Choosing the right downhill skis

The factors to take into account are the same whether you are renting skis or buying them. The most important considerations are:

Length

Gone are the days when downhill skis were sized by raising your arm and choosing a pair that came up to the palm of your hand. Today, the general rule is that skis should be about 10 cm shorter than your height. Modern skis, with their pronounced sidecut (known as parabolic skis), must be ‘worked' to get the best from them. Therefore, it is important to be able to put sufficient pressure on the ski for it to bend. As a general rule, the shorter the ski, the more flexible it is and, therefore, the more easily it bends.

Type of ski

There are many different types of ski, although they can be classified into four major categories.

Piste skis

For skiers who will spend at least 95% of their time on groomed trails or on moguls. These skis are relatively narrow at the waist and have quite flat tips. However, be careful which skis you choose, because high-performance skis, such as slalom or giant slalom skis, can be very rigid and not at all tolerant.

NB: the waist of a ski is the point under the middle of the ski boot. It is the narrowest part of the ski.

All-round skis

All-round, or "all-mountain" skis are ideal for skiers who like to divide their time between on-piste and off-piste skiing. All-round skis are slightly wider at the waist, have more pronounced tips and a moderate degree of flex. They are truly "jacks-of-all trades" and very tolerant.

Freeride skis

Designed for use off piste and in powder but they are also at home on groomed trails between off piste runs. These skis are wide at the waist (at least 90 mm and up to 110/120 mm) and their tips have a pronounced up-curve.

Freestyle skis

For skiers who want to do jumps and figures and who enjoying playing in snowparks. These skis are quite flexible, making them easier to control at low speeds. They tend to be about 80-mm wide at the waist. A distinguishing feature of these skis is that they have tips at both ends, so they can be used to ski "fakie" (backwards).

When choosing your skis think carefully about the type of skiing you will be doing. Do not be tempted by "fashionable" skis with twin tips if you are never going to ski in a snowpark! And there is no point in dragging around a pair of "fat" powder skis if you are likely to spend all your time on groomed trails.

Currently, all-round or all-mountain skis seem to provide the best compromise for skiers who like to do a bit of everything.

Women's skis

Most major ski manufacturers now produce skis that are specifically designed to suit the female morphology. These skis tend to be more flexible and therefore more suited to less powerful legs. They also have bindings with a higher heel position, thereby ensuring a better skiing position.

Ski poles

Your ski poles are the correct length if when you have your skis on and you are holding your poles planted in the snow, your forearm is at an angle of 90° with the pole.

Preparation

Don't forget to sharpen the edges of your skis and wax the bases. Well-prepared skis are easier to ski and more tolerant of any small mistakes you may make. Have your skis serviced by a professional, if you don't want to run the risk of cutting or burning yourself!