Choose the right ski

Piste skis are the skis for you if you love skiing on groomed slopes and want excellent edge grip. These skis are easy to handle on firm snow but tend to sink in powder. The narrower the waist of the skis, the quicker they are from edge to edge. A slightly wider waist, however, makes the skis a bit easier to ski and more forgiving on softer snow. When the piste is soft and choppy, many skiers benefit from a slightly wider waist.

Simply put, the narrower a ski is in relation to its tip and tail, the shorter its turn radius. The turn radius is the natural arc the ski wants to make in a turn. A ski with a shorter turn radius (12 to 15 m) encourages short turns. It can sometimes feel a bit unstable in longer turns. A ski with a longer turn radius (18 to 22 m) is better suited for long turns and higher speeds. This requires a bit more power and technique to get it into shorter turns. It can then feel a bit heavy to turn.

Which sidecut you should choose depends a bit on what you want from the ski and your skiing style. If you like short, fast turns at a moderate speed, a shorter piste ski with more sidecut is best. If you prefer high speed and longer turns, a slightly longer ski with less sidecut is the right choice.

Generally, in the piste segment, you choose a ski between minus 5 to 15 centimeters of your height. A shorter ski is more manageable and suits beginners or those who are a bit cautious. A longer ski is for those who have skied more and is also more stable at higher speeds. So, make sure to choose the right ski to experience the best possible skiing.

Off-piste skis/Freeride skis are the perfect and obvious choice for those who love off-piste skiing and powder snow. To choose the right ski for your purpose, it's important to carefully consider your needs. This type of ski is wider than all-mountain skis, which means it requires a bit more from the skier to keep the ski on edge on the piste.

Off-piste doesn't always mean bottomless, fluffy powder snow; it can just as easily mean spring slush or wind-swept mountain slopes. Therefore, widest isn't always best; it depends on the situation. One should perhaps always consider how much powder snow it is realistic to ski in. Maybe you still want a ski that has good on-piste characteristics, but with a focus on off-piste.

Generally, you can say that slightly wider off-piste skis provide even better float in powder snow, while sacrificing some of the on-piste characteristics. Today, however, you can find quite a few skis with wide waists that also work well on the piste! Although you might not be able to compare them to a piste racer, which is of course not the intention either.

Generally, a ski with a waist over 110 mm is defined as an off-piste ski. In the borderland with all-mountain skis that have waists up to 110 mm, it is of course the case that many of the wider skis in the all-mountain segment are skis with strong off-piste characteristics.

All off-piste skis have rocker in the tip & tail to varying degrees, which means they always strive upwards and get good float in powder snow. Since they have a lot of rocker and are meant for powder, you'll often choose a slightly longer ski here than if you were to choose a pure piste ski, for example. Around your own height or slightly longer.

Ski touring skis are the choice for those who want to ascend the mountain under their own power and enjoy the ride down. They are built to be light, efficient, and reliable, both uphill and downhill.

First and foremost, the choice is about the balance between weight and downhill performance. A lighter ski makes the ascent smoother and less strenuous. At the same time, a slightly heavier model provides more stability and control when skiing downhill. Therefore, you should consider what type of tours you do most often. Will it be long ski tours with many vertical meters, or shorter tours with a focus on the downhill?

The width of the ski affects both float and weight. A narrower ski touring ski, around 80–90 mm at the waist, is best suited for longer tours and harder snow. A wider model, up to 100–110 mm, provides better float in powder but weighs a bit more. Consider what you are looking for and choose what you feel suits you best.

Most ski touring skis have rocker in the tip, sometimes also in the tail. This makes the ski easier to turn and provides better float in soft snow. A straighter ski with less rocker, on the other hand, provides better grip on harder surfaces. The core often consists of light wood, such as paulownia or poplar, sometimes reinforced with carbon fiber for extra stability without increasing weight.

The length depends on your skiing style and experience. A slightly shorter ski is more agile uphill and easier to handle in tight sections. A longer ski, however, provides better stability and float in deep snow. A good guideline is to choose a ski that is approximately your own height, or slightly shorter if you prioritize uphill performance.

Combine the ski with light tech bindings if you prioritize walking comfort, or a hybrid binding if you want the downhill feel of an alpine binding. Don't forget climbing skins, they are absolutely crucial for going uphill!

In summary, you should choose ski touring skis based on how you ski and where you prefer to be. If you prioritize long tours, choose lightweight. If you want more power in your skiing, choose a slightly wider and more stable model.