HOW TO BUY SKIS

Before you buy skis, make sure you have some ideas on the different aspects of skis. It is advisable if you already know something about the different Parts and Features of skis, the materials they are made of, and the various Ski Types. Doing so will roughly give you a general picture of what will suit your Skiing needs.

Are you going to use it for a single discipline or should you be able to do more than one with a single pair? Groomers or backcountry?  Park, Freestyle, All-Mountain? Make sure to know what you want to do and how specialized your gear has to be.

Your skill level is the second most important factor. You will want to buy skis that are designed for a skill level slightly higher than the one you currently posses. If you buy for your current level then it will hamper your learning curve. If you are a novice and you buy skis designed for skiers with a much higher skill level, then you will be trying to figure out your skis most of the time instead of actually learning.

The surface is another factor that you need to pay attention to. Although all skis will basically work on all surfaces, many skis are designed to either perform perfectly under a specific surface or to offer general good performance on a multitude of surfaces. Are you planning to stay on well-groomed pistes in resort or are you going off piste? If you are planning to go backcountry skiing, then you will want to go for specific backcountry skis.

Women have different needs. Their center of mass is lower than with men. This causes women to have the tendency to lean back more. Women also weigh less than men, which means that their skis need to be more flexible to gain the same flex in turns as men do. If you are a woman, it is wise to buy skis specifically designed for women. They are lighter in weight, more flexible and the ski Bindings are set more to the front to accommodate the lower center of mass.

Determine the appropriate ski Length for you. There are a couple of basic guidelines at the end of this article.

Modern Skis have taken much of the knowledge and expertise of snowboarding camber and sidecut radius to come with more effective Ski shapes. It really depends on your Skiing purpose to find the right shape for you. In general, a ski with more sidecut will make it easier to make (carving) turns. Shaped skis should also be shorter than regular skis to further aid you in turning.

PARTS AND FEATURES

Of all the equipment that you need in skiing, skis are the most evident. There are numerous types of skis available in the market, but you need to consider a lot of things before buying the right skis for you. One of these factors to pay attention to is the ski and its parts.

 

 

Base:
This is the bottom side of the ski, the part of the ski that touches the snow ski surface. Traditionally, skis were made of wood. Although wood is still used sometimes, most skis nowadays are made from aluminum or fiberglass.

Camber:
This is the amount of space beneath the center of a ski when it lays on a flat surface and its weight rests on the Tip and Tail. The responsiveness and liveliness of a skier is related to the Camber.

Contact Points:
These are the points at which the skis are put into contact with the snow with out the pressure of the rider being displaced on the ski. The Contact Points can be found by placing the ski on a smooth, flat surface then slide a piece of paper under the center of the skis, slide it toward the Nose or Tail until it stops.

Edge:
This refers to the metal edge on the sides of the skis. Sharp edges will ensure you maintain grip in turns and that the skis do not slip.

Effective Edge:
This is the length of metal edge on the skis which touches the snow. It is the effective part which is used to make a turn. The Effective Edge is in contact with the snow when the ski is in a carved turn. A longer Effective Edge makes for a more stable, controlled ride. On the other hand, a shorter Effective Edge makes a looser, easier turning ski.

Tip/Nose:
This refers to the front end of the ski. The Tip is always pointed upwards to make sure that the front of your skis does not grip the snow and dig itself in.

Shovel:
This is the widest part of the ski found at the front.

Overall Length:
This is measured from the Tip of the ski to the Tail. This is usually referred measured in centimeters (cm).

Sidecut Radius:
This is the measurement of how deep or shallow the ski's cut is from the nose of the ski to the waist (or middle of the ski). The smaller the Sidecut Radius, the tighter you will be able to turn. A ski with a larger Sidecut will make big arching turns. It is the radius of a circle that makes the hourglass shape of the skis and thus how it is defined and measured. It works in conjunction with the running length of the skis.

Tail:
This refers to the rear end of the ski opposite the nose or tip.

Top/Deck:
The top of the ski is where the Bindings are mounted and where the skier stands. Most skis have mounting holes in the Deck where the bindings can be screwed into. The holes enable you to connect your bindings to your board in different angles and stances.

Waist:
This is the narrowest point of the ski. This is usually the middle of the Sidecut.

SKI STIFFNESS

One of the essentials of skis that you must take into consideration is the ski stiffness. It is the result of the way skis are constructed. The structure and the materials used in the inner core and outer shell of the skis are indicators on whether your skis are soft-flexing or stiff.

There are two types of stiffness - Longitudinal Stiffness and Torsional Stiffness.

 

• Stiff longitudinally or Soft-flexing: The downward pressure of the skier determines if the skis are stiff longitudinally or soft-flexing. Longitudinally stiff skis will be able to provide more support to the weight of the skier. On the other hand, a pair of skis that is longitudinally soft is more flexible and the waist of ski may touch the snow ski surface between two moguls.
• Torsional Stiffness: If Longitudinal Stiffness refers to the rigidity of your skis, Torsional Stiffness determines how twist-resistant your skis are. You can test the resistance to twisting of your ski. Firmly
• hold the tail between your feet and grasp the tip with both hands. If the ski is torsionally rigid, it will not twist. On the other hand, the ski will slightly twist if it is torsionally softer.

Before the advent of shaped skis, stiff skis offered good stability. However, they were not easy to use compared to soft skis which were user-friendly, but you couldn't count on the stability at speed. Nowadays, skis can be made with the advantages of both longitudinally soft skis and torsionally rigid skis. Skis can be more forgiving and allows you to bend easily and at the same time, keeps good stability even if you are skiing on harder snow conditions at higher speed.

As a rule of thumb, the longer the skis are, the stiffer they will feel to the skier. Since ski length affects ski stiffness, manufacturers made short skis that can likewise offer stiffness. These skis offer more rigidity than those skis of the same length. Skis which are both short and rigid involve thicker construction in the middle part of the Skis. This type of Ski is made for firm and smooth snow.

SKI LENGTH

Ski length will vary as you progress - from short (from floor to your nose) to longer (from floor to the top of your head) skis when you feel a bit more confident. Of course, different factors also need to be considered when finding the correct ski length.

You need to consider the style and terrain 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.

Most skis are measured in centimeters (cm). Conventional skis usually have five cm increments - from approximately 175 to 210 cm, and most Shaped Skis are 160 cm, 180 cm, or 190 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. Ski manufacturers are creating different skis suited for people in varying weights. It definitely pays to rent different lengths (and types!) of skis to determine what feels “right."

If you want skis that will enable you to steer more easily and carve more effectively at slow speed on groomed trails, choose shorter skis. Likewise, they are lightweight and very stable and perfect for moguls.

If you want to ski through different snow conditions such as crud snow and tracked powder, choose longer skis to keep you centered. Longer skis are also effective in smoothing out bumps/moguls, as well as for aggressive skiers who ski for speed in mountain conditions.