What makes skis good

Many optional items can be added at additional discounts. Skis are made just for the ladies. They cater to the anatomical shape, weight and stance that women have. For a detailed buying guide on womens skis please see the buying guide. This package includes skis with intergrated bindings and boots for boys.

It also contains optional items you can purchase at an additional discount. This package includes Girls skis with intergrated bindings and boots. Additional items can be added at an extra discount. Beginner skiers are first timers or someone very new to the sport that is still learning basic control.

An Intermediate skier is someone that has control over their skis, still skis cautious on more challenging terrain and is comfortable at moderate speeds.

Athletic or heavier beginners will benefit from skis designed for intermediate skiers. Advanced Intermediates are more experienced skiers that have good basic technique, will start to explore off trail skiing, make more aggressive carves on groomers and are comfortable skiing at moderate speeds on advanced trails in optimal snow conditions.

Advanced skiers are capable of maintaining solid technique on advanced terrain in most snow conditions and ski in control at higher speeds. However, they may not always ski aggressively. Expert skiers are capable of skiing safely and in control at high speeds on any terrain regardless of snow conditions.

They ski with strong technique, aggressively attacking the mountain. Frontside Skis have narrower waists that are designed to make skidded or carved turns on the trails and groomers only. They come in a wide range of skill sets from beginner to expert. All Mountain Skis are designed to do everything on the slopes with the ability to take on just about any condition that the mountain will throw at them. All Mountain skis are popular because they perform equally well in most conditions.

With waist widths that range from mm, they spend most of their time on the trail, but can head just about anywhere on the mountain. All Mountain Wide Skis are your go everywhere, do anything ski. They can carve, turn, seek out powder and plow through crud and bumps. These types of skis have waist widths that range from 95mmmm underfoot and can and will do just about anything.

Freestyle Skis are for high flying skiers that enjoy spending as much time in the air or on park features as they do on the snow.

Most have twin tips that can ski forwards and backwards. Powder Skis have lots of rocker and are over mm underfoot for maximum flotation and stability in the deep stuff. Race Skis are designed to be going as fast as you can at all times from the start house to the finish line. Alpine Touring Skis can have a range of waist widths but are designed with equal abilities for going up by either hiking or skinning and skiing down through fresh snow. They usually are extremely lightweight.

Skis with Bindings are called system skis. System skis have a plate that the binding is affixed to that improves the flex of the ski by eliminating dead spots underneath the mounting platform. System skis are typically groomer and on trial skis due to their more narrow waists.

Since kids do grow quickly and are often beginner skiers, many families choose to start them out with rentals, used skis or even local winter gear leasing programs in their communities.

Date October 19, Date September 22, Date September 14, Skip to content Skip to navigation. Skip to main content Skip to content navigation Close navigation. Learn Running and fitness tips Hiking and camping tips Cycling tips Rock climbing and bouldering tips Watersports tips Backpack tips Outdoor clothing tips Travel tips Snowsports tips How to start snowshoeing How to choose snowshoes How to enjoy winter activities with kids How to choose downhill skis How to choose and fit ski boots How to choose ski bindings How to choose and size ski poles How to choose backcountry skis Avalanche safety gear and training How to choose cross-country Nordic skis How to wax skis and snowboards Ski touring checklist Snowshoeing checklist Winter running: gear and tips for cold weather Product care and maintenance MEC packing lists.

How to choose downhill skis. Ski length: Learn what size skis to buy based on your height and weight. Ski shape and stiffness: Camber, rocker, sidecut and ski flex affect how skis feel underfoot.

Choosing skis for kids: Growing kids mean there are a few things to keep in mind. Shop downhill skis. For intermediate skiers Confident parallel skiers that ski blue to black runs want skis to support their moves. For advanced skiers groomers Are black and double-back runs your thing? For advanced skiers powder Confident, aggressive skiers that are all about powder, steep terrain, and tree skiing need skis to help float through deep snow.

Where are you skiing? Skis for powder If you freeride and like to seek out pockets of fluff at your local resort and see yourself graduating to backcountry slopes , you need skis to help you float that are built for off-piste terrain. What size skis to buy What size skis do you need? Longer skis are for generally for skiers that like to go fast, cover varied terrain, and are looking for twin-tips.

A good starting point is to pick a ski length that hits somewhere between your chin and the top of your head before thinking about your preferred riding style, snow, and terrain.

If you ski fast or aggressively, or plan to do a lot of off-piste skiing, go for a slightly longer ski. Advanced or racing skiers tend to prefer skis that are longer than head height, but for less experienced skiers, shorter skis are easier to turn. Your ability level is no longer as relevant when choosing skis as constantly evolving ski technology allows for a better match to your style and terrain. Think about your ability in terms of beginner, intermediate, and advanced, using the following guide for help.

Skis that have softer flex, narrower widths, with specific designs such as carving will allow for an easier turn and more control. You ride the mountain with confidence and style, looking for new adventures and challenges and often like to charge at speed.

You have control carving on icy pistes and steep terrain and are confident riding a variety of snow conditions and terrains. The width of your skis will contribute to how it feels and performs.

The measurement is taken from the middle of the ski, usually at the narrowest point. Narrow widths will offer a quicker turn, while wider waist widths offer better flotation in powder. The turn radius will also contribute to how your skis feel and perform.

The turn radius is given in metres. Skis with a shorter turn radius are suitable for all mountain and some powder skis with tapered tips and tails. Carving skis often have a shorter turn radius and are good for quicker turns.

Way shorter than a traditional alpine ski, mini skis originally known as snowblades were designed to provide inexperienced skiers with immediate fun on gentle slopes. Due to their shorter length, these skis are a lot easier to manage and more playful than regular skis.

It is an option of choice for skiers who want to skip progression and get straight to action. Be careful though, despite how fun they can be, short skis are less stable and less grippy than longer skis.

They are very good if you want something fun and easy to control but they are designed to ride at low to moderate speeds, no more. Also, a few years or decades ago, short skis were not very popular as they were causing a lot of knee injuries due to the binding system used.

Fortunately, this belongs to the past and every mini ski now comes with a proper ski binding that automatically releases in case of a fall. These skis look like traditional piste skis in terms of width waist width between 80mm and 93mm but they often feature a rocker and a construction adapted to varying terrains. They are ideally suited for discovering the joys of skiing off piste , by the sides of the pistes on shallow powder and they remain extremely efficient on piste.

Wider than the previous ones waist width between 87 and mm , these skis offer the best of both worlds and perform great on hard and soft snow. With a ski like this on your feet, you can start exploring the backcountry and lay your own tracks on the untouched without sacrificing your on-piste fun.

Indeed, even if these skis are a little less responsive on the hardpack, they remain grippy, stable and efficient. As a conclusion, all-mountain skis aim for skiers who like practicing their carving technique in the morning and explore the ungroomed realm in the afternoon.

They are the jack-of-all-trades of skiing, they are perfect if you want to make the most of your day with one pair of skis. CONTACT US Our experts are here for you Our passionate staff is with you through every step of your purchase and helps you choose the right gear that best suits your needs. Online sales of golfing apparel, gear and accessories. Website dedicated to nautical sports gear. What are the options? How to choose skis? This is probably the most traditional way of skiing.

Long and clean turns or shorter arcs down groomers make the essence of alpine skiing. Whether you skid your turns or carve them, you ride down groomed snow and pistes all day, having fun varying the length of your turns and your style. Piste skiing is the most accessible form of skiing, suited for the entire family, you'll have to go through it before jumping on other terrains.

Skiing on piste will teach you how to balance and how to turn.