How to Choose Downhill Skis: A Ski Size Chart & Buying Guide
There is no shortage of skis on the market, and between all the technology and industry lingo it can be hard to determine what you should look for in a pair of skis. But your hunt just got shorter because this step-by-step guide will help you decide exactly what ski size you need and what type of ski you should buy based on your specific riding needs. So, whether you're searching for your first pair of skis or adding to your arsenal, this ski-buying guide will have you feeling confident in what to look for in your perfect ski.
First let’s figure out how to calculate your ski size looking at these factors:
- Terrain/Ski Type
- Ski Style
- Ski Length Chart
Next, you’ll take a look at the following to help you choose skis perfect for you:
- Ski Rocker Vs Camber
- Ski Width and Dimensions
What Type of Skis Should I Buy?
Step 1: Choose Your Ski Type by Terrain
The first step to choosing what type of skis to buy is deciding on what type of terrain you plan on skiing most often. Downhill skis are categorized by ski type: frontside skis, all-mountain skis, powder skis, and freestyle skis are each designed to perform best on a specific terrain. Take a look at the different types of skis and the specific terrain they were designed for—you’ll want to make sure to choose skis that are for the part of the mountain you plan on exploring most. Keep this in mind, you'll take this into account when calculating your ski length later.
Frontside Skis
Terrain: Groomed or packed snow
Skier Ability: All skier abilities. Groomed runs are typically where beginners spend most if not all their time
Ski Width: 88mm and Narrower
Sometimes referred to as carving skis, frontside skis have a narrower waist so that they can easily roll from edge to edge very quickly and are ideal for mastering your turns. They hold an edge when snow turns into ice and have a shorter turn radius, so they take less effort to get them to turn.
Shop Frontside Skis
All-Mountain Skis
Terrain: Groomed to powder and everything in between
Skier Ability: All skier abilities, great for beginners that haven’t decided what terrain they like best
Ski Width: 89mm – 104 mm
Just like its name, all-mountain skis are designed to ski all over the mountain and can perform on variable terrains and conditions. They will float in powder without coming to a halt but still give you control and be maneuverable in less-than-ideal snow conditions (like when the snow turns slushy or icy). All mountain skis are a common ski type for ski resort riders because of their versatility: instead of having several skis for different conditions or terrain types, you can just have one pair of skis to reign all.
Shop All Mountain Skis
All-Mountain Powder Skis
Terrain: Deep powder, backcountry, not ideal for groomed runs
Skier Ability: Typically, advanced skiers who have experience skiing on varied terrain
Ski Width: 105mm +
Designed for going steeper and deeper, these wider skiers were made for untracked snow found beyond resort boundaries. All-mountain powder skis have rockered tips and tails that curve upward to help you surf above the snow without slowing down. Because of their construction, All Mountain Powder Skis aren’t great for carving fast on groomed runs, but newer skis have evolved to handle the occasional groomed run.
Shop All Mountain Powder Skis
Freestyle Skis
Terrain: Terrain park, pipes, rails and jumps
Skier Ability: All ability levels
Ski Width: 80mm – 95mm
Freestyle Skis are designed for those who plan on spending most of their days tearing up the terrain park. They’re constructed with durability in mind to handle jibbing, riding rails and catching air. A common trademark among freestyle skis is that they will have twin tips—meaning both tip and tail are identical so that you can ski both forwards and backwards.
Race Skis
Terrain: Race courses, groomed and hard snow
Skier Ability: Advanced – expert competitive skier
Ski Width: 60-80mm
Race skis are for competitive skiers who have a need for speed and are designed to be responsive and go fast on a course or groomed snow. This ski type requires some experience because they are constructed to be narrower, stiffer and longer than any other ski type and are not very forgiving when turning.
What is my Skiing Style?
Step 2: Pick your Ski Style
Now that we’ve narrowed down your terrain, in order to get the most precise ski length, you’ll want to know what your skiing style is. Skiing style is defined by how cautious or aggressive of a rider you are. This step will give you a better picture of what ski size you’ll need and will play a role in how your bindings are adjusted later, too. Note the skiing style and ability levels are two different concepts and we explain that below.
Skiing Style:
Ski style is a more precise way to determine your ski length than your ability level. For example, you can have a beginner skier that may ski more aggressively and an advanced skier that has been on a million runs but prefers to ski cautiously. Decide what your skiing style is by taking a look below.
Cautious Skier
Prefers to ski at slower speeds and sticks to mostly gentle to moderate pitches. If you are uncertain about your classification and are new to the sport, you’ll likely be a cautious skier.
Average Skier
An average skier will ski at variable speeds and terrains from gentle to steep runs. Typically, Intermediate Skiers fall into this category.
Aggressive Skier
Aggressive Skiers prefer to ride fast and forceful on moderate to steep slopes. Expert to Advanced skiers are likely aggressive skiers.
Skiing Ability Levels:
Skis can be also classified into ski ability levels, although this is becoming less common as skiing style better reflects what kind of skis will perform best for your specific needs. Here are typical (not always!) characteristics found in skis of each ability level.
Beginner Skier
Beginner Ski Characteristics:
Soft Flexing | Easier to Turn | More Forgiving
Beginner skis are soft flexing, meaning, the ski will bend over bumps, turn easier, and can be skied at slower speeds. These skis are usually the most forgiving and can tolerate mistakes and less-than-perfect technique; by the same token, riders may not be encouraged to learn correct technique as quickly.
