I want to go skiing, what kind of skis should I choose?
First, you need to choose a store. Once you have chosen a shop ask the employees if you want specific skis. Or ask them to choose for you according to your needs and directions. If you have never skied before and have no idea what you want, it is best to let the staff choose for you, based on the questions they ask you. But if you’re the kind of person who likes to research before buying, then read on. You should pay attention to the following three features if you want to choose the most suitable skis:
1. HEIGHT
Beginners:
The height of the skis should be around the chin.
Shorter skis will be less stable, while longer ones will make it harder for you to turn.
Intermediate:
Means you’ve been skiing for some time and have mastered the techniques.
The height of the skis should be somewhere between the chin and the nose. For this level of skiers, the skis need to be longer due to the higher speeds achieved compared to beginners.
Pay Attention To Your Weight
Of course, at this stage, you should also pay attention to your weight. If your weight is higher than the average for your height then you should take slightly longer skis, while if your weight is lower then you should take shorter skis.
Style Of Skiing
The style of skiing you like and your practice are also very important. If you ski with more turns (slalom) then you should take shorter skis because they make much faster turns.
Speed
If you enjoy “higher” speeds, then you should choose slightly longer skis because they are more stable.
“Freeride” Skiing
Many of the skiers who have reached this skiing level want to try skiing outside the marked tracks, the so-called. “Freeride” skiing. If you are thinking about this type of skiing, you should choose skis that are declared for “Freeride” skiing. This type of skis is wider than standard skis, and the height you should choose is 5-15cm higher than you depending on the conditions of the terrain you intend to ski.
2. FORTRESS
Different skis vary in how stiff they are. There is no exact hardness index for skis, but they are usually divided into soft, medium, and hard.
Beginners:
Soft skis are better suited for beginners. With softer skis, it is easier to turn and more “forgiving” of mistakes if your technique is not so good. The downside is that they can be unstable at higher speeds.
Intermediate level:
Intermediate skiers should look for certified skis. The stiffer the skis, the more control you have at higher speeds. The hardest skis are used in ski races because they should be able to hold the “edge” of the skis firmly at speeds over 100 km per hour on clear ice.
3. TURNING RADIUS (SIDECUT)
The turning radius determines how long the turns of the ski will be if you ski “carving”. It also gives you an idea if the ski is good for fast and short turns or for “carving” skiing at higher speeds.
Beginners:
Our suggestion is to ski with a smaller turning radius, around 13-14m. If you are just starting to ski, you will not be doing long carving turns and you should look for skis that are the easiest to turn.
Intermediate level:
Our suggestion is to ski with a slightly longer turning radius so that you can start learning “carving” skiing and make longer turns.
If you are a beginner, our advice is to ask for advice in the store so that the staff can suggest what is best for you according to your needs. It’s often the case that people buy racing skis and complain about how bad they are just because they can’t “ski” them the way they should.
