How To Choose The Right Ski

If you’re new to skiing, or upgrading for the first time in a while, the task of sifting through the options can feel daunting.

The good news is, the ski categories prescribed by retailers and manufacturers stay relatively consistent year to year, and for the most part, the skis themselves do fit into those roles. But what is the difference between all mountain, big mountain, backcountry (aka alpine touring or AT), carving, powder, and park and pipe skis? And which one is right for you? A breakdown of these ski categories can help narrow your choice.

Terms To Know

Before we get into the details of skis themselves, it helps to define some of the key terms used to describe skis. These are consistent across brands and retailers, and we’ll use these below to help define the main categories of skis.

• Waist width: This is the width, in millimeters, of the ski underfoot (or where the bindings are mounted). This will range from 70mm for racing skis, to >110mm for powder skis. The wider the ski the more it will float in powder; the narrower the ski the easier it transitions from edge to edge.
• Sidecut/Turn radius: The sidecut is the shape of the ski, from the widest point at the tip, to the narrowest at the waist, and the widest point at the tail of the ski. The deeper the sidecut, the easier to turn and shorter the turn radius. The turn radius is the measurement of how easily a ski turns, from a short turn radius of 10-15m to a long turn radius of about 20m.
• Profile:  The curvature of a ski when viewed from the side–imagine a ski laying flat on a hard surface. Traditionally, skis all used a “camber” profile, with a convex bend in the center of the ski. Rocker, or an upward bend, is common at the tip and tail of skis. Rocker helps skis pivot more easily and allows for better float in powder.

All-Mountain Skis

The term “all-mountain” is at best confusing, and at worst misleading. All-mountain skis can range from slightly modified carving skis to slimmed-down powder skis to tamer versions of big-mountain skis. Essentially, an all-mountain ski can be any ski you like, as long as it works for you most of the time in most of the conditions you ski. While the category itself is vague, many of the skis within it can be excellent choices for all-around “one-ski-quiver” seekers or first-time buyers. However, the wisest choice is to keep an open mind, analyze your ability and skiing style, and determine your preferred or predominant terrain and conditions—then you’ll find out what “all-mountain” means to you.

Summary:

• Waist width: Look for a medium-width waist to balance between hard-snow grip and soft-snow float. It also depends on conditions; 85-95mm is better for harder snow, 95-105mm will be better for soft or variable conditions.
• Sidecut/Turn radius: Your options will generally have a medium turn radius or multi-radius sidecut that makes it easier to carve a variety of turn shapes.
• Profile: Most modern all-mountain skis feature traditional camber with some form of rocker (usually early-rise tip and possibly some tail rocker), which gives you easier handling and turn initiation in variable conditions.

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Freeride Skis

Expert skiers who like to ski fast in steep, technical terrain need skis that can handle the pressure, and therein lies the reason for the big-mountain ski category. A true big-mountain ski is like a cross between a powder ski and an old-school race ski, built to remain rock-steady at high speed but made wider to improve handling in variable and soft snow conditions. While many manufacturers tout their widest skis as big-mountain skis, not all really qualify in our opinion. If you’re a powerful, expert skier, and you need an appropriate ski for your skill level and athletic ability, a stiff, burly freeride ski will open doors and take your skiing to the next level.

Summary:

• Waist width: Generally, these tend to be wider underfoot, so your options will be in the 100-125mm range.
• Sidecut/Turn radius: These can vary, but in general you’re going to find longer (20m+) turn radii for skiing big lines.
• Profile: Again, there’s a lot of options to choose from, from full rocker for deep, soft snow to some mix of camber and rocker for more variable terrain. It’s a matter of preference.

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Backcountry Touring Skis

While any ski can theoretically be used in the backcountry, the recent explosion in alpine touring’s popularity has spawned a whole subset of ski gear specifically designed for this side of the sport. Backcountry/alpine touring/ski mountaineering skis (the terms are used interchangeably) range from super-svelte trekking and ski-mountaineering styles focused primarily on uphill mobility, to more freeride-focused models that offer the same massive dimensions and innovative rocker profiles as the newest inbounds powder skis. Regardless of purpose, most backcountry skis employ lighter-weight construction than their inbounds brethren, and offer touring features like notches in the tip and tail for attaching climbing skins. Along with extremely low weight comes some sacrifice in other areas, usually in the ski’s ability to remain damp and chatter-free on hard snow or to resist impact damage to the base and edges. Therefore, if you’re not planning to spend the majority of your time hiking for untracked lines, you might consider a ski that intersects those two types of riding. Something tour-able, but resort-ready, too. Lots of brands have come up with that ‘perfect mix,’ so don’t be afraid to explore your options in this arena … and always ask lots of questions if you’re not sure!

