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Skis.com Tip : Ski Boards/Snow Blades
Question: What piece of snow-sliding equipment measures half the length and double the width of a traditional alpine ski? Need a hint? (It also has twin tips). If you answered ski boards, you get a gold star.
Measuring lengthwise between 80 and 120 centimeters, ski boards are the perfect “snow toy” for anyone that can’t decide whether they want to ski, snowboard or skate. In a sense, ski boards are like the “mini me” of alpine skis. They are shorter, a bit chubbier and can get into lots of mischief and get away with it. Feel like skiing backwards? No worries. These babies will make you look like a freeriding pro! Go ahead. Try a 360. They can handle it.
Ski boards also love to play in the park and pipe. Their small size makes them a whiz in the bumps. They are also perfect for anyone who has trouble learning to carve. If you try to skid your turns, they will get very angry. Beware: Most ski boards do not have releasable bindings. However, some companies, such as the French company Salomon, are now manufacturing ski boards that are similar to the releasable bindings of alpine skis. Lest you become confused, Salomon calls their boards, “snowblades.” Salomon's bindings are like regular alpine bindings.
When considering ski board length, think about how you want to use them. In general, shorter boards are preferred by tricksters, whereas slightly longer ski boards help improve carving skills. Play safe and have fun!
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Kids Skis
So your kids are finally old enough to start skiing. Choosing the right pair of skis will determine whether they love it or hate it. While you might be tempted to immediately buy them new equipment, make sure to have them take a few lessons, before you make the financial commitment. That said, keep in mind that while skis are a fun purchase, boots are actually the most important part of skiing, so be sure to buy them a good pair of ski boots.
Once your kids have said the magic words "Mommy and Daddy I love skiing,” you should determine their skill level, weight and height. In most cases, shorter skis will be easier for kids to control. Choose an all-mountain ski. Added side cut, powder or racing skis are unnecessary for child novices.
Keep in mind that most kids will require a fairly flexible ski. Hold the ski by its tip, and add pressure to the center. A flexible ski will bend under this pressure. Now check for camber by holding the bases of both skis together. The tips and tails should be touching, but there should be a space at the center of the ski.
While grownups (usually) realize that cool graphics are not the only important factor to be considered when selecting a ski, keep in mind that kids are extremely visual. By all means, don’t choose a ski entirely because of its graphics. On the other hand, if choosing between two similar skis, and your child has a preference for the graphics on one of them, it’s probably best to go with that ski.
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Skis.com Tip : Skis with Integrated Bindings
Skis with integrated bindings are known as Integrated Ski Systems. In some cases, there is a financial benefit to buying skis with integrated bindings, which is why you will notice most skis are now being sold with integrated binding systems.
Integrated Ski Systems are designed with the goal of allowing a more natural ski flex under the foot. The result is a better and quicker transfer of energy, allowing for greater performance.
With the increase of integrated ski systems on the market, it is important to note that every manufacture provides their own unique system. To help distinguish between the different setups, it is best to review the online manufacturer catalogs at each company's website, or review manufacturer catalogs available at Skis.com.
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Racing Skis
Every once in awhile, an enthusiastic (or should we say overly enthusiastic) skier desires the one piece of gear that has be known to grant bragging rights: A pair of racing skis. Unfortunately, folks that covet these skis don't always have the skills to handle them. Before you run out and purchase the hottest racing skis on the market, there are a few things you should know.
First of all racing skis are generally much stiffer than traditional alpine skis. They also want to be on edge, and don't appreciate being skidded into a turn. That being said, if you seriously want to get into recreational racing, it's imperative that you take a ski racing clinic. That way, when you put on a pair of racing skis, you will know how to use them.
Your next step is to determine what type of racing you prefer, helping you choose the best sidecut radius. The sidecut radius measures the amount of shape in a given ski, and is determined by the difference between the tail and waist of the ski. For example, a curvaceous type of sidecut will take longer to complete a turn. These racing skis are suitable for giant slalom events. In contrast, slimmer skis will be more suitable for the short, quick turns needed for slalom events.
