What radius of skis is needed for a sports school. Snowboard geometry

Of course, the turning radius is determined not by the ski, but by the skier :) Nevertheless, the ski should have its own “favorite arc” along which it moves as if on rails. The curvature of the arc changes the angle of the edging. What’s especially nice is that the ski doesn’t need a skier at all to cut out the “favorite arc” (it can be replaced with a weight). And if the skier’s desire to follow an arc coincides with the ski’s ability to cut just such an arc, then the result will probably be perfect carving. In this post I will look at how the side cut radius of the ski and the turning radius for the Atomic Redster FIS SL 165 cm (2016) skis are related.

Let me remind you that we are considering such skis of the “club workshop” type.

The geometric parameters are written on the topsheet: length 165 cm, radius 12.5 m, toe width 117.5 mm, waist - 65.5 mm, heel - 101.5 mm.

A few words about mathematical transformations. First, the shape of the side cut (working area) needs to be slightly expanded so that the width of the toe and heel coincide, and the zero mark needs to be located at the narrowest point of the ski. Then the form can be edged. To obtain a “footprint in the snow,” you need to divide the thus obtained coordinate of the side cut by the cosine of the edging angle. For deflection, multiply by tangent. But in this note the deflection calculation is not used. Next, you need to obtain the “X” coordinate from the assumption that the length of the edge does not change when edging (that is, the toe and heel move slightly closer together). To do this, you need to calculate from the consideration of triangles the changes in the projection “X” at each measurement step (for me it is every 1 cm) and correct this change in length from the middle of the ski to the edges by the sum with the “accumulation”. Well, then reverse the resulting curve :)

If we assume that the shape of the side cutout fits into a circle, then what shape the trace will turn out to be after edging - my imagination is lacking :) Therefore, for “calibration”, I built an additional circle at three points (at the edges and in the middle), and drew it on trace shape. Here's the result:

It can be seen that such a transformation gives a perfectly round trace on the scale of the graph, that is, it is quite possible to talk about the radius of rotation. I note that at angles greater than 80 degrees, the circle’s engagement with the trace worsens. The value of this radius turns out to be quite strongly tied to the radius of the side cutout (equal to 12.3 m).

It can be seen that edging to an angle of 45 degrees corresponds to a change in the turning radius from the “initial” 12.3 m to 8.7 m, and from the point of view of the trajectory on short slalom turns, this is approximately the same. At an extreme angle of 60 degrees, the turning radius is 6.1 m, which is also not very similar to what happens on a slalom course.

Near the pole, the skis visually go “around the skier,” which corresponds to a turning radius of less than two meters. This is the edging area from 80 to 90 degrees! But is it even possible to talk about cutting the arc at such angles?

Review of experiments on measuring edge and turning radius

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not very pleasant at all. There is no cutting arc on the slalom course at all, and the edge angle of the skis does not greatly depend on what the ski with its sidecut shape “would like.” And in general, 20 years ago skis with a completely different sidecut could also edge strongly. I would not like to plunge into such reasoning myself. There are scientific papers for this on the Internet. Sensors are placed on the athlete and skis, the passage along the track is recorded by several cameras, and the shape of the trail and the cut groove are analyzed. Articles write about different things, but one of the conclusions regarding this article is the same: it is the skier who rides, not the ski, the edge angle depends on the turn he needs to make, on the technique, on the speed, on the surface... They rarely remember about the side cut of the ski :)

I will provide a figure with selected experimental data.

Above are the swing phases taken from a real athlete. The graphs show data on edge angles and the degree of drift (the angle of mismatch between the ski and the direction of movement). Data for three skis with different radii, the authors believe that the curves are approximately the same. I provided a drawing to show that edging the skis is not at all connected with cutting the arc. I will also give graphs of the edge and the actual turning radius, which before the pole goes with an obvious drift, and after the pole we can say that with an insignificant one. It can be seen that the radius of the turn is consistent with the edge (the more the edge is, the tighter the turn is), but weakly depends on the radius of the side cut of the ski.

