Also, skis today are made from much better materials than 20 years ago. So picking a pair of skis should be easy right? Well, not so fast. So you would be doing yourself a great disservice if you go out and buy a pair of expensive freeride skis just to look cool. So what ski length, should you choose then? As a general rule of thumb, a beginner should choose a ski height close to the chin. Shorter skis are generally easier to turn than longer skis, so choosing a pair of skis, that is too long, will make those initial turns much easier.
An intermediate skier could go with a pair of skis with a length anywhere between chin height and nose height. Advanced skiers often prefer skis that are full body length or longer, for more speed, stability, and floating ability in off-piste terrain. Shorter skis are well suited for skiing among trees and on moguls, where you need to be able to make those quick turns.
Ski lengths are always measured in centimeters. The ski size chart above should only be used as a point of departure when you pick your next pair of skis. You also have to take into account your weight , your ability an aggressiveness as a skier, the terrain type you prefer to ski in, and what type of ski profile , you would like. A ski profile is a description of the curvature of the ski when you look at the ski from the side.
Generally speaking, there are three types of ski profiles: camber, rocker, and flat. Camber has an arch underfoot and touches the surface near the tip and tail of the ski, the rocker is the opposite banana-shaped , and flat means flat. The ski profile determines the effective length of the edge, that carves through the snow, which in turn has an effect of the performance of the ski in various conditions.
The three profiles mentioned above make up the basic ski profiles. Ski manufacturers constantly try out new combinations of the profiles and also tweak them in a lot of ways. The traditional camber profile has a slight upward positive curve in the middle of the ski and contact points near the tips. Your body weight forces the arch of the ski downward, which creates contact with the snow for almost the entire length of the ski except the tip and tail.
The camper profile provides excellent stability at higher speeds, and excellent edge hold for smooth turns on groomers. But the camber profile is also a favorite among park riders.
If you place a ski with a camber profile on a flat surface, the only contact points will be near the ends of the ski. The suspension which comes from the arch being pressed down helps the cambered ski cut through the snow and give it more snap.
Because the camber profile constantly tries to get a solid grip in the snow, it makes it easier to get the edge caught in churned-up conditions and requires a bit more effort to turn. Rockered skis kinda float on top instead.
The contact points of full rockered skis are directly under the skier with the rest of the skis curving slightly upwards.
Skis with a rockered profile are easy to turn even in deep snow. For that reason, full rockered skis are a popular choice for off-piste skiing. Rockered skis are, in general, a bit more forgiving when it comes to turning than the camber profile. If you put a ski with a flat profile on a flat surface, the entire length of the ski will be in contact with the surface except for the front or both ski tips.
It is more common to see traits from the flat profile combined with the other profiles, e. Thus, the three different ski profiles are combined and tweaked in numerous ways.
A Guide to Ski Technology November 01, Which ski is right for you? October 26, How to Demo Skis Efficiently October 12, After all, the question what size skis do I need? As you can see, the most important thing to consider when sizing skis is your height—the taller you are, the longer the skis. Pretty simple, right? This is because longer skis provide a wider base to account for your higher center of gravity, while also giving you more surface area to offset your weight.
Longer skis also make for higher speeds and wider turns, which is why they are generally prefered by more advanced skiers. Shorter skis, on the other hand, offer better control and are better suited to inexperienced skiers, less aggressive skiers, and skiers who prefer moguls over straight-up, downhill speed runs. Of course, our understanding of how to size skis is relatively new. Early skis had a much less clearly defined curve than the ones we now all know and love.
The skis were also very long, and very narrow, and it was not uncommon for skiers of all sizes to use skis that were longer than cm. At the time, a basic rule of thumb was that you should choose skis that were as long as the height of your body with your arms extended above your head.
However, with the parabolic revolution as skis became more curved , everything started to change. This allowed people to bring their ski lengths down to something more manageable.
But despite being a relatively new advancement, this technology is being used more and more frequently in all skis, from carvers to park and powder. So what does have to do with ski sizing?
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