Beginner’s Guide To Skiing : How To Pick Skis
We look at what skis to buy in this installment of our learn to ski guide.
In order to make the most out of your skiing time, it is important to choose the correct pair of skis, as they are the most important piece of equipment needed for skiing. There are many variables (type, length, shape, stiffness, etc.) with skis though and the right pair for you is dependent on your skiing ability and style.
Skis are designed to support certain types of skiing, so it’s important to know what type you plan to do. You will find that most skis have been designed for powder or packed runs, because those are the most popular types of skiing. Those are the skis you should look to get if you’re a beginner. Once you reach a level of experience that allows you to cover more difficult terrain such as off-piste or deep powder, you will then need to upgrade your skis to those built to handle the trickier terrain. When learning to ski, modified skis can actually hinder your progress, so the beginner should not start out with them.
Length, shape and stiffness are arguably the most important considerations. Length controls how you turn – the shorter the ski, the tighter and easier the turn. Most beginners start with short skis for this reason. Once you’ve mastered the basics of skiing and are confident of your ability, then you can consider longer skis, which will allow you greater speed in many different snow conditions, but which also will be less forgiving of errors.
As for shape, skis which are narrow in the boot area are capable of making sharp, fast turns, whereas skis which are wider in this area offer more stability and will make broader turns. In relation to stiffness, this is determined by the materials and shape of a ski. Shorter skis are not as stiff as longer ones, making them less stable at high speeds. The less stiff shorter skis offer greater maneuverability which is seen a benefit to beginners.
As a final point, it’s recommended that you go skiing at least a couple of times before buying any skis so that you’re sure that you enjoy it and will continue to go in the future. Although you may already be certain that you will be an avid skier, renting skis a couple more times makes sense to figure out the specifics of type, length, shape and stiffness that will work best for you.
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