 Early
snowfalls in the West have skiers across the country dreaming about
their upcoming winter ski vacation, and resorts blanketed in fresh
powder are opening their slopes much sooner than expected.
Whether you are planning to go to the steeps of Alaska, the deeps of
Vermont or the bumps of the West, be sure you have the right ski for
the mountain.
Skis are better than they have ever been, making skiing much easier
and more enjoyable than in the past. The engineering, the
construction, the materials -- everything adds up to much more fun
with much less effort.
Although all-purpose, all-mountain skis remain the equipment of
choice for most recreational skiers, today there is also the option
of using equipment especially designed for very specific snow and
mountain conditions.
If you are planning a trip to the open bowls of Alta, Utah, for
instance, look for a short, fat ski. If you’re heading to the moguls
of Mammoth, look for a narrower ski with less shape to it.”
Skis today are much shorter than they were in the past -- averaging
between 156 and 177 cm long -- and are fitted to match a skier’s
weight, not height.
If you are planning a ski trip this winter, following are some tips
for choosing ski types to match your vacation terrain:
Groomed runs:
Skiers who enjoy a nicely groomed slope should try a ski built
especially for carving turns. A ski with an exaggerated hourglass
shape that allows for quicker and easier maneuvering is perfect for
advanced and
intermediate groomed runs in Vermont and throughout Colorado and the
Sierra Nevada range.
Powder/Open bowls:
Heading to the powdery alpine slopes of Fernie, British Columbia or
going heli-skiing in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada? Serious powder
hounds should look for skis with as much surface area as possible,
which allows the skier to literally float on the powder rather than
sink into it.
Steeps and trees:
If you’re an off-trail skier, look for skis with a more exaggerated
hourglass shape that will allow for quick turning. Try a ski that is
wider under foot (about 85 mm) if you are traveling to resorts in
the West, where the depth of the snow and the possibility of pitch
are less predictable. In the East, where the snow is tighter and the
slopes are less steep, look for narrower skis in the 70 to 75 mm
range.
Moguls:
Because mogul skiing has become a highly specialized area of the
sport, skiers who love the bumps generally have an extra set of skis
made especially just for this challenging terrain. Mogul skis are
narrow -- between 62 to 65 mm wide --with very little shape, and are
designed much like the traditional skis of yore. Expert bumpers also
prefer skis with twin tips that allow them to land backwards off the
mogul. If you are visiting a resort with a fun mogul run, consider a
demo pair of skis made especially for the bumps.
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