In general, there is nothing new in the fact that it is the skier who goes, and not the ski :) But the topic of the note is to see how the ski “wants” to go. To do this, you need to understand at what edging angles it can cut an arc. There is no clear answer. So I'll have to rely on what I see. Based on my observations of free descents on a gentle slope and a “morning soft ice” surface, carved arcs throughout the turn are possible at edge angles of up to 45 degrees. The corresponding calculated turning radius of 8.7 meters is approximately consistent with what was observed. Of course I can’t confirm this, I just mean :)

Turning radius on the highway, calculations

Now I’ll move on to setting up the route. This season (2017) we set 9.5 meters (or a little less than " 6 skis", ski in a straight line 1.64 m) between the gates. I’ll see what the slope of the route should be so that the skis can pass it :) With the width of the route corridor being 3 meters, the minimum radius of two conjugate arcs (see figure on the left) is 7.5 meters, which corresponds to an edge angle of 52.5 degrees. In principle, it is believed that such a trajectory is not the fastest; it is better to “raise it” a little, so that you approach the pole a little more across the slope, and not straight down as in the figure. This will lead to an increase in the radius and an increase in the width of the trajectory corridor. But I won’t do that here.

Mathematically the corridor ( W) can vary from zero (radius is infinity) to the distance between the gates ( L). In the corridor width range, the trajectory can be described by conjugate circles. This limit corresponds to an angle of 45 degrees between the straight line connecting the gate and the downward direction. In our case, this width is 6.7 meters, the corresponding radius is 3.4 meters, which corresponds to an edging angle of 74 degrees. The general formula for the trajectory radius in this range is: . Since the ski has a maximum radius of 12.3 meters, this imposes a restriction on the minimum route spread equal to 1.84 meters (the corresponding edge angle is “equal” to zero :) That is, if the route corridor is less than 1.84 meters, then a straight line must be inserted into the trajectory vertical section And if the route corridor is more than 6.7 meters, then a straight horizontal section must be inserted into the trajectory, and the turning radius on the round parts of the trajectory must be equal to half the downhill component of the distance between the gates.

In the range of route corridor widths from 1.84 to 6.7 meters, the calculated radii of the trajectory and the corresponding edging angles look like this:

Unfortunately, when setting up the tracks last season (2017), the distance between the gates was strictly measured with skis, and the transverse “spread” was set “by eye”. Therefore, I cannot say for sure about the width of the corridor of our routes. I won’t do this again :)

I turned to Vitaly Sizov, he sets the width of the track corridor strictly and measures it with skis. He places a pole, then the next one, then moves horizontally from this pole until he is exactly under the top pole. And he counts it as skis. Not for every pole, but for checking. Vitaly reported the following parameters: “If the distance between the poles is 6 skis, then the horizontal distance is 1.5 skis - open, 2 skis - normal, 2.5 skis - closed.”

If we translate this into the width of the corridor in meters and into the corresponding calculated edging angle, it turns out like this:

• “Open”, width = 2.5 meters, turning radius = 9.0 m, edge angle = 43 degrees;
• “Normal”, track width = 3.3 meters, turning radius = 6.8 meters, edge angle = 56 degrees;
• “Closed”, track width = 4.1 meters, turning radius = 5.5 meters, edge angle = 63 degrees.

Alexander Mistryukov said that he places it “by eye”, on a steep slope of about 5 meters (R = 4.5 m, angle = 68.5 degrees).

In general, it turns out that to “cut” a slalom course you need to master skiing with an edge angle of approximately 60 degrees. It is also necessary to take into account that in the calculations the reedging occurs instantly. In reality, of course, there is no such thing, which is probably why, in particular, the shape of the arc in the route is not a circle, but a “comma”, and you need to turn more. But the trajectory is also of a slightly larger radius, because it is “wider and higher.” Therefore, most likely, in general, the calculated edge angle and the actual one approximately coincide.

