Winter Sports

Alpine Skiing

Winter Sports

How to Choose Your Alpine Skis

24 October 2023

If there’s ever a great reason to celebrate the return of winter, it is the feeling of strapping the skis back on! However, before hitting the slopes, this sport requires to have the appropriate equipment. If you’ve already taken the time to pick your alpine ski boots, then you will need to select your skis with equal care. Make your shopping easier by taking into consideration the criteria below before getting your equipment.

Selecting the right alpine skis is generally made according to five criteria :

The ski level
The type of skiing you do
The length
The ski structure : radius, waist
The flexibility of the skis

1. The ski level

Before purchasing, it is essential to know your ski level. This stage is essential to progress according to your skiing technique.

Beginner	Intermediate	Expert
You are a novice and you are making your first rides. You are concentrating on learning and progressing on easy, gentle slopes.	You are comfortable on most slopes and can master tight turns with your skis parallel. You can ski at higher speeds in most snow conditions.	You can ski in all types of snow and control your turns and speed. You are at ease in a variety of terrain, in powder and off-road.

Beginner or experienced?

If you are a beginner, or if you are lighter in weight, choose skis with great flexibility. They will help you carve sweet turns while maintaining control of your speed and your direction.
If you’re an advanced skier, if you feel the need for speed or if you like more challenging terrain, go for stiffer skis. They give the best edging on snow and ice, which gives you precise control and confidence.

2. Your skier profile

What type of skier are you? This is the biggest, broadest question to answer before you start shopping. Do you ski on groomed slopes or in all types of snow conditions? Do you wish to practise your tricks in the snowpark or wherever fresh powder is found in Quebec and beyond?

Here are our four main categories of alpine skis:

Carving Skis	All-Mountain Skis	Freestyle Skis	Powder Skis

If your thing is carving turns on groomed runs, look for a model specifically designed for carving. These skis are easier to maneuvre as they are narrower, and they have great reactivity and good grip.	If you love a variety of slopes, from ski runs to moguls to backcountry, you need all-mountain skis. These skis are wider and often have a reverse camber (or rocker), which makes them more versatile when taking on mixed conditions.	If you love taking jumps and trying out different tricks and structures to get air, you need freestyle skis. They have twin tips (front and back) to ski backwards, and they are strong, light and manoeuvrable. Psst: they are also very useful for parents who would like to teach their children to ski.	If you’re partial to powder, then you need a pair of freeride skis. Quite wide (90 mm and more) with a good part of their length in reverse camber, they float better on powder while remaining manoeuvrable.
Our Caving Skis	Our All-Mountain Skis	Our Freestyle Skis	Our Powder Skis

3. Ski length

This may come as a surprise, but when it comes to ski length, no strict rules actually exist. Length is often determined by your weight, height and skill level, plus the type of skis you’re buying.

In general, the shorter the skis, the more manoeuvrable they are, and the longer the ski, the more stable they are. For beginners (or lightweight skiers), we recommend skis that are a little shorter, while more advanced skiers (or heavier skiers) should opt for longer.

This table gives an overview of the ski size of skis to choose for an intermediate skier.

You’ll still want to follow up with our experts for advice in store, as sizes can also vary in terms of your level (beginner to expert) and type of ski:

Carving Skis	All Mountain Skis	Freestyle Skis	Powder Skis

To eye level	Your height	Your height + 10cm	Your height, plus 5 to 10 cm
Our Carving Skis	Our All Mountain Skis	Our Freestyle Skis	Our Powder Skis

4. The structure of the ski: radius, sidecut

You also need to consider the radius of the skis and how it will affect your skiing style:

For smaller, dynamic turns, choose a model with a shorter radius (under 16 m).
If you like carving larger turns, choose a model with a longer radius.

A ski is made up of different parts:

The tip refers to the front part of the ski. It plays an important role in entering the snow and is slightly curved towards the sky. Some skis have double spatulas at the front and back, which are particularly useful for freestyle skiing in snow parks.
The tail is the rear part of the ski, which determines the curves of your turns.
The waist is the section under the skier's boot, in the middle of the ski. It is the narrowest part of the ski. The width of the runner has a major influence on the ski's manoeuvrability. Depending on the discipline you practise, the width of the runner changes. A wide skate will give you stability on the slopes.

What are ski edges?

These are the metal edges on the side of the ski. They guarantee good grip and hold during your turns. Good edge maintenance is essential before the start of the cold season. We recommend that you visit our shop to take advantage of our sharpening service.

5. Flexibility The flexibility (or flex) corresponds to how stiff the skis are when turning. There are two types of flex:

La flexibilité (ou indice « flex ») correspond au degré de rigidité des skis dans les virages. Il existe deux types de flex :

Flex in torsion.
Flex in bending.

Skis with a stiffer flex in torsion will stick more to the ground under tougher conditions (like ice) and at higher speeds, yet they take more effort in the turns. On the other hand, a more flexible ski in torsion will allow you to take turns at lower speeds, plus they’ll be more forgiving when you lose balance or make edging mistakes.

A ski that’s stiffer when bending has a better return in energy at the end of the turn, making skiing gentler, thereby facilitating the entry into the next turn.

Women's alpine skis. Did you know?

Women's morphology is taken into account in the construction of women's alpine skis. Women generally have a lower centre of gravity and sit further back than men. Their construction is therefore often more specific and lighter than a man's ski to encourage responsive energy transfer. However, the choice of your ski will depend solely on your size, your level and your skiing style, which are the main criteria to consider.

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Conclusion

Shopping for your ski equipment is no small task, so take your time and don't hesitate to consult with our in-store assistants to learn more. Investing in quality equipment is well worth it to ensure you ski safely.