What to know when buying Skiing
Taking into account some factors helps to ease your search for the perfect skis. If you understand all the necessary factors, you will find that you progress quite fast. For instance, one of the most important factors to consider is your ability level.
Be honest with yourself when assessing this and other factors. Your ride down the slope will be easier with the right skis. Here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind.
• Gender Matters
The skis designed for men are meant to accommodate men of all abilities, sizes, and shapes. However, women should only use skis designed for them. Even the most experienced women skiers should only use women’s skis.
The skis designed for women cater to the weight, stance, and anatomical shape of women. Failing to use women’s skis could lead to some dangerous accidents. There are also skis designed for use by children. Only the most aggressive skiers should be using other types of skis.
Typically, there is no difference between skis for boys and girls. The skis designed for women do no need re-drilling. They only require subtle adjustments as the kids’ feet grow. Only a certified technician should readjust the children’s skis to ensure good results.
• The Ability Level
When you select skis that match your skill level, you can improve stability and control quite fast on the slope. Some characteristics are important when determining the skill level. For instance, the flex, terrain, and the waist width are important characteristics.
A ski with softer flex is easier to work with if you are a beginner. It is also more forgiving of any errors you make when learning the ropes. An advanced skier should stick to using a stiff ski. The reason is that he or she exerts a lot of pressure on the skis when going stronger and faster than beginners.
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For instance, when skiing on soft powder, it is best to use skis with medium flex. A stiff ski will torpedo into soft powder instead of it planing up on top of it. Another exception to this rule is weight. If you are too heavy, you should consider using skis that are a bit stiff and vice versa.
Beginners are people who have no basic concept of how skiing works. Intermediate skiers are those that understand how to control their skis. However, they are still cautious about hurtling down slopes at neck breaking speeds.
• The Waist Width
The width of skis is correlated to the conditions in which you ski. If you are a beginner, you will be served best by skis with a thin waist. They are quite easy to maneuver. If you spend a good deal of time off trail, you should use wide skis.
If you spend most of your time on groomed trails, you should use skis that are less than 8.5 centimeters wide. For experts who love carving, they are well served by these types of skis.
Skis which are between 8.5 to 9.5 centimeters are great for on-trail skiing. However, they also work well for those who would like to spend some time off the groomed trails. They are easy to maneuver on and off the trail.
Skiers that want true versatility should use skis that are 9.6-11 centimeters wide. They make taking long radius turns on groomed trails quite easy. Additionally, they float quite well on all but the deepest powder.
If you want to spend almost all of your time off the groomed trails, consider using skis that are 11.1 centimeters or more. They offer you good floatation even in deep powder. They also offer good stability in case things get bumpy and cruddy. However, they are not great if you love making short quick turns on groomers.
• The Rocker profile
Rocker refers to the slightly bent shape that rises off the ground when the skis are placed flat on the ground. Rocker helps to improve the skis’ maneuverability. It also helps you to stay on top of the snow thus making it easier to gain speed. It reduces fatigue and makes powder enjoyable.
The rocker is also important for absorbing the vibrations produced by crud and bumps. It thus keeps them from getting to your body. Initially, the rocker was thought of as just a fad. However, it has been proven to be quite important. All skis now feature some rocker.
A tip rocker is a ski with a rockered tip and camber on the rest of the ski. The rocker helps to make quick turns while the camber offers the skier stability. If you love mountain skiing, you should use this type of rocker profile.
Another common profile is rockered tips on both ends. It makes it easy to make quick turns and float on powder. The camber profile in the middle, and it provides edge grip and stability. The combination makes these types of skis great for on and off trail skiing.
A full rocker profile means that the skis float off the ground. They are great for deep powder skiing. They have a playful feel to them, which has made them a favorite of all mountain skiers.
Summary
These are the things to keep in mind if you want to purchase skis. Be honest with yourself when choosing your skis and you will advance to the expert level quite fast.