How to Interpret an Alpine Ski Description
Anyone who has ever read a ski review knows that the language used to describe the specific ski can be quite confusing. When reading these reviews, keep in mind that they are designed to make the reader feel good about his skills. As such, you will usually see descriptions such as "aspiring expert," as opposed to beginning skier. To make matters even more complicated, there are now skis that are specially designed for specific types of terrain. That said, if you have knowledge of your ability level, your height, your weight and your terrain preferences, interpreting a ski description becomes less challenging.
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Instructions
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Read and understand the ski classifications. Freeride means that you ski the whole mountain. In contrast, Freestyle skis are for skiers who like to perform gymnastic type tricks in the park or pipe. These skis are often called Twin Tips. Big Mountain Skis are for highly advanced skiers, the type who jump cliffs. if you'd like to appear in a Warren Miller movie, this is the type of ski that you need, providing you have the skills to use them.
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Read the "flex" description. In general, beginners or light-weight skiers prefer a softer flex, whereas aspiring racers and advanced skiers like a harder flex.
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Read about sidecut. A ski with a deeper sidecut is designed for short radius turns. In contrast, a ski with a wider sidecut is better for long, sweeping s-shaped turns.
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Read about developmental carving skis, which are characterized by their softer flex, wider tips and narrower tails. These skis perform better at slower speeds. Their shape is designed to help beginners make the important transition from skidding to carving.
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Explore the descriptions of mid-fat skis. In general, they are 100 to 109mm wide at the tip and over 70mm at the waist. This makes them usable in powder or crud. However, unlike the extra wide waists of powder skis, a mid-fat can also be used on groomed terrain.
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Look at the description about chatter. Chatter pertains to the vibration of the ski in high speeds. While some ski descriptions will actually refer to this as chatter control, other will say that the ski is either stable or unstable at high speeds.
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Tips & Warnings
Always demo a ski before you buy.
