Types of Downhill Skis

In the 2007-2008 ski season alone, nearly 250,000 skis were sold, according to the Snowsports Industries of America. (Source: SIA Retail Audit - August 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008)

Downhill skis come in a variety of styles, each designed for a specific purpose.

  1. Carving Skis

    • Carving skis characteristically have a stiff flex, narrow waist and lots of sidecut, designed to get the ski to grab an edge and make tight turns on groomed snow.

    All-Mountain Skis

    • All-mountain skis are primarily for groomed, on-piste skiing, but will handle some off-piste conditions. They will have a stiffer center, stiffer tail and softer nose to aid in soft snow, and will have a wider waist than a carving ski.

    Powder Specific Skis

    • Powder skis are for off-piste conditions where limited groomed snow will be encountered. They have a fat waist, soft flex and very little sidecut.

      A sub-genre is the Big-Mountain ski, which will have a rockered (slightly raised) tip and tail, and a very wide waist. This ski is not suited for general on-piste use.

    Race Skis

    • Race skis fall into three categories. Slalom skis are shorter and have lots of sidecut for very tight radius turns. GS skis are longer with medium sidecut for faster, wider turns. Downhill skis are long and stiff, with very subtle sidecut, and built for high-speed very wide turns.

    Women's Specific Skis

    • Women's skis are lighter and softer-flexing than a comparable men's version. Due to a woman's lower center of gravity, the mounting point will be farther forward and may have a slight heel lift to bring a skier over the center of the ski rather than the tail.

    Twintip Skis

    • Twintip skis are for the terrain park and built the same at tip and tail. They are mounted dead center to facilitate "switch" or backwards skiing and are very soft for landing big airs and grinding rails.