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In this installment of our learn to ski guide we look at purchasing skis.

In order to make the most out of your skiing time, it is important to choose the correct pair of skis, as they are the most important piece of equipment needed for skiing. Your ability as a skier and your style of skiing both contribute a great deal to the decisions you will make about the length, shape and stiffness of your skis.

Skis are designed to support certain types of skiing, so it’s important to know what type you plan to do. You will find that most skis have been designed for powder or packed runs, because those are the most popular types of skiing. Those are the skis you should look to get if you’re a beginner. As you become more experienced, and start to ski off-piste or deep powder, you’ll need to upgrade your skis to ones that are modified for those types of terrain. Experts recommend leaving the modified skis for the more experienced skier, however, as trying to learn basic skills with them is more difficult.

When considering skis, length, shape and stiffness are important considerations. Regarding length, the shorter they are, the easier they are to turn. For this reason, most beginners start off with a pair of short skis. Once you’ve mastered the basics of skiing and are confident of your ability, then you can consider longer skis, which will allow you greater speed in many different snow conditions, but which also will be less forgiving of errors.

As for shape, skis which are narrow in the boot area are capable of making sharp, fast turns, whereas skis which are wider in this area offer more stability and will make broader turns. A ski’s level of stiffness is determined by the shape and also by the material from which it made. Longer ones are usually stiffer than short ones and are more stable at high speeds. The less stiff shorter skis offer greater maneuverability which is seen a benefit to beginners.

The last point to remember is that you shouldn’t invest in skis until you know you will use them, so go skiing a couple of times before purchasing your own skis. Even if you’re sure you’ll be a regular skier, rent before buying because they’re not a cheap investment and you’ll want to be sure that you get the right type, length, shape and stiffness for your specific needs.

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