Once the winter is over, you know what time it is – time to shop for snow skis and accessories at discounted prices! It’s the ideal time to buy yourself that pair of snow skis that you’ve set your heart on but was just too expensive. While most people eagerly buy wetsuits, swimsuits and the summer shopping craze is in full swing, be smart and take advantage of all the winter gear and accessories for sale. Time to shop the new designs and models and make yourself a bit happier. But how do you a choose a good pair of skis when it is your first buying snow gear? Here’s a bit of help.
Keep in mind your skills
If you are a beginner, your skiing experience probably consists just of a few downhill runs and more falls than successful skiing stories. What this means is that you need a pair of lightweight skis so you can learn to enjoy the experience faster. On the other hand, if you are an occasional skier, you need to buy comfortable skies that will enable you to ski with more confidence. Experienced skiers are comfortable on most types of snow – transformed, hard, fresh but granular. For such a skiing level, you need high-performance snow skis that will be your ally in all kinds of conditions. If you are an expert in this sport and spend a lot of time skiing during the winter, then you may need more than just one pair of skis. Having a specific pair for each skiing style will ensure you will completely express yourself and enjoy your skiing adventure even more.
Understand the different types of skis
Since buying skis is a costly investment, be armed with knowledge to make the right decision. Skis come in different lengths – the shorter the ski, the faster it will turn and the more unstable it will be at higher speeds. On the other hand, the longer the ski, the better it will track at high speeds, however, it will be less responsive in turns.
– Beginner skis can be piste or freeride. The first ones are designed to provide you with a better grip when skiing on groomed snow, while freeride skis are designed to make it easier to ski anywhere helping you float better through powder.
– Intermediate skis – Big mountain or all-mountain? Big mountain skis are the widest ones you can find and they are designed to go through the deepest powder at high speeds. On the other hand, all mountain skis are considered to be a more versatile type of skis as they offer great performance both off and on the piste.
– Expert skis – In this range, you can find race and freestyle skis for snow. Race skis are used only by expert skiers as they offer amazing speeds on groomed pistes and incredible stability. Freestyle skis are a great choice for snowpark and work well when traveling in both directions backward (switch skiing) and forwards.
Choose the right size
After you choose the right type of skis, it is time to ensure you get the right size so you can fully enjoy your experience. The size will mainly depend on the type of skis you have chosen. For example, for freeride skis you need to add about 10cm onto your height – this will ensure the best stability level while skiing. For the big mountain type, add about 20cm – here you need to consider the depth of powder as well. Race and piste skis can be about 20cm shorter than your height for additional agility.