The edging angle of 45 degrees, which I mentioned above as typical for a cut arc in free skating, is “nothing at all.” This corresponds to a route corridor of only 2.6 meters. Moreover, it’s a shame that if you don’t turn the skis at all, then the route corridor is 1.84 meters. That is, only 76 cm of additional width between the poles corresponds to the transition from flat skiing to an angle of 45 degrees. It turns out that the ability to tip skis to an angle of 45 degrees is not much different from not being able to tip them at all :)

Only geometry was taken into account. The steepness of the slope, overloads, and grip on the slope were not taken into account. Nevertheless, indeed, slalom skis can “go through a slalom course on their own” 🙂 You just need to be able to edge them powerfully and not “go off the rails”.

Conclusion

Slalom skis actually have their own “favorite” arc, on which they can cut through a typical (in the amateur sense) slalom course. But without the ability to cut arcs with edge angles of 60 degrees or more, you won’t get close to this favorite arc :)

Main characteristics of skis:
— length (size)
- width
— hardness (medium, static/dynamic)
— distribution of stiffness along the length of the ski
— torsional rigidity (torsional rigidity)
— geometry (depth of the side cutout, radius of the side cutout, law (shape) of the side cutout)
— waist width (width of the ski under the boot)
— tip length (distance from the front binding to the tip of the ski)
— vibration characteristic (the ability of a ski to absorb vibrations)
- shock absorption.

What do these characteristics affect?
1. Length
Longer ski:
- more stable at speed (when skiing flat)
- greater moment of inertia - better stabilize the position of the body
— it’s easier to slow down (longer edge length), especially when riding in the mountains
- walk better on virgin soil (deep snow)
Shorter ski:
- easier to turn (more nimble)
— it’s better to ride on short slopes (you’ll have time to make more turns)
- better on ice (more specific pressure on the edge - better penetration into the ice)
- better on hillocks (more nimble)
- lighter in weight.

2. Width
Narrower ski:
- better on ice (at the limit - skate)
- better on hillocks
- more “alive” and agile
- lighter in weight
Wider ski:
- goes better in deep snow/virgin snow
- higher stability at speed (on a flat slope)
- higher stability (confidence)

3. Ski stiffness
Softer ski:
— begins to work correctly (bend in an arc) at lower speeds
- better absorbs uneven terrain
- properly designed soft skis
better grip on ice (when skiing on edges)
- they walk better on virgin soil (soft snow) Stiffer ski:
- more impulse - more powerful skating, powerful transfer from turn to turn
- better grip on ice (with lateral edge slippage)

4. Geometry
The information block and catalogs usually contain the following information:
140 — ski size in cm
110/73/99 — ski measurements in mm: width of tip, waist and heel, respectively
11,7 — radius of the side cut in m.
The last two quantities, that is, measurements and the radius of the side cut, determine the so-called “geometry” of the ski. The radius of the sidecut is measured using a special technique, and it can be used to judge the ability of the ski to carve a turn.

The larger the side cut(smaller sidecut radius), the more the ski tends to go in an arc and, therefore, allows better control of speed when carving.

The smaller the side cutout(the larger the turning radius), the more the ski tends to go straight, therefore, allowing faster skiing.

Skis with a large (deep) sidecut (small sidecut radius):
- easier to turn into
- better grip on ice and on steep slopes (when skiing on edges)
- grip on ice worse (with edge slipping laterally)
- They walk worse on bumps and uneven surfaces.
The smaller the size of the ski, with the same measurements, the more steeply the ski can turn when carving.

5. Waist Width(width of ski under boot)
The narrower the waist, the higher the edge speed (easier to turn) and controllability; the wider, the better the ski performs in deep snow.

