What type of ski should you buy?
As winter is right around the corner, we’ve already had people come in to look at and buying skis. So we figured now would be a good time to remind people what to consider when you do start to look for new skis. Before you jump right into purchasing a set of skis you should consider that not all skis are created equal. Where you ski, what type of skiing you do, and how advanced of skier you are will all determine what set up you should be on.
Where & What Kind?
Where do you ski? Do you ski only around here in the Midwest, where most of our snow is groomed or man made? Do you ski out west, where you might run into some powder or less icy conditions? Or maybe you do a little of both. If you are like many of the people we see here in Lake Geneva, you ski around here but take a few trips out west a winter. If you’re strictly a Midwest skier you’ll want a ski that is not too wide. Anywhere from about 70mm-90mm underfoot is where you want to be. If you have a ski that is super wide it’s going to be much slower edge to edge. If you only ski out west
a wider ski will benefit you more. Because Colorado, Utah, California, Canada and all the places we wish we were every winter, have more frequent snow falls and a wider ski will float much better in those powdery conditions. If you do a little of both, you’ll want a ski that about a 90 to 96 underfoot and on the stiffer side. The Volkl Kendo’s are a perfect ski to take you out west and will be killer around here. They’re 90 underfoot, not super poppy but just enough to get you by. Kendo’s will be perfect for skiing groomers around here and the back bowls out west. Around here we see A LOT of park skis go because we don’t have those long runs. People tend to like the park; there’s much more to do. If you are a park skier, you want a ski with pop. More camber in the ski = more pop. You also will want a twin tip ski versus a directional ski. If you only ski downhill you don’t have any need for a twin tip that can be ridden backward, but in the park when you land switch or approach a feature switch you need a ski that can do that for you. As far as flex in a ski, a stiffer ski is better for pipe and jumps; softer is better for butters and playful maneuvers. In the end it will always depend on the individual.
How good are you? Really.
It is actually important to know what your skill level is. You can say you can do cork 7s, but can you? Can you really? You have to be honest with yourself about what you can actually do, if you French Fry when you’re supposed to Pizza you’re going to have a bad time. If you think you’re a lot more advanced than you actually are, you may be set up on the wrong ski and hate your life. We can only give you the perfect ski for what you tell us. That’s why we have the mounting sheets. How aggressively you ski will determine what kind and how we set up your bindings. And here is where it really does get dangerous. If you say you’re an advanced skier and we set your bindings accordingly, they might not release when they need to and that’s how we tear ACL’s. Nobody like a torn ligament :) so be honest about your skill level. That is why you sign the waiver because whether we like it or not people lie :( and we can’t be held responsible for others peoples stupidity. The best way to go about it is to come and talk to us. It’s much easier to figure out what kind of skis will be best for you when you’re here, and we like to talk to people!
a wider ski will benefit you more. Because Colorado, Utah, California, Canada and all the places we wish we were every winter, have more frequent snow falls and a wider ski will float much better in those powdery conditions. If you do a little of both, you’ll want a ski that about a 90 to 96 underfoot and on the stiffer side. The Volkl Kendo’s are a perfect ski to take you out west and will be killer around here. They’re 90 underfoot, not super poppy but just enough to get you by. Kendo’s will be perfect for skiing groomers around here and the back bowls out west. Around here we see A LOT of park skis go because we don’t have those long runs. People tend to like the park; there’s much more to do. If you are a park skier, you want a ski with pop. More camber in the ski = more pop. You also will want a twin tip ski versus a directional ski. If you only ski downhill you don’t have any need for a twin tip that can be ridden backward, but in the park when you land switch or approach a feature switch you need a ski that can do that for you. As far as flex in a ski, a stiffer ski is better for pipe and jumps; softer is better for butters and playful maneuvers. In the end it will always depend on the individual.