Summary:

• Waist Width: Your preference will depend on your priorities; 80-90mm is better for long tours and speedy ascents; 90-115mm will be slower going up but will stay on top of deep snow on descents better. 100mm or so is a good sweet spot for most skiers.
• Profile: You can find full-camber skis in this category, but most will feature a hybrid profile with camber underfoot and tip and possibly tail rocker.

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Powder Skis

The name says it all: these skis are for deep days, with their primary focus being flotation and maneuverability in soft snow. With that said, powder skis range in size, shape, and character, from just wider than an all-mountain ski to extremely wide, from soft and noodly to stiff and straight for high-speed stability. Many western skiers choose some form of powder ski as an “everyday driver,” thanks to the versatility provided by innovative rocker profiles and a desire to have extra girth at the ready in case of a storm.

Summary:

• Waist Width: How vendors classify ‘powder skis’ varies considerably, from 98mm waists to 125mm. Your perceived odds of hitting 24+inch days will dictate where your choice falls along this spectrum.
• Sidecut/turn radius: Again, this can vary significantly, from the all-mountain range to the girthy ‘reverse sidecut’ that works well in heavier PNW snow.
• Profile: Rocker dominates here, although some skis will have camber underfoot for better control outside of the snow fields.

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Carving Skis

Skiers who spend almost all of their time on groomed slopes perfecting graceful, high-speed arcs employ carving skis to help accomplish the task. Carving skis are the recreational descendants of slalom and GS racing skis, with a pure focus on speed, edge grip, and precision turning. With narrow waist dimensions, a pronounced sidecut that creates a short turning radius, and camber underfoot that delivers good edgehold, these skis create an amazing experience on hardpack, but those same attributes mean carving skis are rarely more than adequate on anything but smooth, groomed trails. If you plan to spend all of your time inbounds and 90% or more of that on groomed trails, or you’re looking for a ‘race’ feel, a carving ski is what you want. Carving skis will literally teach you more about the dynamics of skiing fast than any other ski out there, but their specific and limited nature is not for everyone.

Summary

• Waist Width: Carve skis will have the narrowest overall waist width, generally less than 85mm.
• Turn radius: Look for a shorter turn radius, which gives the skis great maneuverability.
• Profile: You’ll want a full camber profile that lets you really get up on the edges.

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Park & Pipe / Freestyle Skis

All the young kids are doing the backwards skiing with the baggy (or tight, depending on your generation) pants, and they’re doing it on park skis. Formerly known as “twin tips,” park skis were originally just short, light, narrow skis with the tails turned up to make landing tricks easier in early snowboard terrain parks. Now the freestyle terrain park is an industry all its own, and it’s the reason for skiing’s recent resurgence as the fastest-growing snow sport in the world … and park skis have their own category. These skis still have “twin” tails, and usually more symmetrical dimensions and mounting points, in order to make switch (backward) riding easier and balance weight distribution for spins and rails. Aside from that, their relatively narrow dimensions and predictable shapes make them similar to some carving or all-mountain skis. While park and halfpipe skiing seems like a very specific activity that would require specialized gear, you’d be surprised at how many skiers are out there all over the mountain on so-called “park skis.”

Summary:

• Waist Width: Most park and pipe skis have a waist width of less than 90mm, although if you’re looking for a ski you can ride all over the mountain, you might want to look in the 90-99mm range.
• Profile: Traditional camber predominates, although there are some that feature rockered tips and tails.

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Making Sense Of It All

If you’ve read through all of the category descriptions above, you’ll notice that most of them include some sort of disclaimer about variations within each category and the pitfalls of placing boundaries around a ski’s uses. That’s the not-so-obvious, and also the most difficult, aspect of choosing a ski—because along with the uncertain nature of ski categorization, every skier has their own opinion, not to mention ability level, favorite terrain, and preferred conditions. One friend will tell you she loves skiing powder on her so-called “carving” skis, and another will boast that they can rip moguls all day long on their big-mountain boards.

The important thing is not to let anyone tell you which skis are right or wrong, because it all boils down to personal choice. Choosing your own skis is an individual experience, and while reading and researching will help with your decision, time on the snow is the most reliable way to determine what kind of ski you need or want.

The best advice we can offer is to go demo a variety of skis or attend a free demo day at your local hill, where you can try different brands, different models, and different lengths within each model to find the one that works for you. When you find the right one, you’ll know, at which point you can join the ranks of opinionated and passionate skiers as you educate your friends on why yours are the best skis to ever come out of a press.