How to Pick Ski Equipment

by Valerie Powell

Overview

Picking alpine ski equipment is no longer as simple as walking into a ski shop, telling the salesperson what type of ski you want and putting your hand up to find the right length. With the introduction of "shaped" skis, skis that are wider at the tips and tails and narrower in the middle, came many new categories of skis, such as beginner's skis, all-mountain skis, freeride skis, freestyle skis, racing skis and powder skis. All these types can make picking a ski more challenging but also mean you can find a ski to fit your exact needs.

Step 1

Know your height, weight and shoe size. Taller, heavier people need longer skis and poles, and boots should be fitted according to shoe size.
Step 2

Determine your level of ability. Skiing is generally classified into Type I (beginner, skis conservatively at low speed on easy slopes), Type II (intermediate, skis on varied terrain at varied speeds) and Type III (advanced, skis aggressively at high speeds on the most difficult slopes).
Step 3

Know what kind of skiing you will be doing. Boots and skis differ depending on whether they will be used on groomed runs, in powder, on a race course or in the terrain park.
Step 4

Research types of skis and boots. Most major ski brands carry equipment for all purposes and abilities and offer information about specific products on their Web sites.
Step 5

Demo your top ski choices. Once you've narrowed your selection to three to five different skis, see whether you can find a demo day at a local mountain to test out the skis you want to buy.

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Most local ski shops have experts who know the finer details of brands and can help you pick the right equipment.
Most local ski shops have experts who know the finer details of brands and can help you pick the right equipment.