I agree with Rick...at your height and weight (coupled with ski ability), I would go with the 178cm. The 170cm may be good in tight trees, but you are sacrificing other qualities of the ski at such a short length (e.g., stability at speed). Also, if you are trying to become an expert skier that will ski more of the mountain, the 178cm is a better length. Finally, 8cm is roughly 3 inches...hardly an amount that would make sking trees much more difficult.

If you're going to be skiing all over the mountain I would go with the 180. The will be more manageable in tight spaces and will still provide ample flotation in deep snow. If you plan on being in mostly wide open areas I would go with the 185. They will be a little more stable and high speeds and give a little bit more flotation but in exchange will be less nimble.

you're going to get more of a livelier feel with these given the wood core and metal laminate versus the foam core of the mythic riders so it will be super solid at speed and carve big arcs as well

Depending on height and weight you might want to go with the freeski 14 or 15. Both have the metal heel but the 15 has the all metal world cup pivoting toe. Personally I would go with the 15 for a more solid toe piece and slightly smoother release but i realize budget can be a factor so in that case the 14 would be the better choice. hope this helps

any of the rossignol axial series will be sweet (xl). these skis will bust through mank and you can still throttle them well, i made the transition from gs skis (radicals) to these with no problem. depending on your size (height weight) i might go a little bigger depending on how badly you wanna toss these suckers.

In my opinion it they will be less clumsy since they are shorter. The only thing that the width really changes is how long it takes to change from one edge to another...but its not a huge difference. But they will ski way differently from your race skis. As for great in all conditions....(is there such a ski, cause i want it then). In most conditions this ski should do well. But it should do great on groomers and moguls should be easier cause the ski is shorter. And it should do pretty well in powder. It won't have the float of a 120mm under foot but it will still be a lot better than narrow race skis in powder.

In my opinion it they will be less clumsy since they are shorter. The only thing that the width really changes is how long it takes to change from one edge to another...but its not a huge difference. But they will ski way differently from your race skis. As for great in all conditions....(is there such a ski, cause i want it then). In most conditions this ski should do well. But it should do great on groomers and moguls should be easier cause the ski is shorter. And it should do pretty well in powder. It won't have the float of a 120mm under foot but it will still be a lot better than narrow race skis in powder.