6. Sock length(distance from front binding to ski tip):
Longer toe length means better behavior in deep snow, the ski floats better in virgin snow. Shorter toe length means easier and faster turn entry.

Types of modern skis:
— Racing — sports — for participation in competitions, for special slalom, giant slalom, moguls, etc.
— Freeride — skis for skiing off-prepared slopes, mainly in virgin snow (deep fluffy snow), for example, Salomon AK Rocket.
- All Mountain - universal all-terrain (the most universal, for all slopes and snow conditions, for example, Salomon X-Scream.
- Freecarve - for expert skiing mainly on prepared slopes, although in this group we can distinguish the so-called universal carving skis, less sensitive to uneven terrain - for example, Salomon Crossmax.
— Sportscar — for amateur riding at low speeds, mainly on prepared slopes.
- New school freestyle - trick skating and jumping both in the snow park and on regular slopes with varying degrees of training, for example, Salomon Teneighty.
— Supercarv, or Fan-carv, or radical carving - “carving” skating, usually without poles, with a strong fall of the body onto the slope. Due to the extremely deep sidecut, a strong centrifugal force is generated when riding, for example, the Salomon Axecleaver Streetracer series.
— Skiboards, or snowblades, are special carving skis with a length, usually less than 1 m. They are produced with a lightweight fastening without the possibility of automatic operation in the event of a fall, which is permitted by international safety standards, provided that the skis are shorter than 1 meter

When you look at the alpine skis in the collections of popular brands, your eyes literally run wild: at least three dozen models only for adults. Finding “your” pair of alpine skis can be difficult even for an experienced skier, let alone a beginner. Among all the variety, the basic characteristics of alpine skis, which each manufacturer publishes both on the website and in the catalog, will help you find “your skis” or at least reduce the number of options.

How to choose alpine skis according to characteristics

Ski radius

The radius of alpine skis, or more precisely, the radius of the side cut, simply “radius”, and sometimes you can also find the “radius of the arc”, is measured in meters. A characteristic that determines how sharp the turns will be, which are easiest to perform on such a ski. The smaller the cutout radius (11...13 m), the more the ski is tuned to frequent and fast turns; the larger this parameter is (17... m), the more prone such a ski will be to smooth turns. Of course, an experienced skier will be able to “drive” a ski with a large radius into a short arc, and on skis with a large cutout - that is, with a small cutout radius - he will travel in a long arc. But this will require a little more strength and skill. This means that the pleasure from riding will be somewhat less.

This is not the most important characteristic when choosing. The lighter the ski, the easier it is to control, but at the same time it will be less stable in the direction set by the skier, and it will be easier to knock it off course. This is useful for beginners - after all, skiing speed is still low, but you learn faster on skis that are easy to control. As experience increases, skiing speed also increases; more and more stable skis are required with predictable behavior even on uneven snow - and the skis become a little heavier. Women's alpine skis are shorter and lighter, they have lighter bindings, so their weight is around 4.5 - 5.5 kg/pair, men's skis are longer, more powerful and heavier, their weight is from 5 to 7 kg, you can find more heavy models, especially for high-speed freeride.

Alpine ski width

The width of alpine skis is measured in millimeters. The waist width of alpine skis is one of the key characteristics that determines the all-terrain qualities of skis. A waist width of up to 73 mm is typical for models for skiing on prepared slopes. The narrower the waist, the faster the ski can move from turn to turn and change the direction of sliding on a hard slope. Waist width in the range from 73...75 mm to 85...90 mm - the most universal models ( all-mountain) for skiing on prepared slopes, on broken snow, and on shallow virgin soil. The wider the waist, the better the ski floats in deep snow. Accordingly, alpine skis with a waist wider than 90 mm are chosen by those who have almost no plans to ski on prepared slopes.

