How to Buy Downhill Skis for Women
Women who plan to ski more than once or twice per year will want to consider buying their own equipment instead of renting. Women's skis are actually made of different materials to be more flexible, and many rental stores do not carry skis especially designed for women. In addition, having your own equipment allows you to avoid worrying about the time and hassle of renting. Using the same skis every time will also save you from having to adapt your style to each different set of skis you rent.
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Instructions
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Shop for skis that are especially designed for women. Although there are a number of great men's and unisex skis, a pair of women's skis will be more flexible and lightweight to allow women to bend them more easily when turning. In addition, the bindings can be put closer to the front on women's skis to compensate for the tendency to lean back while skiing due to having a lower center of mass.
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Select the size of skis based primarily on your weight. The basic size chart for advanced skiers is as follows:
100-125 lbs.: 145 cm
120-140 lbs.: 152 cm
135-155 lbs.: 160 cm
150 or more lbs.: 162 cm -
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Adjust your ski size to reflect your skiing ability and experience. Intermediate skiers should subtract 5 cm from the size and expert skiers should add 5 cm to the size. Beginning skiers should subtract 20 cm from the size or consider renting skis until they are intermediate skiers to avoid purchasing skis that will soon be too short.
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Adjust your ski size for your height. Although weight is the main consideration, the tips of your skis should come to anywhere between your chin and your forehead. If your recommended size based on your weight and experience is below your chin or above your forehead, bump it up or down to come within this range.
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Pick a style of ski for the type of terrain you will be skiing. The skis should be wider in the middle for skiing in powder, and narrower in the middle for making tight turns and carving around moguls.
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Find a pair of skis in your price range. The most expensive skis are made of higher-quality materials and are designed for performance that a recreational skier may not fully appreciate. If new skis are too expensive, consider buying an older model or checking rental or demo stores for sales of used skis.
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Tips & Warnings
Ski boots are sized in Mondo point sizes, a European measurement based on centimeters. To get your Mondo point size, add 16.5 to your United States women's shoe size.
