Choosing the right skis for you depends on a number of factors, such as your skiing ability, skiing style, weight, and regional location. Here's more about buying, choosing, and maintaining skis. Below is information on how to select the best skis for you, including how to select skis that match your ability level, your goals, and your terrain preference.

In the last 15 years skiing equipment has gone through phenomenal technological advancements including the engineering marvel of the shaped ski; the focus of ski design has become more complex. So, is finding the right ski easy? Not as easy as it was when we walked up to a ski sales clerk and said we wanted a Giant Slalom, Slalom, or Downhill ski then raised our arm so he could find the right length.

Different Types of Skis

Like all skis, the original alpine "downhill" skis were little more than glorified planks of wood. Eventually metal edges were added to better grip the snow and ice of a ski trail and for durability. Downhill ski construction has evolved into much more sophisticated technologies. The use of composite materials, such as fiberglass, carbon, and Kevlar made skis stronger, lighter, and more durable. In the early 1990s, spearheaded by ELAN, manufacturers began producing parabolic "shaped" skis (when viewed from above or below, the center or "waist" is significantly narrower than the tip and tail). All modern skis are made with some degree of side cut.

The more dramatic the difference between the width of the waist compared to the tip and tail, coupled with the length stiffness and camber of the ski, the shorter the "natural" turning radius. Skis used in downhill race events are long with a subtle side cut as they are built for speed and wide turns. Slalom skis—as well as many recreational skis—are shorter with a greater side cut to facilitate tighter, easier turns. Many ski manufacturers label skis with their design turn radius on the top. For a racing slalom ski, they can be as low as 9 meters and for Giant Slalom skis they are normally at 21 meters. However, for off-piste skis there is a trend toward wider skis to better float on top of powder snow. This means skiers have a huge range to choose from depending on individual needs and application.

Skis for all mountain, backcountry, and free riding are designed for skiing on ungroomed or powder snow conditions. These skis are characteristically quite wide (80mm+ in waist width). The widest backcountry skis are often called 'Big Mountain' skis.

Twin-Tip Skis are skis with turned-up ends at both the front and rear. Originally these skis where designed specifically for skiing in terrain parks, spinning off jumps, riding rails and half pipes. Now these are becoming mainstream. Most manufacturers offer a selection of twin tip skis that can be used all over the mountain. Recently these skis have seen the introduction of reverse camber (rocker or rise) where the front and rear 40% of the skis are actually shaped up (towards the sky opposed to the snow in regular skis). This reverse camber/rocker allows the ski to float on top of soft snow making it easier to turn. See the ski and board staff for the latest models that have "Rocker".

How Skis Work

The ski is turned by applying pressure, rotation (pivot) and edge angle (angulation). When the ski is angulated the edge cuts into the snow, the ski will bend and follow the arc, hence turn the skier; a practice known as carving a turn. While old fashioned "straight skis" which had little side cut could carve turns, great leg strength and movement was required to generate the enormous pressure necessary to flex them into a curved shape for carving. Now, when a modern, hourglass-shaped ski is tilted on to its edge, a gap is created between the ground and the middle of the ski (under the binding) as only the sides near the tip and the tail touch the snow. Then, as the skier gently applies pressure, the ski will flex and turn.

Advice on Skis - Ski Length

• You need to consider the Skiing Discipline that you want to do, your level of Skiing skill, and also your weight. These factors are definitely great indicators in finding the Correct Ski Length for you.
  
• Skis are measured in centimeters (cm). Conventional Skis usually come in 7 or 8 cm increments - from approximately 140 to 185 cm, and most Shaped Skis are 160 cm or 170 cm long. Most Carving Skis are about 20 cm shorter than the traditional ones. As one of the general guidelines, most Carving Skis should reach between your nose and your forehead.
  
• Your weight can be a useful guide in choosing the right Ski Length. The more you weigh the greater the pressures exerted on the ski, thus a longer ski is required. It pays to listen to the salesperson or technician. In general, they know better what is right for you. But the right Ski Length can be determined based on the "feel" of the Skis. It falls on the pair of Skis that feels not too long and not too short. Do not go for the extremes. Select the pair that feels right for you.
  
• If you want Skis that will enable you to steer more easily and carve more effectively at slow speed, choose shorter Skis. Likewise, they are lightweight and very stable.
  
• If you want to ski through different Snow Conditions such as Crud Snow Condition and tracked Powder Snow Condition, choose wider and longer Skis to keep the ski floating on the surface of the snow.

Ski and Board © Copyright 2008 Melbourne Website Design Services by TOSD