Oh boy...for sure Howe....the 176 length....this ski turns quicker than it's length suggests.
You will love the 84...I'm 5'81/2, 155lbs and ski it in a 176 length....great ride, extremely versatile.
Mine is mounted flat with the Mojo15 binding because it's my boot high and above ski.
The railflex may give you a bit quicker edge to edge. Have to tell you I had my binding mounted 2 cm forward. If you go with the railflex, I'm guessing you'll have better performance in the forward mounting position.
Let's us know how things work out,
Best,
Gary
OK...another vote for the 176! Just for good humor, I asked the guy at O2gear again which length to get, and he still maintained that for 70/30 use, to get the 167! I told him that there were some folks on the ski forums telling me that 176 was the way to go, and he warned me that he reads these forums and that I should be careful b/c most of the poeple really didn't know what they're talking about! I told him that the guys I had been corresponding with seemed to be particularly knowledgeable though, and that they were in fact moderators...Upon further reflection, he said , yeah, I could really go either way, but 167 would be better for all-mountain 70/30, but I should go 176 if I were going to be going 50/50, 30/70 or just as a soft snow specialist. He was worried mainly about my light weight, not my height or ability so much.
Sierrajim also still maintains 167 would be the best fit, citing that he'd only put me on the 176 if I were 180 lbs.+ or level 8 +...he felt that at my weight, I'd get pushed around too much by the 176, at my ability...
Too bad there isn't a 170 to split the difference! Out of curiosity, where do you guys ski? I'm having a tough time going against what Sierrajim is telling me, mainly b/c not only is he familiar with this ski, which you guys obviously are too, but he is particularly familiar with Mammoth...
My only point of reference in terms of shaped skis and length is the Volkl AC2, which I rented for a week up at Mammoth recently in a 170cm. That seemed about right to me in that ski, so as a final point of reference, are you guys still gonna say , no question the 176, or is more of a toss-up?