Intermediate Skier
Intermediate Ski Characteristics:
Stiffer Flex | Requires more effort to Turn | Somewhat Forgiving
Intermediate skis will feel stiffer and more stable at high speeds than beginner skis but will require more input from the rider. These skis will be less forgiving than beginner skis and will not tolerate mistakes as well but encourage better technique (like not skidding into turns).
Advanced & Expert Skier
Advanced & Expert Ski Characteristics:
Stiff Flex | Better at High Speeds | Not Forgiving
Advanced to Expert skis are torsionally stiff, meaning they’re stiff from edge to edge and tip to tail so they can perform at high speeds but are difficult to turn at slower speeds. These skis don’t tolerate poor technique and can dump you if you make a mistake.
What Ski Size Do I Need?
Step 3: Determine Your Size with the Ski Length Chart
Now that you have decided what terrain you plan on skiing most and what your skiing style is, you’ll be able to take this into account when calculating your ski size. First look at your weight and what type of skier you are, then modify the length based on the terrain you decided that you’ll be skiing most and your skiing style.
Ski Size Chart
*If height is greater than 6'2" and weight is less than 170lbs, start with 170lbs category. If height is less than 5'2" and weight is greater than 150lbs, start with the 140lbs category.
|
Weight (lbs) |
Beginner |
Intermediate |
Advanced/Expert |
|
100-109 |
139 |
143 |
147 |
|
110-119 |
144 |
146 |
150 |
|
120-129 |
146 |
150 |
154 |
|
130-139 |
150 |
154 |
159 |
|
140-149 |
154 |
159 |
163 |
|
150-159 |
160 |
164 |
169 |
|
160-169 |
165 |
169 |
173 |
|
170-179 |
170 |
174 |
178 |
|
180-209 |
172 |
176 |
180 |
|
210-219 |
175 |
178 |
180 |
|
220+ |
178 |
180 |
182 |
Skiing Style
Skiing style is not determined by skill range. Many athletic beginners may choose aggressive if they prefer to ski fast but are still learning technique. Advanced skiers may choose cautious if they prefer to ski at lower speeds and are primarily concerned about control.
|
Cautious |
minus 3 cm |
|
Average |
no change |
|
Aggressive |
plus 3 cm |
Skiing Terrain
|
Groomed/Frontside |
no change |
|
All Mountain |
plus 3 cm |
|
All Mountain/Powder |
plus 6 cm |
|
Freestyle |
plus 3 cm |
What if a brand doesn’t have my ski size?
Once a final length is determined, any ski within 3cm longer or shorter is the ideal range for a skier because not every brand will carry your ski length. If a final ski length is 174cm, then skis 171-177cm are in your ideal range. If two lengths of a ski fall into an ideal range, the shorter length will offer more control whereas the longer length will offer more stability at speed.
Shop Skis
Understanding Ski Construction
Step 5: What else you might want to know
Now that you’ve decided your ski length and terrain, you're in a good spot to shop for your new skis. But if you want to dig a little deeper, we’ve explained some terms you’ll likely run into when searching for skis.
Dimensions & Ski Waist Width
A ski’s dimensions are made up of three measurements from one edge of the ski to the other at the tip, waist and tail. The tip and tail are measured at the widest spot while the waist is measured at the narrowest spot.
Ski Tip
The ski tip is responsible for the initiation of turns. A wide tip is better for soft snow, while a wider tip and narrower waist combined are better on groomed snow if you want high-tempo, short turns.
Waist Width
The waist width is the number one thing to look at in a ski’s dimensions and can tell you how easy a ski will be able to turn and what terrain it would be best on. Narrow waist widths means that it will be easier to get skis to move edge to edge quicker which is important for going faster on groomed runs, while thicker waist widths allow you to surf on deep powder.
Tail
The tail of the ski helps you exit turns. It usually will have different lengths and shapes for different purposes. You'll notice race skis tails have a flat square profile, this keeps your skis on edge and controlled without loosing its grip.
Ski Sidecut Turning Radius
The ski’s dimensions (tip, waist, tail) are what makes up the sidecut radius. Essentially if you were to push a ski down a hill, the ski would naturally turn or arc. The sidecut radius tells you what kind of turns a ski excels at: tight short turns or wide sweeping turns.
Ski Rocker and Camber
Ski shapes and side profiles have evolved over the years and can impact how a ski performs. The different shapes and their purposes are explained below. If you put a pair of skis’ bases together or look at a ski from the side laying on a flat surface, you’ll notice that there is a subtle shape.
Camber
If you were to put cambered skis bases together, you’d notice a gap throughout the length of the ski between the two main contact points near the tip and tail. This arch in the ski acts as a springboard of energy. When a skier's weight is applied, it helps initiate turns, provides a better grip on edge and pushes you out of your turns. Cambered skis are often called lively because of this springboard effect. They are great for carving but harder to maneuver.
Rocker
Rocker is basically camber flipped upside down. With tip and tail raised off the ground and the middle of the ski touching the ground, this is sometimes referred to as reverse camber. The raised tips offer better flotation and a surfy feel.
Tip Rocker/Camber
A rockered tip features a rise in the tip with camber throughout the middle and tail of the ski. This ski is the best of both worlds with better flotation in deep snow and control from the camber. Many all-mountain skis feature this shape.
Rocker/ Camber / Rocker
This shape features rocker in the tips and tails with camber underfoot. This ski shape provides easy maneuvering off non-groomed trails, but the camber underfoot provides that all-mountain versatility.
Have More Questions on How to Buy Skis?
 |
|
