Modern skis come in many different shapes and sizes … and so choosing the right pair of skis for your SnowSkool course can be a daunting prospect. This equipment guide – written and approved by our ski school directors – provides you with all the information you need to make an informed choice – as well as allowing you to show the sales staff that you know what you’re talking about!. First up, we’ll give you a brief overview of the different categories of skis on the market; then we’ll tell you about the key ski measurements; next we’ll tell you the essentials for choosing the right skis for you; finally, our pros will make some brand / model recommendations for your SnowSkool course.
TYPES OF SKIS
Skis are generally classified into 5 categories – Racing, Carving, Freestyle (or Twin-Tip), Big Mountain/Powder and All Mountain. Here’s a bit more information on each of these categories:
Racing skis are generally skinny and stiff – and are designed for speed (just as the name suggests). They will perform well in hard-packed or icy snow condition but are not well suited for off-piste, deeper snow and moguls.You’ll probably see a Giant Slalom (GS) or Slalom (SL) model of this type of ski on the ski wall in the shop – Downhill and Super Giant Slalom models are usually not available to the general public.
Carving skis are similar to racing skis. However, they are normally much shorter and have a more pronounced “side-cut” – imagine drawing a straight line down the side of the ski and the side-cut is how far in it goes at the waist (where the binding is mounted). So the greater the side-cut, the quicker and sharper the turns the ski can make and the smaller the turn radius. Carving skis are good fun in groomed snow conditions but can be demanding on the pilot – after a day on these you’re legs are going to be very tired (or are made of steel!)
Freestyle (or Twin-Tip) skis are usually soft and easy flexing; they have less side-cut than carving skis (making them harder to turn); and have turned up tips and tails. As their name suggests, these skis are ideal for the terrain park … with a small side-cut, they are more predictable when landing jumps and with turned-up tips and tails, it’s easier to land switch when desired (or required)! Performance-wise, these skis do not stack up particularly well outside the park.
Big Mountain/Powder skis are normally much wider and longer than your average ski. As the name suggests, they are made for off-piste and powder conditions – the width and length helps the ski to “float” in deep snow conditions (making them easier to manage). However, these skis are not ideal for regular ski resort situations – because of the width, they can be very difficult to turn.
All-Mountain skisare the most versatile of the bunch – a little bit of a mixed breed. They will have a comfortable amount of side cut making them easy to turn – but not so much so that they are “twitchy” and unpredictable. They often have a slightly turned up tail so that they can be skied switch as well as land a jump switch – but are usually stiffer than a freestyle ski so they will also perform out of the park. They also provide good flotation and ease of control in deeper snow conditions – but not to the extent that it impacts on performance in regular ski resort situations.
You’ll likely know that each model of ski comes in a variety of lengths (quoted in centimetres) and you choose your ski length depending on your height, weight and ability – more below.
However, you should also be aware of the width of the ski at three key points – the tip of the skis (the front), the waist of the skis (the middle) and the tail of the skis (the back). These widths are quoted in millimetres and will be shown in gear guides as 116-68-100. This means the tip is 116mm wide, the waist 68mm wide and the tail 100mm wide
Without getting too scientific, a thinner ski (65-75mm in the waist) is easier to turn and better suited for everyday piste skiing, whilst fatter skis (80-130mm in the waist) are more suited to off-piste where they provide more flotation in the powder.
You now understand how skis are categorised and the different measurements associated with skis … and so now it’s time to choose the right skis for your SnowSkool course.
Buy All Mountain skis
Get the correct length of skis:
Take your height in centimetres (eg 185cm)
Now subtract 10 cm (eg 175cm)
Choose the ski closest to that length (eg 177cm)
Look for a ski that’s in the 124-78-110 range:
From 75mm – 84mm in the waist (the middle number) is ideal for most snow conditions
NZ: Anywhere from 69mm – 77mm in the waist
NZ: Turn radius of around 15m
BUY AN ALL-MOUNTAIN SKI...EVEN IF IT IS THE UGLIEST THING YOU HAVE SEEN!
BOOTS
Your boots are your connection between you and your skis. Too tight and your feet will be sore, too loose and you won’t be able to control your equipment. For that reason, we recommend that you get your boots fitted by a professional boot fitter … they will make sure that they are the right size and shape for your feet. This is important, as you will be spending a lot of time in your boots!
A custom made foot bed is a critical element in a properly fitted boot. A foot bed will enhance fit and performance and ensure that your feet remain in the best biomechanical position while riding. This adds comfort and improves the circulation of blood in your feet, meaning – your toes will stay warmer!
