YOUR MOVING PLATFORM: 2 PLANKS !
THE PLATFORM YOU STAND ON: YOUR SKIS.
Nowadays, all the different brands make good skis. Make sure you demo your skis before buying them.
So, what kind of skis should you buy ? I would say, it depends what you intend to do and what kind of conditions you most often ski.
And don’t let yourself get fooled by salespersons in ski shops: don’t ever buy an “intermediate” ski – unless you want to remain at that level and join the “terminal intermediates” cohort… You need a responsive ski that will teach you where (and how to find) the right spot and help you acquire efficient movement patterns.
On the other hand, forget about buying FIS* race skis: if you are reading this page for advice, you are certainly not a FIS racer, so don’t believe you will be able to handle the race stock skis. You will never ski at Mach Schnell on bullet proof injected slopes like Ted Ligety, Lindsay Vonn and the likes…. You’ve been warned !
So just make sure to be prepared before you go to your favorite ski shop, and ask CONFIDENTLY for a specific ski.
*The difference between FIS (French Acronym for International Ski Federation) and Non-FIS race skis ? The former comply to all the rules established by the organization, and are designed for extremely fit athletes with thousands of hours of mileage skiing at high speeds in a race course, while the latter are a detuned version built with the general public in mind. They are less demanding technically and physically, but still powerful, precise, and last but not least, FUN !
- If you really want to improve your technique, go with a slalom ski (not a FIS one). Because they are narrower under the foot, you will get instant feedback on where you stand on them and manipulate them, and it will help you learn how to drive the skis with more precision. And if you ski mostly bullet proof conditions, you will want a ski that responds quickly to changes in direction: a narrower ski under the foot (between 63 and 68 mm) will be quicker from edge to edge, allowing you to engage quickly into the next turn and maintain good grip. Personally, I really enjoy the Völkl Racetigers. It’s an easy ski to master and very stable at speed. Moreover it has an excellent edge hold and will help you discover the joys of carving. Click here to learn more: VÖLKL RACETIGER SL
- If you ski in deep powder or crud and slush, you will benefit from a wider ski underneath the foot (96 mm and wider). It allows the ski to stay on top of the deep snow or to plow through the crud and slush, rather than sink into it, and will help you maintain manoeuvrability and momentum by floating on the surface of the snow. Personally, I really enjoy the Elan Ripsticks 96. They are the ones I use when I ski in Japan. They are wide enough to float in deep powder, but also not too wide so I can still enjoy my skiing time when the conditions are not right (yes, it does happen in Japow !). Click here to learn more: ELAN RIPSTICK 96
- If you want a ski that is more all around, then I recommend the Stöckli Laser AX. I love this ski ! This all mountain ski is very forgiving, delightful in the bumps, trustful on firm snow and – don’t get fooled by the 78 mm under foot – still very versatile and manoeuvrable on fresh and irregular snow, much more than a lot of wider skis. Extremely playful, it adapts well to the speed you chose to ski at: flexible and docile at slower speeds, it becomes a beast of responsiveness and precision at higher speeds. They are very predictable, hold well underfoot regardless of the conditions and the speed, and allow you to let the pressure build as directed by you, versus the skis having “a mind of their own”. If I had to pick only one ski, it would definitely be the Laser AX. Click to learn more: STOCKLI LASER AX
