How to Choose Downhill Skis and Ski Wear

There aren’t too many outdoor activities that are more exciting than downhill skiing. The

temperatures can get absolutely frigid and there are only a pair of skis between you and

the snow as you hurtle down the hill.

That’s why it’s important to choose the right skis and ski wear when you’re ready to hit

the slopes. Here are some tips to make sure you’re properly equipped.

Skis – Things to Consider

One of the first things you need to consider when you want to choose downhill skis is

what level you’re at as a skier. There really aren’t any skis available that are right for

every ski level, so figuring out where you are on the scale is an important step.

Here are the general skier skill levels with a brief explanation so you’ll know where you

stand:

Beginner – as with anything else, a beginner is someone who has very limited skill, who

likely has minimal skiing experience. A beginner will usually make wedge turns on a

relatively easy, groomed trail.

Advanced Beginner – once you’ve become comfortable on the beginner runs (green runs)

and you’re starting to make it down the intermediate runs (blue runs) from time to time,

you’ll be known as an advanced beginner. Most advanced beginners will start using

parallel positioning in the completion part of the turn.

Intermediate – when you’re an intermediate you’ll ski the blue runs without much

trouble, and you’ll be on your way to making complete parallel turns.

Advanced Intermediate – as an advanced intermediate, you can ski all the blues

comfortably and you can even handle some black diamonds and uneven terrain. You can

make skidded parallel turns at moderate speed and you can also use pole plants.

Advanced – when you’re advanced you’ll be comfortable skiing black diamonds and

most varied terrain. You can make large and small radius carved turns and use pole

plants whenever you need to.

Expert – when you reach the expert level, you can make it down the hill at high speeds on

any kind of terrain, including tracked powder, groomers, moguls, and powder. You’ll

also use pole plants with proper timing and body positioning at all times.

Most skiers won’t take too long to figure out what level of skier they are, and you’ll also

need to choose which type of terrain you prefer to ski on. Your height and weight will

also come into play once you get into the shop and it’s time to buy. Many ski aficionados

recommend buying your boots before you buy skis.

Common Types of Skis

Downhill skis, also known as alpine skis, consist of a fixed boot and binding and the

actual ski. Some of the common types of skis you may encounter include:

All-Mountain Skis – these perform well in many different snow conditions and at most

speeds. Narrow all-mountain skis work better for groomed runs where wider skis do

better in powder.

Twin Tip Skis – these have a curved up tail with the basic tip. They used to be more

popular with freestylers, but now they’re also available as all-mountain skis.

Powder Skis – these are designed to more or less float on top of powder, which is ideal

for places that get a lot of big snowstorms. These skis are quite a bit wider than most,

which prevents them from sinking into the snow.

Race Skis – these are longer, narrower and more stiff than average all-mountain skis.

Race skis are meant for going fast and carving up some varied terrain.

In the end, you’ll have to take all the different factors into consideration, and in many

cases you’ll have to utilize the help of one of the pros at your ski shop. Unless you know

from experience, have someone else help you out with the final decision.

Choosing Ski Wear

The average skier needs protection against the elements, no matter what skill level they

are. Here are some tips to help keep you warm and dry for a great time on the slopes

every time.

Avoid wearing cotton clothing right next to your skin.

Wear three layers; a wicking layer, an insulation layer and a protection layer.

This will cover the bottom, middle and outer layers for ultimate protection.

Keep your head warm with a knot hat or proper helmet.

Wear goggles to protect your eyes.

Wear gloves or mittens to keep you hands warm and dry.

Wear proper ski boots to keep your feet comfortable and dry.

http://www.skisnowvalley.com/winter/things-to-do/1st-timers/clothing/

Ski Snow Valley

http://www.skis.com/Buying-Guide-for-Skis/buying-guide-skis,default,pg.html

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