How to choose your skis ?

To buy or to rent skis, the questions has been bothering you for a while. You finally decided to buy yourself a pair of skis! In the end, it is not the most difficult question, but rather how to choose your skis ? Between the different models, the brands, the ranges, you are a bit lost in the shelves in the ski shops. Ekosport tells you everything you need to know to buy your first pair of skis. Follow the guide!

---

What should you be wondering before buying a pair of skis?

Every skier is unique: their level, their profile, their desires. Choosing your pair of skis is above all about knowing yourself well to make the right choice. You will have to take into account your current level and potential, your type of playground, your height, without forgetting your budget. Before you even start checking Ekosport's website and choosing the most stylish screen print, ask yourself these four questions:

• What is my skier profile?
• What is my level and potential, and where will skiing take me?
• What ski size do I need? ?
• What is my budget?

Once your needs are well defined, you will then have plenty of time to buy the skis and their accessories to complete your equipment.

---

Your skier’s profile: a ski adapted to your use

The playgrounds are varied: groomed slopes, snowparks, moguls or off-piste attract all kinds of skiers and require specific equipment. On the mountain, we encounter five categories of sporty that created five different ranges.

The beginner

You go down your first slopes, usually green and sometimes even blue, you ski down in pizza slice; simple but efficient. You pay attention to avoid the fall and the other skiers at low to moderate speed.

The tourist skier

Skiing: that's one week per year. You have been skiing since your childhood but you have never taken ski lessons to improve your technique. You can go down any slopes from green to black ones and you adapt the pace to the conditions. You are not a speed freak; you ski sometimes on the side of the slopes, but that's it. Your pleasure: cruising on the slopes.

The racer

To get up early and take the first chair to shred some freshly groomed slopes, almost empty, where you can throw down hard. Stop watch in hand, tracking app on your smartphone registering every performances and your max speed. You are in need for speed, a real speed racer! Carve big turns, charge as hard and fast as possible, touching the snow with your fingertips are the sensations you are looking for.

The freestyler

To ski, yes but not only. A jump here and there, a grab, a grind? You take your adrenaline rush in the air! You send tricks anywhere, on the side of the slopes, in the snowpark, in backcountry. You always challenge yourself with new tricks and you always push the limits.

The freerider

For you, the mountain has no boundaries, so why stay within the ski slopes that are defined by poles? You love freedom and plan to seek out immaculate snow off the marked slopes. Off-piste is pure gliding.

---

What is my level and potential, and where will skiing take me?

For many french, the level of skiing has been validated and rewarded with a nice medal, a souvenir of your weeks in snow class. Of course, the tests are standardized, but estimating your ski level also means taking into account your personal feelings. Do you feel capable:

• To ski on different types of snow? ?
• To control your skis and your speed?
• To react to emergency situations?
• To go out in any weather condition?

So it's not just a matter of classifying yourself as a "beginner," "intermediate" or "expert," but of analyzing your control of the skis in addition to your skills to properly define your level.

And if today you are a beginner skier, that won't always be the case. A pair of skis can last up to a decade, depending on how often they are used and how well they are serviced. It is likely that by then, you will have gained experience and skills. Well...At least, we hope you will!

When it comes to buying, there are two approaches: either opt for skis that will accompany you as you progress (we'll call it a "progressive" ski), or choose a very specific model that you will have to change after a few years. The choice depends on each person, and the pros and cons are equal. In any case, what you should remember is:

• A progressive ski will never be exactly "perfect" for you. It's maneuverable and adapts to a nice range of levels and situations. It's ideal if you ski one or two weeks per year. The skis will be easier to ride again on the first day of holiday.
• The other possibility are skis dedicated to very specific characteristics, which are designed for a certain level on a particular type of terrain. It will be excellent in these conditions, but sometimes limiting in other situations. It will therefore be recommended to regular skiers who want to improve, test the ski to its limit, and then to go upmarket.

For the purchase of a first pair of skis, it may be worth it to go for a beginner model, which offers nice handling and that allows mistakes. It makes sliding simple and enjoyable. Ideal for effortless learning.

Finally, as you wander around in the great white, perhaps the urge will take you to adventure behind the poles or into a snowpark. New sensations can spark other passions. Then your equipment will need to evolve to glide off-piste.

---

What size should my skis be?

The short version: -10 cm below your height .

The long version: it all depends on your level, your practice and your personal preference. For beginner skiers or for holiday skiers, the general advice remains correct. Also choose between -5 cm and -10cm.

On the other hand, for specific models, here is a size chart according to your type of skiing and your skill level

---

What is my budget?

You can purchase entry-level skis for about a hundred euros, sometimes less if you've been hunting for the right deal or waiting for the winter sale. If you ski a few weeks per year, it is already worth it compared to renting.

For more expert models, prices can climb to over a thousand euros. In this range, you'll be dealing with state-of-the-art skis for the most seasoned skiers.

So the range is wide enough to find skis in your budget. Of course, price is a function of quality. A first-price ski would not last as long as a high-end model. In addition to the technical specifications, it is also the durability of materials and the care of the finish touches that make the price.

---

Completing your ski equipment

In addition to your skis, you will need to add the following equipment to your ski gear:

• Ski boots;
• Bindings;
• Ski poles.

It may come as a surprise, but bindings are not always sold with skis. Bindings are the connection point between the skis and the boots. Without them, there is no gliding! In the world of Alpine skiing, there are only two types of bindings: plate models and screw-in models. The first ones are often sold in a "set" with the ski. They fit perfectly. They have the main advantage of adapting to different boot sizes by easily sliding the binding on its plate. It is therefore ideal if you want to lend to friends or resell your skis later on. Screw-in bindings, on the other hand, have very little room for adjustment (10 to 20 mm). So be careful when comparing prices, make sure it's the same product (skis alone vs skis + bindings set).

Finally, let's look at the importance of ski poles. They serve the dual purpose of ensuring your balance and relieving pressure on your lower extremity muscles and joints. In addition, a successful pole plant forces you into the best position to initiate your turn, which is to shift weight onto your downhill ski. It also helps you get up if you fall or move forward on even grounds, and even pull your snowboarding friends!

Before you check out your basket, also consider safety accessories like a helmet or backprotector, or even more off-piste-specific gear including the avalanche beacon or avalanche transceiver, the probe or even the airbag backpack.

Like everything else, to choose your skis well, you need to be well informed. Now you know the right questions that you should ask yourself before buying and the importance of choosing a ski that is appropriate for your level and skier profile. You understand the objectives of each range (leisure, freestyle, racing, freeride, versatile ...). So you have all the information you need to choose your next pair of skis. And if the doubt persists, count on our Ekosport teams to advise you!