How to Choose a Ski

How to Pick a Ski

There are several types of skis available. Most skis fall into the "All Mountain" category, but there is a large range of specialty skis which includes skis for powder, giant slalom, carvers, supercross, twin-tips, and more. When choosing a ski there are many things to consider such as side cut, flex, and bindings.

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Types of Skis:

All Mountain/ All Conditions- Designed to handle any terrain/condition moderately well. Generally characterized as having a 68-72mm waist, 105-110mm tip, and 95-95mm tail. This ski will handle just about anything with moderate ease and are fairly easy skis to use. This ski will be easy to turn and fairly agile in most skiing conditions. This ski is perfect for skiers that like the groomers and like to voyage into the unknown. Most skis fall into this category. Mid-fat skis that go up to 80mm would also fall into this category. These skis are harder to ski because they respond fast when you start your turn. If you are a skier that only goes a few times a year this ski will make your first day or so hard, because you need to learn how to enter and exit your turns.

Groomed Performance - This would be a ski with a 60-67mm Waist, 100-110mm Shovel, and a 85-95mm tail. This ski will handle the groomed runs better than the all mountain ski. It will allow for an easy initiation of your turns and the narrow tail will allow for a smooth clean release of the turn. Perfect for long sweeping turns and moderate speed. This type of ski will be perfect for the recreational skier that only goes a few times a year and just wants to jump on the skis and go. Dynastar Agyl's, Outlands, Rossignol Cut 9.6 would be perfect for this type of skier.

East Coast Ice - This ski would be characterized by a little more side cut, and a lot of metal. The metal will dampen the vibrations in the ski. Combined with a stiffer flex will allow the ski to grip into the ice more effectively and avoid slipage. Such as a Viper X, Volant, or Volkl 5 Star.

Rocky Mountain Powder - A great powder ski is characterized by an 80mm+ waist with less of a side cut - such as an Atomic R:EX or M:EX, Bandit B3, B4, or XXX, or Volant Chubb.

High Speed Carver - A good high speed carver is characterized by their 112-120mm Shovels, 70-75mm Waists, and 95-105mm tails. This design allows the ski to respond quickly at higher speeds for shorter, quicker turns.

Just plain speed - If you like to go fast and take larger sweeping turns so as not to slow your acceleration you need a ski with less of a side cut, longer than usual, and very stiff. Such as a Volkl P40 or a Dynastar Course Speed.

Types of Flex

Soft Flex - Perfect for Novice skiers. A ski with soft flex will arc very easily and turn fast. Soft flex is very forgiving and is especially good for slower skiers as it does not require lots of speed to turn fast.

Moderate - A ski with mid stiff flex will raise the level of performance and allow for quicker turns and faster transitions. Designer for intermediate skiers and advanced skiers.

Stiff - Very high performance and unforgiving. Designed for advanced and expert skiers. This ski will load up with energy fast, turn quickly, and accelerate out of its turns.

Bindings

Types - There are two types of Alpine bindings. Rental type bindings adjust to fit a large range of boot sizes. Each binding is different but the average is from sizes 6-12. These bindings are usually heavier as they have more parts. You can also buy demo bindings that are mounted to fit about 3 boot sizes. These are mounted specifically to your boot size.

Youth - These bindings are broken into two types. For little children under 10 you want a binding with a .75-4.5 DIN range. For children 10-13 you want a mid range binding with a DIN range of 2-7. Generally for ex-rental skis these bindings will only fit boots up to US size 6.

Industry Standard - Most Type 1 & 2 skiers only need a binding with a DIN Range of 3-9 or 3-10 as DIN if they go by the appropriate DIN setting.

Above 10 DIN - Some skiers like to tighten down there DIN setting usually because the type of aggressive skiing they do requires it. This is only recommended for advanced and expert skiers. The problem you run into is that when you fall, and even the best do, your bindings will not release early enough which will result in extensive ankle, knee, and leg injury as your skis twist your legs further than they are supposed to go. Many skiers like to have that 11 or 12 DIN bindings as it is good to try to stay in the middle of the bindings. So if your DIN setting is 9 get a 11 or 12 din binding. You only want to increase your DIN if you are a very aggressive skier and your ski falls off at the wrong time. However if you feel you need to do so consult a ski tech.

Race Bindings - Race bindings are for expert park and race skiers using a 6-14 or even 16 DIN range. This is exclusively for expert skiers as having your DIN set this high is very dangerous when you fall.