Ski Categories
Do you need a carving, powder/park, or all-mountain ski? Find out the distinctions and what to look for.
Lets just get this out of the way first. There is NO true all mountain ski! It's just not possible! You can't put a mogul ski and a powder ski together! If someone ever said they could, well then, they are either liars or completely insane.
'Well every company sells an all-mountain ski!' you say. That's true but the so called 'all-mountain ski' is no good for the bumps and is too skinny for powder. So take that!
The lesson to be learned here is that you're going to have to pick and choose from what you like to ski most on the mountain and choose a ski based on that. So if you mostly like to ski moguls then you should get a mogul ski. If you like crud and powder you should get a fat ski, et cetera.
Take a look at the information below. It will let you know what you should be looking for in a ski based on what you like to ski! Everyone is happy!
Moguls: If you love moguls more than anything then you should get a skinny straight ski with no shape. You want to size these bigger than you would a shaped ski. So if you're normally skiing a 165cm shaped ski, you want a 175cm straight ski for the bumps.
On-Trail/Groomer/Carving: For this type of skiing you want a very shaped ski. If you're more of a beginner you'll want this ski to have a softer flex and you'll want the ski to be no higher than chin level. If you're a more aggressive skier you can get a ski with a stiffer flex and it can be sized a bit longer. Lifter plates are good because they lift you higher on the ski, giving you easier edge control. Integrated bindings are also a great advantage if you can get them. With Integrated bindings, the ski and the binding are attached in a way to allow the ski to flex more naturally where a traditional binding won't allow the ski to flex under the binding. This gives the skier that loves to carve a more full and gripping carving experience! Boo yah!
Park/Jump: For Terrain park skiing the number one feature you'll want is twin tips. This allows the skier to ski facing both forward and backwards. Although it has been proved that twin tips are not only awesome for jumps but also for all mountain skiing. Twin tips allow you to turn without completely finishing your turn (don't worry, this is okay). On a traditional ski, if you don't completely finish your turn before initiating the next one your tails will catch. Twin tips allow you to ski more freely without having to worry about catching your tails. You also want your park skis to have more of a softer flex and if you can find it, a more symmetrical shape where the waist of the ski is farther forward that normal.
Powder: All I have to say is FAT, FAT, FAT! That means the whole ski should be wider than normal. And if you're a more aggressive skier you can get a ski with a stiffer flex or softer, depending on what you prefer. Keep a look out for new innovative shapes coming from some newer brands out there!
We hope that these tips will guide you in the right direction for choosing the best ski for you! If you need help please use our Ski Selector. Or feel free to use the live chat above or give us a ring at our toll free number 1-877-LV9-SKIS.