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Skis.com Tip : Twin Tips Skis
Once upon a time, skiing only happened at ski areas. In those days, if you were a teenager that liked to play tricks in the park and pipe, you were probably a snowboarder. However, as the New School technique gains popularity, skiing is once again becoming cool. This has taken skiing out of the ski resorts. In urban areas, it’s not unusual to see kids in their twin tip skis sliding along any type of rail they can find. Yet tricks like these require a special type of ski: Twin Tips.
So how do you choose the right twin tips? If you spend most of your time in the park and pipe, you will want twin tip skis that have their bindings mounted slightly forward of center. However, if you still like to ski crude, groomers and the rest of the mountain, this forward mountain position might make the tails of your skis a bit “squirrelly.” For park skiing center mount bindings, and for all mountain skiing you mount them back of center.
Certain types of twin tips are also designed for skiers that like to spend time on the rest of the mountain. Some companies make hybrid skis known as “phat twins," which are twin tips designed for play in the powder. All ski brands offer a variety of twin tip skis, so you can stick with your favorite.
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Skis.com Tip : Telemark Skis
Free your heels, then free your mind. That’s the credo of many Telemark skiers. Often called “free-heel skiing,” telemarkers use skis that are somewhat similar to those designed for cross-country, in that they are attached at the toes and not at the heels.
Both lift-serviced terrain and the backcountry serve as “playgrounds” for Telemark skiers. While sizing of Telemark skis might vary from brand to brand, in general, novices should choose Telemark skis that measure at chin height, intermediates at nose height and experts at forehead height.
In most cases, narrower Telemark skis are somewhat longer than their thicker brothers and sisters. Novice Telemark skiers that generally ski at a slower pace will prefer a shorter length, while speed demons and “air catchers” should probably go longer. Also, like any other alpine ski, softer Telemark skis will do better in deep powder, while stiffer Telemark skis have better carving ability on groomed snow.
Like their alpine counterparts, telemarking powder-hounds will also want to look for a wider Telemark ski. However, they also have an added benefit: When you are skiing hard packed or groomed snow, these thicker skis will enable your Telemark bindings to clear the snow when you put the skis on edge. Check out the extensive selection of Telemark Skis, including the G3 Telemark ski line, at Skis.com.
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Skis.com Tip : Powder Skis
If you’ve ever had the embarrassing experience of getting your body fat tested by total immersion in deep water, you learned an interesting fact of life: Fat floats. While body fat floats in water, what we call “fat skis” will float in powder. This is why powder skis, which are often referred to as “phat skis,” are characterized by their 88mm or larger waistlines.
Since deep powder snow has similar qualities to water, it’s not surprising that powder skiing has been compared to surfing; some powder skis even look like slimmer versions of surfboards. In fact, many of the powder ski designers for Salmon Skis are actually avid surfers, windsurfers and wakeboarders. As such, they design powder skis that are flexible. Just as a surfboard has to flexible enough to allow the rider to experience feedback from the waves, a powder ski must be flexible enough to let the skier feel the feedback from the soft snow. If the ski is too stiff, this will not happen.
Keep in mind that while racing is about speed, powder invariably slows the skier down. Skiing powder is about savoring every moment as you float through the snow. While a racer might use the stiffness of a ski to make things happen, a powder skier uses the width of the ski to let things happen. Every manufacturer offers a variety of powder skis, including free ride specific companies like Armada and Line.
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Skis.com Tip : Alpine Skis
In skiing lingo, alpine skis are synonymous with downhill skis, whereas Nordic skis are cross-country skis. Although there are a few types of cross-country skis, there are so many types of alpine skis that the novice ski-buyer might easily become confused. Since the first step in choosing an alpine ski is determining your ski ability, it benefits you to take a ski lesson with a certified ski instructor.
Once your instructor gives you an accurate assessment of your skills, you can judge which type of terrain you are most likely to ski. Additionally, it helps to consider the location where you will be doing most of your skiing. For example, a ski that does quite well in the New England ice might not work as well in western powder conditions, and vice versa. For this reason, it’s important to research various manufacturers’ catalogs to find out which alpine skis will work best.
You may find that the alpine ski of your dreams is out of your price range. Don’t despair! At the end of the season, great deals can be found on Skis.com.
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