Ski length vs price

Go buy the 191 at Mountain Gear and we can negotiate on a trade!

Yea right... :
Swap new skis for second hand skis. You're gonna have to take a haircut on the price.... It's like cars, they lose 30% value in the first turn!

Hard to con a construction estimator.
I could help you on the purchase price?

I don't agree, and it may be splitting hairs. The reason is that the Spire has a much softer ski shovel than most skis do, so in a way it kind of eliminates the driving shovel force of a conventional cambered ski that has a stiffer shovel.
Do you follow? I'm not sure I do.
Like my Kailas ski has a soft shovel, in effect gives it the rocker feel, but you have a complete edge on the snow. Unusually softer skis have more difficulty holding an edge in hardpack or ice, but the Kailas ski holds a great edge on the hard stuff.
I contend that a (SERFCFT) short early rise full camber flat tail is the way to go or the softer shovel like the Kailas.
My thoughts are you get the use of the rocker, why carry any extra weight if it is not going to get used?
Bottom line I think that the Spire will work out just fine.

sure, a soft ski flexes easier so it's not as challenging as a stiff ski the same size, but that doesn't negate my point to the OP.

He originally thought to chose a rockered 174 ski which would ski even shorter than the average cambered 174 ski, then he caught enough negitive feedback to realize the general consensus was that a rockered 174 is too short for him. He then chose a ski that was 184cm and traditionally cambered and 2 lengths longer than his first choice.

My point is he left out the sensible choices in between.

You saying that the ultra soft tip on the karhu makes it ski shorter than a stiff ski in the same size may be true, but that's way beyond hairsplitting for a guy who was ready to buy a 174 rockered ski and is now considering a 184 traditional camber (albeit soft tip)

The only soft ski I ever had was a G3 barron, and it kind of worked, but it overflexed and washed out constantly. A very annoying ski. My friend tried it, and insisted he wanted it. I sold it to him reluctantly and after he skied my Reverends two weeks later for 2 runs, he realized the barrons sucked so he sold them and he bought Reverends too. Eventually I met the guy he sold them too skiing them. He hated them too and wanted to sell them but was skiing them because it was the only skis he had.

Soft skis in general are more forgiving but lower performance. If I was deciding for the OP, I would have him get the average comfort length for his size person in a medium to stiff flex so as he improves the ski still can give him greater performance in return for season of two.

For the benefit of the OP, you have to admit his first choice was not a good one and jumping 2 sizes for his next choice is somewhat of an overreaction.

*btw, I would take my 193 praxis over your 191 mantras every day 

I can see where you are going on that tele.skier and it makes sense that going plus two is a little bit to much. I overlooked that issue for him, I was just looking at the the overall picture for those in the market and the relationship that softer skis have.
Glad I never bought those Barons. There is a line between soft and skitterish ski and soft shovel damp enough to hold an edge. Even for the ski whisperer sometimes it's tough to define off a sales floor.

Guys, I appreciate all the input.  Some of you gave me some great food for thought and I consider it useful.

A couple of folks seem to be overly invested in this whole discussion, and I'm tempted to get defensive and start responding in kind, but I don't think that serves anyone and it turns into a waste of time.

At this point I'm going to gracefully bow out and make my decision without causing anyone any undue concern!

Again, thanks to all who took the time to offer their advice. Here's to enjoying our fantastic Washington backcountry.

A couple of folks seem to be overly invested in this whole discussion, and I'm tempted to get defensive and start responding in kind, but I don't think that serves anyone and it turns into a waste of time.

At this point I'm going to gracefully bow out and make my decision without causing anyone any undue concern!

Again, thanks to all who took the time to offer their advice. Here's to enjoying our fantastic Washington backcountry.

Don't take any of it personally, herofish. Snow hasn't started to fall, so anything is fair game for debate. Hope you stick around. Enjoy your new skis, whatever they end up being.