Ski geometry

The geometry of alpine skis is given in catalogs in the form of numbers, for example 120/73/103 mm, next to which is the length of the skis - the size for which the geometry is given. The wider the toe in relation to the width of the waist, the more willing the ski begins to turn. And the narrower the heel, the easier the ski goes into sliding. In other words, a ski with 125/73/97mm geometry will dive into a turn faster, and it will be easier to drop your heels on such skis than a ski with 120/73/103mm geometry.

Heel drop is a slang expression. This is a technique that is used to stop or change the direction of movement in the event of an unexpected obstacle - for example, a skier who has fallen in front of you. In this situation, the most natural movement is to place the skis across the slope, for which, with the force of the legs, the skis are released into slipping - they begin to slide sideways, and the heels of the skis slide more than the toes.

Alpine ski stiffness

The stiffness of skis is not standardized in any units, and you can only compare two models in terms of stiffness with your own hands. In general, we can say that within the same line of skis, models for more experienced skiers are stiffer, but you will have to compare with models from other manufacturers either “manually” or by studying the design of the skis - how many layers of metal are in each of them, what the core is made of and so on. The more layers of metal, the stiffer the ski, the wider the ski, the stiffer it is with the same design, and so on.

The distribution of stiffness for different skis may be different - some models are distinguished by uniform stiffness along the entire length, as a rule, these are models for prepared slopes, while others (universal models and skis for freeride - off-piste skiing) have a softer toe and heel, and the middle part is noticeably tougher. The most powerful reinforcement is the layers of metal located below and above the core, or only below. Alpine skis with two layers of metal will almost always be stiffer than models in which one layer of metal is replaced by lightweight fiberglass or carbon.

How to choose alpine skis by height

Alpine ski size

When selecting skis by height, it is important to understand that in most cases a skier can ski on several sizes, depending on how he likes to ski, his level of technique, what slopes he prefers, what model of recommended skis, etc. Skiers try to use sizes that are close to the generally accepted ones. One of the reasons is that all men use alpine skis with a size of 165 cm in slalom, and all women use skis with a size of 155 cm. The most generally accepted “psychological” sizes for piste skiing are: for men (weight 60-100 kg and height 160-190 cm): 165 cm for lovers of short turns, 170-175 cm for medium and large arcs; for women (weight 40 - 80 kg and height 150-180 cm): respectively 155 - 165 cm.

Subtleties when selecting alpine skis by height

A shortening of the height by 5-10 cm should be taken into account: for skiers specializing mainly in carving skiing (on well-prepared slopes), for skiing on short and gentle slopes, if your weight or height is less than the above, for beginners, at the special request of the instructor, girls vacationers who prefer careful and leisurely skiing.

Lengthening the size by 5-10 cm from the main one should be done if: your weight, height is higher than indicated, you are going to ride on steep and long slopes, for carvers who prefer arcs of larger radius and high speeds. Lengthening the size by more than 5-10 cm from the main one is recommended for skiers in deep fluffy snow and radical supporters of traditional techniques (make sure that the geometry of the recommended models is also not too radical).

We wish you successful shopping and great riding!

Success in skiing directly depends on the proper selection of equipment. Putting on what you had and flying from the mountains is not our method! At the very least, it is not safe and you are unlikely to get pleasure from such skating.

3 characteristics on which the quality of skiing depends:

1. Geometry or size - the width of the skis at three points: tip, heel and waist, as well as the radius of the side cut formed by them.
2. Profile and type of deflection.
3. Ski length.

In this article we will look at the nuances of selecting sizes and types of deflections in alpine skis. These two characteristics directly affect the comfort of edge cutting, stability when descending and confident control at high speeds.

Traditionally, ski equipment is classified according to skill level: children's, adult beginners, amateurs, advanced and experts. But by and large, the entire choice in this category comes down to two components:

How do you want to ride? Slow or fast, with aggressive carving technique (sharp turns) or not.
Where do you want to ride? On prepared, groomed trails with cleared snow or off-piste, through virgin snow and snowdrifts.

Let's look at each indicator to understand which skis you should choose and what to focus on in general.

