Picking the right skis depends on a variety of factors, such as age, size, and weight, as well as gender, ability, type of ski and terrain. Use the following guide to help you find the right skis for you.
The right size ski for you will probably come up to your chin but not higher than your forehead. All ski manufacturers have size charts; but these are just a starting point. Try before you buy, and experiment with different lengths.
Younger skiers typically use shorter and lighter skis, as they don't have the strength to handle longer ones. While taller and heavier skiers are better fit for longer skis.
Most ski manufacturers make skis specifically for women. These tend to be lighter and more flexible, with the ski waist more forward and bindings mounted a little ahead of the balance point of the ski.
Beginners should use shorter skis as these are easier to control, while expert skiers can use longer skis because they are more stable at speed. Skis used for racing tend to be longer, again because longer skis are more stable at higher speed.
Slalom skis are an exception, as shorter skis turn more quickly, and slalom racing requires quick turns.
Freestylers often choose twintips that are a few centimeters shorter than they would use outside the terrain park or halfpipe, again because the shorter skis are more nimble.
Changes in Ski Design
A revolution in ski shape took place in the early 1990s. Engineers at Elan developed skis with wider tips and tails and narrower waists that were stable and easy to turn.
Elan used European racers to test the new skis, and found they were faster and livelier than traditional skis. Seth Masia's history of the evolution of ski shape recounts that in 1991, in local races in Europe, eight of the top 10 finishes went to skiers on the experimental Elan SCX (Side Cut Extreme) skis.
A consumer model from Elan hit the market for the winter of 1993-94, and overnight changed the face of skiing around the world. All ski companies began producing similar models.
Before the introduction of these parabolic or radical-sidecut skis, skis were longer and narrower. Though this new design was shorter, it put the same surface area in contact with snow as older, longer skis.
Older skiers who were using skis 203 cm in length or longer faced a difficult mental transition. Going down to a 166cm, 173 cm, or 188 cm ski was a bitter pill to swallow for skiers whose identities were tied to ski length. Most who did transition were surprised and quite pleased.
Racers quickly took to the new technology because it worked so well, while beginners did not have the problem of overcoming years of experience. The radical sidecut ski made learning faster and skiing easier.
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