The current season, despite an abundance of snow, is not necessarily conducive to skiing. Spending money on good skis should be an investment for several seasons. How to choose the right skis? What should you pay attention to? We suggest
What kind of skis do we need?
Unfortunately there is no single type of ski. Among each group we can distinguish equipment for beginners, intermediate and advanced ski lovers. We divide skis mainly into:
downhill skis,
cross-country skis.
It is worth mentioning that nowadays we choose mainly carving skis, i.e. waisted skis. It is a modern and appropriately shaped type of ski, which is intended to support the skier especially during downhill runs.
Downhill skis
There is a distinction between different types of downhill skis. The most common types of such equipment are:
Easy: fairly short skis that are characterized by high flexibility. This makes them very comfortable to ride. Therefore, this type of ski is suitable for skiing on well-maintained commercial slopes. Good equipment for people who are just starting out with downhill skiing. They are also sometimes marketed as skis for ladies;
Allround: equipment that is stiffer than easy skis. What does this mean? These skis can be used on smaller moguls and less popular slopes. Many stores base their range on these models. However, this does not mean that beginners should choose them. It is certainly not easy to get started with these skis;
All cross: or all mountain. These skis are longer and wider than allround skis. After some practice, these skis are suitable for skiing off-piste;
Race and Race FIS: intended for accomplished skiers who want to achieve good results. They are a great choice for those who want to test themselves in competitions – even at amateur level
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Cross-country skis
You can create cross-country trails for yourself just about anywhere as long as enough snow falls. While you can learn the basics even on downhill equipment, using such skis as cross-country skis for an extended period of time is a bad idea. What distinguishes cross-country equipment? It is longer by at least 30 cm. They are also narrow. All this is to distribute the weight of a person differently on a snowy trail. We distinguish between skis:
for classic cross-country skiing: they have slight marked edges,
skating skis: they have clearly defined edges in order to take advantage of the cutting ability of the snow
What do I have to consider when choosing skis for myself?
It is of course mandatory to choose one of the above-mentioned types of skis, but among them there are often quite big differences. Going to a store with such equipment, we should pay attention to:
the length of skis – of course, the equipment should be neither too short nor too long. It should be matched to our weight and height. Downhill skis for beginners should be long and light. Longer skis make it more difficult to turn – for beginners this is an advantage;
sidecut – Beginners are advised to use skis with a small sidecut. This improves stability;
rocker – for beginners a ski which is as close to the ground as possible is recommended;
price – how much are you prepared to spend on skis? This largely depends on how often you run or ski downhill on them. It’s a good idea to visit a professional ski store and get expert advice.