Types of alpine skiing by type of ride

• Racing is the general name for downhill skis. This name combines the carving style of riding. Almost all amateurs and experts prefer either this category or All-mountain.
• Freeride - riding off-prepared trails. This includes hilly terrain, virgin soil with deep snow. They are also called powder skis and the main distinguishing feature is the waist width of 115 cm.
• Freestyle - skis for stunt riding and performing acrobatic elements in parks. You can also come across the names park or pipe, meaning skiing in special parks.
• All-mountain, Allround - universal models, ideal for beginners.

Alpine skiing has two sides of the same coin. If you prefer speed, then you need skis of one design, and if you prefer maneuverable skiing with aggressive carving technique (cutting arcs), then a completely different one.

Universal skis (All-mountain), which we advise all beginner skiers, are not suitable for experienced people who want to ski in different conditions. Every riding style needs its own pair of skis!

In the article, we try to duplicate all Russian-language terms in English, because mountain ski markings are usually done in English and it will be easier for you to navigate this way. Because there are so many sites in RuNet, there are so many variations of terms.

How to choose the size of alpine skis (geometry)

Based on the shape of the skis, we can predict in advance how they will behave on the slope.

When choosing a size, we are guided by three characteristics - width of nose, waist and heel, are always measured in millimeters (see photo on the left). These three meanings together form , responsible for making turns and cutting arcs.

In the screenshot on the left, the radius is displayed in meters. This is an average indicator, which also depends on the length of the ski. One model with the same width, but with a different size will have a different side radius.

The larger the radius of the sidecut, the better the skis take turns and make them faster:

Skis with a short radius, say 14-16 meters, will turn quite quickly. But 22 meters will be less maneuverable, but will be able to develop greater speed, not least because of the width of the waist.

Nose (Tip): this point is responsible for the beginning of the ski turn. A wider nose (approximately 120mm and above) floats easier on soft snow and is a good option for unprepared runs.

Heel (tail): The rear of the ski helps with cornering. Wide heels are popular among experienced skiers. When cutting a fast turn, the wider tail resists sideslip and maintains speed. Beginners should not choose a wide heel; they still will not be able to fully appreciate all the possibilities.

Waist Width (Waist): an equally important indicator and is responsible for turns and behavior at speed. I would even say that it is the relationship of all three points that is important, and not just one.

With a narrow waist, the skis take turns well and cut arcs easily. Suitable for prepared slopes. With a wide waist, skis maintain speed more stable and behave better on unprepared slopes, virgin lands, and snowdrifts.

The standard waist width of All-mountain skis, which we recommend for beginners, is 70-80 mm.

Also, almost all have the same side radius, so you can’t go wrong with this specification. But, nevertheless, remember about it and ask a consultant at a sports store about it.

Why All-mountain? After all, a beginner will obviously not engage in freeride outside of prepared trails and descend at high speed with an aggressive riding technique, so it is preferable for him to choose shorter alpine skis, with a universal lateral radius and an average waist width. Such skis will easily enter short arcs; a beginner will be able to quickly master the basics of carving, which is the most common type of skiing.

Profile or camber of alpine skis

Camber is a slight upward bend in the central part of the ski. Traditional deflection, used for many years. The main idea is that under the weight of the skier, the skis bend in the opposite direction, which is why the area of ​​contact with the snow increases.

Camber Provides good speed, and most importantly, stability. Skis with traditional camber are not suitable for freeride and soft snow skiing.

Rocker is an inward bend in the toe, or in the toe and heel. It is also called reverse camber. Bend under the weight of the skier, the nose and torture rise upward. Alpine skis with moderate rocker are ideal for beginners and make carving easier.

