How to Select the Right Ski Model

Choosing the right model ski takes a bit of work, but there is a ski for every type of skier, and the effort you put in will pay dividends in enhancing your enjoyment of the sport. The key to finding the right ski is to do a little homework before your enter your favorite ski shop.

Since skis come in a variety of shapes and styles, it is important to ask yourself a few simple questions, so you can be an educated consumer. First, determine what is your favorite type of terrain to ski? Is it Bumps, Steeps, Gentle cruisers, Off-piste or Gates. Your answer to this question will determine the proper ski shape and the model type of ski you choose. Typically you will find the following types of skis:

• Race skis typically are the stiffest skis on the market, designed to hold on steep hard-packed race courses. The design of the ski enables the transfer of power needed to execute precise turns through gates. Race skis come in a variety of shapes and sidecuts and for serious racers, you will want to have discipline specific (slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom or downhill) skis. Today, many manufacturers have made race ready skis for both slalom and giant slalom available to the general public. It is important to remember that race skis are designed for performance in the gates, not for free skiing.
• All-Mountain Expert skis are made using the same technology as race skis, but with slight modifications like different sidewall materials, to increase the size of the sweet spot for free skiing. The emphasis is on carving and performance on harder snow, or groomed snow providing extreme edge grip and stability at high speeds. All-Mountain skis tend to be versatile enough for all types of skiing, from bumps to high speed cruisers to recreational racing.
• Mogul skis are designed for tight short radius turns with the flexibility to bounce off bumps. Some mogul skis are also suitable for the parks and pipes.
• Freeride skis are wider overall, and are designed for versatility in a bigger variety of snow conditions from powder to chopped-up snow and excel in the off-piste environment. Thanks to their generous width, these skis will float on top of the snow. When skiing with “fat boys” it is important to close your stance and use both feet. These skis are not quick carvers, so look ahead and leave a margin for error.
• All-Mountain Carvers or Performance skis are designed to meet the needs of intermediate skiers and for those who love cruising gentle, groomed terrain. These models also come in a variety of styles.

Do you ski primarily in powder? If deep powder is your primary snow surface, you might want to invest in a "powder" ski. Powder skis, aka Freeride skis, are wide at the tip and the tail like a shaped ski, but have a much wider middle to give the skier more surface to ride the powder.

What is your ability level? Be honest with yourself. If you underestimate your ability you might purchase a ski that does not meet your needs. Overestimating your ability might put you on too much of a ski. Choosing the proper ski for your ability level will provide the most enjoyment.

What is your favorite type of terrain? Whether it is black diamond trails, groomed terrain, ungroomed, off-piste, blue square trails, green circle trails or parks and pipes, it is important to remember, terrain ratings are based on the difficulty of terrain at a specific resort and will vary from resort to resort (blue square terrain may be very easy to ski at one resort, but be much more challenging at another resort).

What are your expectations from a ski? Do you want to improve your ability, learn to ski bumps or make the move from the blue square trails to black diamond trails. Keep this in mind when choosing a ski.

How do I know what size to buy? There was a time, in the not so distant past, when bigger was better, since the more ski surface you had, the more stable the ski. The shaped ski revolution changed all that. Stability, through ski design, is built directly into the ski. The result is much shorter lengths for skis. So when you take out a pair of the new "shorties", remember, don't look down.

Proper ski length is now determined by a combination of weight (honesty is key in this department) and ability level. Height is no longer a factor. Psychologically, this is the area where skiers have the toughest time in making the transition to a shaped ski. To complicate the situation even more, sizes are not standardized amongst the manufacturers, so ask to view a suggested size chart while at your favorite ski shop.

Try before you buy! Many ski resorts host a free demo day. These Demo Days provide a wonderful opportunity for you to test several pairs of skis. If you are unable to attend one of these events, most ski shops do have a skis available for you to try. There is usually a fee, but the fee is typically applied to the purchase price should you find something you like.