to spend most of your time off-piste.
- You’ll be doing jumps most of the time.
- You prefer rocker skis.
For fun, you can also check out what ski lengths top Czech freeskiers use in this article.
