September 2009
Now, before we look at the categories, let’s just have a quick look at some terms that frequently come up when describing skis:
Sidecut:The arc of the ski created from the tip, through the waist, to the tail of the ski. This arc is measured by it’s radius in meters. Every ski will have it’s radius written somewhere on it. A small radius means a bigger sidecut, which in turn means shorter turns.
Let’s look at the Alpine racing disciplines for the clearest example: Slalom skiers do many tight turns down their course and so slalom skis need a big sidecut, which means a small turning radius (around 11- 13m), where as Downhill skiers need to turn very little (doesn’t it just look like they go almost in a straight line from the top of the mountain to the bottom!) and so their skis have very little side cut and so measure a much larger radius (around 45m).
Turn radius varies greatly in recreational ski categories too, so you can still apply that a ski with a bigger sidecut, which means a smaller turn radius, will turn more easily than a ski with a smaller side cut.
Flex:The flex of a ski is a measure of how easily it bends along its length from tip to tail. The more a ski flexes, the ski softer is and so the more forgiving it is.
Beginners skis are generally soft, as are women specific skis (as in general women are lighter than men and don’t have as much weight or strength to flex a ski). Freestyle and freeride skis can be soft too, this is so they can absorb bumps or the variable snow that skiers come acrossin off-piste conditions as well as absorbing the landings from freestyle jumps. Race skis are the stiffest so that the skier can maintain the skis precise arc on the snow when travelling at high speeds (where the forces of the turn alone would cause a softer ski to flex too much and loose it’s grip on the snow).
This is a ski that turns up at the tail as well as the tip. You will find that the skis with this feature are designed for the skiers that want to ski switch (backwards) or to land or take off jumps switch. The turned up tail enables the skier to slide, land or launch off backwards without the danger of the tail getting stuck in the snow. All freestlye skis are twin tipped and many freeride ones are too.
Choosing a ski
With so many different skis out there it is easy to get overwhelmed and confused. There are literally hundreds of new skis out each year, which claim to be the perfect ski for you. If you are looking to buy or rent this winter, it’s worth getting to grips with the different categories of skis so you can get involved in making the right choice.
If you need a little help with the technical terms then check out the column on the right for some more info. If you are already a ski geek then let’s look at these categories.
Different types of skis are designed for the different ability levels, skiing styles and the varied terrain that exist out there in the ski world. We can break this down into 6 groups: race skis, carvers, freeride, all mountain, women specific and freestlye skis.
Race Skis: Exactly as the name suggests, these are the skis designed for Alpine ski races. They are stiff, unforgiving, and extremely challenging, but very responsive and exactly what the racers need to propel them down the slopes as fast as they can. Although they are available to recreational skiers, they should only be skied by expert skiers who are looking for precision and performance and who are happy to put the work in (there is no getting away with being lazy on a race ski).
Carvers: If you know you are a groomed piste skier (but not a racer) and you are not keen to venture off the piste, then the carvers may be just for you. Often coming in slightly shorter lengths, these skis have big sidecuts and are perfect for getting the feeling of (you guessed it) carving. If you’re not into carving just yet, the sidecut will still make turning easier. They are not as stiff and unforgiving as race skis, but you can get a lot of the same sensations as you blast around the slopes.
There is a great deal of variety in the flex of carvers. This means that carvers can be a good ski for almost every ability skier, as long as the beginner takes one with a soft flex (more forgiving) and an expert takes one with a stiff flex (more challenging, but also more performance).
Freeride skis: Fatter, softer, bigger. Freeride skis are designed to float through powder, pound through crud and glide over slush. To do this you will find that they are bigger and wider (some looking more like two snowboards than a pair of skis!). They don’t generally have much of a side cut and because of the width underfoot are not easy to get on an edge, so you will find yourself feeling little more like a hovercraft gliding rather than gripping on groomed pistes.
All mountain skis: Somewhere between a carver and a freeride ski, the all mountain ski professes to be good at it all. They are considered, by some, to be the most versatile ski around and perfect for the skier that wants a bit of performance on the piste (edge hold and sidecut), but is keen to pop off the side of the piste into the variable snow and powder for the odd run (softer flex and generally a little bigger than a carver). Although true powder hounds and dedicated piste skiers would claim they can never be as good as a freeride ski or piste carver, if you’re the sort of person who likes to ski a bit of everything they might just be the ski for you.
Women’s specific: Let’s face it, women are built differently from men. So it follows that women may want something different in their ski. Women’s specific skis tend to be lighter and softer than the general skis on the market, with a good side cut. They are designed for most women’s style of skiing, which may lack the brute force of the men’s, but is technically sound. Most expert women find that these skis are too soft and lack excitement, but for beginner and intermediate women these skis are perfect.
Freestyle: Designed for tricks and the park these skis are twin tipped to make those switch maneuvers easier. Freestyle skis often have the binding mounted right in the center of the ski (rather than slightly back as on most skis) to make spinning easier and more accurate. Freestyle skis are also often fairly soft, important for cushioned landings.
Well that’s the quick lowdown on skis. I mentioned before that the right ski for you will depend on your ability, style and terrain you plan to ski. So, the best person to give you further advice will be your Summit instructor, who will be happy to chat about your skiing and what might be the best sort of ski for you.