Many skis have combined shapes - rocker at the tip and tail, camber in the middle. This is the perfect combination, combining the cornering control of rocker skis and the stability at speed of camber. The cambered midsole provides good handling at speed and in hard snow, while the rockered tip and tail provide excellent powder flotation and easy cornering.

best posts
Don’t forget about alpine ski poles; we described in detail how to choose the right size and material in this article -

Look at the diagram below with examples of popular profiles:

As you can see, manufacturers use different combinations of camber and rocker, adapting to the needs of each skier. The percentage of camber is responsible for the style of skiing they are suitable for.

So what to choose for regular skiing at a ski resort?

Answer: no profile can be called bad or good. The camber improves handling and gives control at speed, so in universal models it occupies 85% of the total area, the rocker is allocated 15%. But freeride and powder ones are already equipped with rocker from 20 to 60%. This is understandable; on virgin soil and deep snow you need controllability and maneuverability.

Remember that the percentage of a particular camber in alpine skis is good or bad. The main thing here is the ratio of quantities!

If you also ask yourself this question, then take All-mountain skis!

Alpine skiing for women

Most often they are softer and with fastenings shifted forward, most suitable for the center of gravity of the female body, located lower than the male one.

Universal women's alpine skis with good reviews:

• Salomon CIRA with LITHIUM 10W bindings - have a lateral radius of 13 meters. The price of such a model is from 22 thousand rubles;
• Atomic Vantage X 77 CTI W;
• Fischer My Mtn 80 - the model is suitable for already progressing skiers with active, carving skills.

Video: how to choose alpine skis for beginners in 3 minutes

Translation of a useful informative video from the American company rei.com especially for WayEmpire.

Keep an eye out for discounts

Do not forget that prices for ski equipment have a seasonal spike and it is best to buy them either at the end of the season (March-April) or already during the season. At this time the price can drop up to 50%. The peak of price increases occurs in the fall!

Another great way to save money is to purchase skis from previous seasons. Their prices are often lower, and the technical difference is not so great and is difficult to notice, especially for beginners.

We do not advise beginners to choose alpine skis themselves; it is better to trust the professionals, and generally ride on rental equipment for the first season, try different lengths and geometry, see what type of ride you like, and from the next season choose your first alpine skis.

Answers on questions

Which brand of alpine skis is better?

This question is easy to answer, since the ski market is conservative and new and successful brands rarely appear. Pay attention to: Atomic, Fischer, Leki, Rossignol and Salomon. These brands have been tested by time, skiers and ski cup competitions.

Where is the best place to buy alpine skis?

If you buy in Moscow, then in specialized stores Kant, Sport Marathon, or Sportmaster, only some professional department where there will be qualified specialists who can show and tell a beginner. Or good online stores.
We do not recommend buying used skis, especially after 2-3 seasons of riding.

What time should you start your child skiing?

Ski schools accept children from 4-5 years old. You can, as they say, even from the cradle, but they will start skating at the age of five. And at the age of 7-8 you can already fully engage in sports schools.

Should I choose with or without fastening?

Modern all-mountain skis all come with bindings. You just have to ask the consultant to adjust them to the size of your boots and show you how the mechanism works.

And an important element of equipment is alpine skiing. And the question of choice is especially acute for those who are just planning to master the technique of skiing.

Advice from workers in this area will help you choose the right skis for beginners. Depending on the characteristics and basic parameters of alpine skis, they are selected according to the skill level of the skier.

It is worth noting that alpine skis differ from each other in the shape of the nose, heels, narrowness of the middle part and softness of the products. These quality characteristics give the skis stability with a smooth ride and make them easy to learn and develop technique.

On a note:
Types of alpine skiing
Classification of alpine skiing - the dependence of types of skis on the parameters and characteristics of ski equipment. From the article you will find out what kind of alpine skiing you use and how they differ from other types.

Important characteristics of alpine skis

However, it is important to focus not only on the product model, but also on a number of its technical characteristics:

• Lenght and width
  According to their structural structure, alpine skis differ in length and width.

