In this article, we will give you a free advice on how to choose the best ski equipment depending on your skill level, body height and style. There are a few important factors you have to pay attention on when going to select ski equipment for yourself such as Ski length, Ability level and Ski style including ski width, turning radius and rocker type as well as your favorite terrain.
There is not a unique rule for determining the perfect ski size for every skier. Many ski instructors and experienced skiers will tell you that your body height and weight provide an excellent starting point when selecting the right ski size for you. The truth is that there are many other factors to consider as snow type, ski category, personal preference, terrain and many more. Generally, if you are a beginner it is good to pick a ski length that is approximately between your chin and the top of your head. For advanced skiers the ski length may be slightly longer that head height.
However, how to decide longer or shorter ski to get within the suggested ski size range. You have to consider that shorter ski will be not be as stable as longer ski but will be easier to turn. There are few other reasons to size your skis shorter such as if you are a beginner or intermediate skier as well as if you weigh less than average compared with people with same height as you. Choose shorter ski size depending on your skiing style when you like to make short quick turns.
If you like skiing faster and aggressively then you have to size your skis longer, closer to the top of your head. Such a choice you have to make if your weight is more than average or you want a ski that has a lot of rocker.
Another important thing you have to consider while choosing ski equipment is your ability level. We can define three groups of skiers according to their ability level in Beginners, Advanced and Expert.
If you are new to skiing or you like to improve your skiing technique on linking smoother turns you fall into the Beginners category. If so, you have to look for ski with softer flex and capped constructions as well as ski with narrowed widths with softer wood cores.
Ski with stronger wood core and sandwich sidewall construction are suitable for Intermediate and advanced skiers as these types of ski may have full camber or rocker.
The more aggressive and skilled skiers fall into Expert group where they have to choose variety of ski produced with layers of strong material like Titanal, carbon or bamboo to deliver better performance at speed.
An important factor when selecting the best ski type for you is the ski waist width, which is the measurement at ski’s width at narrowest point at the middle of the ski. Ski with narrower waist widths are quicker during turns while ski with wider waist widths performs better in powder and choppy snow. Selecting the best ski for you will have to look for a three number measurement, which typically looks like 120/80/110 (A/B/C). “A” refers to ski’s tip with, “B” is for waist width and “C” refers to the tail width.
Another number you might find on ski you are selecting is the turn radius. This measurement depends of ski tip, waist and tail width and is expressed in meters. A ski with narrowest waist width will have shorter turn radius and will make quicker turns than ski with widest waist width but will be not so stable in high speeds.
According to the ski profile shape, there are few types of ski. Camber ski profile is a slight curve in the middle of ski and contact points close to the ends. These ski types give more precise turn initiation while skier’s weight puts a concentrated pressure on the edge from the top to tail. Rocker ski types curved in the middle of ski, offer to skier’s ease of turn initiation with superior float in the snow. Of course, there are few combinations of both ski types as Rocker/Camber, Rocker/Camber/Rocker, and Rocker/Flat/Rocker but mainly you have to know that the Camber curved zone of the ski give more pressure at the Rocker end of ski if any.
The terrain and snow type are the last factors determining few other ski categories. All-Mountain skis are designed for any condition including powder or heavy snow as well as ice and groomers. These types of ski generally have waist width range from 80-100mm and is the common sense choice if you are only going to own just one ski.
Powder skis are wide more than 115mm in the waist and are what you need to stay afloat during the deep days. Big Mountain skis from other side are designed for heavier condition and higher speeds.
Carving skis are the best choice for these who love arcing perfect turns while just laying a ski over one edge. Freestyle skis or Park & Pipe skis is incorporating more rocker patterns and variety of shapes.
If you like going uphill as well as downhill then Alpine Touring ski type is right for you. Of course there are a special category of skis for ladies. These types of ski are typically softer, lighter and shorter as women have lower center of gravity and require less force to turn.
There is not a unique rule for determining the perfect ski size for every skier. Many ski instructors and experienced skiers will tell you that your body height and weight provide an excellent starting point when selecting the right ski size for you. The truth is that there are many other factors to consider as snow type, ski category, personal preference, terrain and many more. Generally, if you are a beginner it is good to pick a ski length that is approximately between your chin and the top of your head. For advanced skiers the ski length may be slightly longer that head height.
However, how to decide longer or shorter ski to get within the suggested ski size range. You have to consider that shorter ski will be not be as stable as longer ski but will be easier to turn. There are few other reasons to size your skis shorter such as if you are a beginner or intermediate skier as well as if you weigh less than average compared with people with same height as you. Choose shorter ski size depending on your skiing style when you like to make short quick turns.
If you like skiing faster and aggressively then you have to size your skis longer, closer to the top of your head. Such a choice you have to make if your weight is more than average or you want a ski that has a lot of rocker.
Another important thing you have to consider while choosing ski equipment is your ability level. We can define three groups of skiers according to their ability level in Beginners, Advanced and Expert.
If you are new to skiing or you like to improve your skiing technique on linking smoother turns you fall into the Beginners category. If so, you have to look for ski with softer flex and capped constructions as well as ski with narrowed widths with softer wood cores.
Ski with stronger wood core and sandwich sidewall construction are suitable for Intermediate and advanced skiers as these types of ski may have full camber or rocker.
The more aggressive and skilled skiers fall into Expert group where they have to choose variety of ski produced with layers of strong material like Titanal, carbon or bamboo to deliver better performance at speed.
An important factor when selecting the best ski type for you is the ski waist width, which is the measurement at ski’s width at narrowest point at the middle of the ski. Ski with narrower waist widths are quicker during turns while ski with wider waist widths performs better in powder and choppy snow. Selecting the best ski for you will have to look for a three number measurement, which typically looks like 120/80/110 (A/B/C). “A” refers to ski’s tip with, “B” is for waist width and “C” refers to the tail width.
Another number you might find on ski you are selecting is the turn radius. This measurement depends of ski tip, waist and tail width and is expressed in meters. A ski with narrowest waist width will have shorter turn radius and will make quicker turns than ski with widest waist width but will be not so stable in high speeds.
According to the ski profile shape, there are few types of ski. Camber ski profile is a slight curve in the middle of ski and contact points close to the ends. These ski types give more precise turn initiation while skier’s weight puts a concentrated pressure on the edge from the top to tail. Rocker ski types curved in the middle of ski, offer to skier’s ease of turn initiation with superior float in the snow. Of course, there are few combinations of both ski types as Rocker/Camber, Rocker/Camber/Rocker, and Rocker/Flat/Rocker but mainly you have to know that the Camber curved zone of the ski give more pressure at the Rocker end of ski if any.
The terrain and snow type are the last factors determining few other ski categories. All-Mountain skis are designed for any condition including powder or heavy snow as well as ice and groomers. These types of ski generally have waist width range from 80-100mm and is the common sense choice if you are only going to own just one ski.
Powder skis are wide more than 115mm in the waist and are what you need to stay afloat during the deep days. Big Mountain skis from other side are designed for heavier condition and higher speeds.
Carving skis are the best choice for these who love arcing perfect turns while just laying a ski over one edge. Freestyle skis or Park & Pipe skis is incorporating more rocker patterns and variety of shapes.
If you like going uphill as well as downhill then Alpine Touring ski type is right for you. Of course there are a special category of skis for ladies. These types of ski are typically softer, lighter and shorter as women have lower center of gravity and require less force to turn.