Choosing The Right Snow Skis - Part 2

The beginner skier, because of the great variety of available skis, can become very confused. Instead of buying a set of ski equipment, though, there is always the option of renting. Following are some tips on both the rental and purchase of equipment that will be of help to the beginning skier.

Renting Ski Equipment

Beginning skiers are usually better off renting their ski equipment -- at least for the first season. It can be quite expensive to buy boots, poles and a full set of skis, plus the beginner skier doesn't yet have the experience in choosing the proper equipment.

Ski resorts usually have very knowledgeable rental shop staffs that are very helpful in choosing the appropriate equipment for each skier. They will take into account your height, weight, skiing ability and skiing style, as well as the current snow conditions. The rental shop staff has no interest in pushing one brand over another -- once you pay the rental fee you have your choice of any equipment in the shop.

Of course, the rental shop staff does have an interest in making your skiing experience as enjoyable as possible. If you've enjoyed yourself, you are more likely to come back and rent from them again, so you can trust their advice.

Renting is a great way to enable you to try out various types of skis and boots to see what you prefer. If you start with short skis, try a slightly longer pair the next time to see what the difference is. Trying out skis from various manufacturers and those made of different materials will help when it comes to buying your own set of skis.

Buying Ski Equipment

Have you been hit by the ski bug? If you have a couple of seasons of skiing under your belt, you will probably want to buy your own equipment. But before heading down to the ski shop you'll need to learn the terminology of the skiing world.

It is important to be familiar with the different parts of the skis, because then you will be able to explain the type of ski you are looking for. For example, do you know what a sidecut radius is and how it affects turning performance? The answer? The larger the sidecut radius the broader the ski will turn. 
 
You'll need to ask yourself some questions. How are the skis going to be used? Are you going to use them off or on trail?  Do you ski on groomed snow or powder? Are you more interested in speed or stability? Other variables to consider when choosing a pair of skis include type of skiing (alpine, carving, telemark, etc.), your skiing ability, your height and weight, and the length of the skis. Women and men usually have a different center of gravity, so specialized women's skis are made to compensate for this difference plus the fact that women are lighter than men.

The staff in the ski shop, just like in the rental shop, will help you make a good choice in your purchase. Usually seasoned skiers in their own right, the staff probably has first-hand experience with many of the skis they are selling. Be sure you give them as many details as possible about your skiing ability and style. This will enable them to guide you toward a suitable pair of skis for your needs.

Due to modern ski technology, skis can be designed so that one pair can suit a variety of conditions and styles. Of course, there are still specialized skis for specific purposes, but the beginner to intermediate skier can benefit by getting a pair of skis that can be used almost anywhere. This will allow you to try out different types of skiing as you progress.

The major brands of skis include Fischer, K2, Rossignol, and Salomon.