Traditional skis were straight, heavy and often difficult to turn. Putting a curve into the side of a ski makes it easier to turn.

WHAT LENGTH DO I NEED?

World Cup skis are often as short as 155 cm these days yet people are going fastr than ever. Shorter skis are more manoeuvrable and longer skis give more surface area for flotation in softer snow. The right length of ski depends on your ability, style, preferred terrain. Try out a couple of lenghts before purchasing.

WHY ARE SKIS FATTER?

Wider skis have more surface area and therefore better flotation in soft snow. Mid-fat skis with a waist of 80-90mm are great for all mountain exploring.

FLEX

A stiffer ski is appropriate for carving fast on hard pack snow whilst a softer ski works better in softer snow. Torsional rigidity or longitudinal stiffness prevents a ski from twisting during a high speed turn but can be less forgiving for a novice skier. Skis also have differnt flex patterns, in that they may be stiffer in some areas and softer in others to accommodate for different styles of skiing.