  · long skis	They have the ability to develop high speed when skiing on a plane; Give greater stability to the position of the body; They reduce the speed of the blade well due to the increased length of the ski edge when descending from the mountains.
  · shorter skis	Lighter in weight, nimble on bumps and more maneuverable in icy conditions; Increases the ability to make more turns on the slopes of small or too narrow slopes; They exert specific pressure on the edge, going deeper into the snow surface.
  · wide skis	Produces stable speed on smooth slopes; They overcome deep snow cover and virgin soil well, which is a huge advantage when riding through the forest on unequipped trails.

Useful article:
Selection of skis by height
How to choose the right skis according to your height? An article about how important a well-chosen ski length is and why. We have given important recommendations that you should follow when choosing ski equipment.

The main problem faced by those wishing to purchase their own ski set is the ability to combine the good characteristics of alpine skis with their level of skiing and versatility for ski slopes of any complexity.

• Rigidity
  The stiffness of alpine skis refers to its ability to flex under the influence of the body weight of the skier. Stiffness is primarily responsible for handling, i.e. how difficult/easy it will be for a skier to handle his skis when skiing on the slopes of a mountain. Hard direction skis with high values ​​of this characteristic are intended more for professional skiers who have impulsiveness and powerful skiing with skillful transfers from turn to turn.

• Vibration damping, flexibility, torsion stability
  Based on the characteristics when choosing alpine skis, you need to know other features such as vibration damping, flexibility and torsional stability.

  · vibration damping	Vibration damping is determined by the behavior of the ski when accelerating at medium or high speed. Most of the vibration absorption increases the accuracy of movement along arched tracks, provides additional stability when passing uneven surfaces, and at the same time the edge cuts well into the ice surface, which thereby gives stability to the skis when skiing at high speeds.
  · flexibility	Flexibility gives springy and elastic bending of the ski under the influence of the weight of the skier.
  · torsion stability	The high-quality assembly of the ski, taking into account resistance to deformation, determines the torsional rigidity of the skier’s stability, and is considered one of the main features. Advantages: Makes it easier to ride at low speeds (automatic tip and heel edging) and simplifies mistakes when skating. Flaws: The low torsional rigidity of the ski holds it somewhat worse on ice.

Recommendations and tips:
How to choose alpine skis?
Here we will tell you and explain in clear language how to choose alpine skis when purchasing. We will point out the important points that you cannot do without when choosing skis for skiing on the slopes.

• Turning Radius and Sidecut
  Turning radius is the main characteristic that determines the ability of a particular ski to turn while walking along the slopes. Larger sidecuts with a reduced radius promote better arcing with controlled speed. Conversely, with a reduced sidecut and increased turning radius, the skis go straighter and add speed when skiing.
  Advantages of skis with deep sidecut and small radius:
  1. Easily fit into turns;
  2. Steadily maintain their trajectory on icy surfaces and steeper slopes.
  Flaws:
  1. On ice, when the edge slides sideways on the ice, they lose stability;
  2. They glide a little worse on uneven terrain and bumps.
  On skis, the radius is usually indicated by the letter R and a number next to the letter.


• Waist Width
  An important characteristic in alpine skiing is the waist width of alpine skis. This indicator determines the behavior of skis when passing through deep snow or ice. Therefore, a narrow waist contributes to the development of high speed when turning edges, easy cornering and increased controllability. The wide waist allows for traversing deeper snow;


• Toe and heel width
  The role of the toe length of alpine skis is also important for ski lovers. The wider the tip of the ski, the more confidently the skier enters the turn. Such skis give an advantage when passing slopes intended for slalom testing. Such a characteristic as the width of the ski heel is also important for lovers of slalom and carving. The wider the heel, the better the arc at the end of the turning maneuver;

• Operating speed range
  The operating speed range is considered satisfactory if the alpine skis make the correct move along the arc. Wide ranges of operating speeds give the skis versatility.

Have a nice ride!
We hope our article was useful to you.