Tips on Buying Downhill Snow Skis

When buying downhill skis, there are a number of different things that should be kept in mind to ensure you purchase the correct skis, including knowing what type of skiing you plan on doing, what your skill level is and how big you are. This will ensure that you buy the proper skis that allow you to turn and stop properly, as well as gain maximum speed while going downhill.

  1. Use of Skis

    • Skis are built differently depending on intended use. Most skis that recreational skiers use are all-mountain skis, which can be used in most conditions whether there is powder, ice or clean, groomed runs. There are a few wider types of all-mountain skis that are better in poor conditions, and thinner pairs that work on good runs in good conditions. Powder skis are wider and allow the skis to float on top of the snow, although they slow skiers down considerably if they are looking for maximum speed. Twin Tip skis have tips that are curved upward and are best for skiers who like to do jumps and catch air. Racing skis are longer and stiffer, allowing skiers the ability to take sharp turns at very fast speeds without bouncing or catching on the snow as easily.

    Skier Level

    • The level and ability of a skier plays an important factor when deciding what type of skis you are going to buy. There are skis built for beginners, which are wider and easier to balance on and don't allow young skiers to ski down a mountain too quickly or lose control. For intermediate skiers, skis can be a variety of widths and sizes but usually allow more speed and turning ability, as intermediate skiers are doing a wide variety of different things that may require different sizes and widths of skis. Expert skiers have specific skis built for their weight and height that respond exactly to whatever type of skiing they may be doing. The better a skier you are, the more sense it makes to have skis custom made for you.

    Men and Women

    • Men and women require different types of skis, as men and women both have different centers of gravity. Women's center of gravity is lower and they have a tendency to lean back more. This will affect how ski bindings are set and what types of ski bindings men and women buy for their skis. Women also weigh less than men, which means their skis need to be more flexible and have the same flex in turn as men's skis do. Men's skis are usually thicker and stiffer than most women's skis.