What type of skis should I buy?

What type of skis should I buy?

• I'm not looking for brand recommendations. I'm looking for an explanation of the different ski types. For example, do I get soft or stiff flex? long or short skis? shaped ...show more

• Answer:

  Ski lengths are only partially based on height..anymore. That used to be the rule of thumb, but it went out with the advent of shaped skis. Someone in the 160lb. range should be on something like a 175cm..or around there. It depends on the ski. It wouldn't hurt to go a little longer. However, you don't want to go below 170. You'll be off balance for your height. I'm 6'0" and weight 250lb. I ski on 185cm skis, but I have skis that go up to 200cm (I never barely use those anymore...they're old.) Go with a shaped ski. Much easier to turn, but if you learned how to ski on straight skis, you might want to take a lesson on how to ski on shaped skis. There are some newer techniques to maximize the performance from the ski. Like everyone else said...you want a stiffer ski for cruising on the groomers. Soft skis are good for moguls and the park..backcountry too. But you don't have to get something really stiff unless you plan to race. I've found Head, Atomic, and Volkl to be the stiffest skis nowadays. K2, Rossignol, and Salomon tend to be more flexible...but it does vary greatly by model as well. Your skis like Line, 4Front, and Armada will be slinky for the Park and Pipe. G3, Black Diamond, and Karhu will be softer as well, but for backcountry use. Consider weight of the ski and bindings. Stiffer skis weigh more. Race skis & All Mountain skis are going to be heavier than Freestyle and Backcountry skis....generally. I tell everyone...if you are gonna buy, try them first. Spend a good two hours on a ski before you decide if it is right for you. Most places will allow you to put the cost towards the skis when you buy. Look for Free Demo days at your local shop or ski hill. Even 2-3 runs on a ski will give you some sense of how they feel and if you hate them...you'll know right off the bat. I demo a lot. I can tell right off if I hate a ski, but it takes a while longer to tell if I really like a ski. Good Luck!