How to choose skis

As with choosing a snowboard, the choice of skiing you need to determine what they need Wm. Where and how you want to skate. Basically, the rules for the selection of skis are the same as in the choice of the board, just here «2 boards».

How to choose Available sizes (length) of the modern ski?

We all know that the skis are short, medium and long. Selected skiing is not what someone like them. Many buyers want to buy a shorter skis. Fashion trends? Yes. After seeing on television the next world cup slalom skis all want for 30-40 cm below its growth. But they do not take into account that these are the only ski in the slalom disciplines. Of course, the shorter skis are more obedient, especially at low speeds. But the fact is that every beginning is gradually becoming a katana, and turning it often happens much faster, they have time to swap skis on their feet the owner. The rate of descent increases and shorter skis for increased speed is not able to provide a stable descent direction – they begin to prowl, and do so with far greater success than their longer counterparts. In addition, short- country skiing is much more difficult to balance in the longitudinal direction: leaned back a little, as they strive to fly out from under you. Therefore skis height (their length) is selected on the basis of the «golden mean» – halfway between riding stable and easy handling. Virtually every model and discipline skis have practical advice on the selection of Available sizes. But if you do not have a catalog or information, you can follow next recommendations:

Which of the manufacturer to choose skis?

Absolutely all companies produce good skis. You can put it on another: everything skis, manufactured by all companies for beginners, very good. Every company has at its disposal a whole range of different models of skis. There is skiing for beginners and athletes ski for free skiing and ski for tricks, etc. But as long as you do not become a real expert, able to understand the behavior of each model skis, you absolutely can safely choose skis you liked brand, or vice versa – do not pay attention to the brand. Of course, each company has its own success – the model, a kind of leaders custom sympathies, and the larger the company offers models of skis – the higher the chance of success of the next, that is, production of the model, which will benefit from increased attention.

But remember how many people – so many opinions, and very critical of the advice, especially to non-specialist advice and the advice of sellers of branded stores, which offered only one brand.

Is it possible to purchase used equipment?

You can, but in this case, you can not do without the help of the skier with the experience or if the store or seller you are advised friends – in this case, they will be able to see most of the defects of equipment, including hidden. Yes, and at least the age of about selected equipment will also help determine which will help save money. Or, at least, part of them...

If you still have to go for second-hand skis yourself, at least listen to my advice:

1. Ski, if the seller is honest and honorable man, you are not warned about it too much, should not have any trace of adhesive. Therefore, carefully consider the ski side – edge should be the same color and do not have a sag. Take a ski sock over one hand and the other with full force push the cargo area. Consider carefully. There were times when glued skiing stratified.
2. Cants in the profile should be square, and the gap between the piping and the ski, if any, shall be the same throughout the length of the ski.
3. The ruler, attached vertically to the sliders perpendicular ski, should show a flat or slightly convex line, in any case, not concave – means skis sharpened (by malice or stupidity) of the sliders so that the ski seemed chiseled not even once.
4.  Skiing, deputed to each other sliding surfaces, form a symmetrical shape that little slot. With a sharp squeezing fingers’ beep short cotton. If you visited the ski accident, then there is not the first nor the second.
5. Look along the sliding surface of the better of two skis – the surface should not be twisted propeller. This suggests that the ski badly suffered a severe blow.
6. Take a good look at the place of contact of stacked to each other sliding surface. With a slow squeezing point of contact should hardly move closer to the middle of the ski. If such a motion is clearly seen – ski socks « tired « and are not working, these skis are not suitable for riding.

Finally, do not pay much attention to the outer surface of the ski. After all, you do not ride on it, and on the sliding surface. Otherwise, you may just miss out on a good model for a decent price.

How to care for skiing?

Before riding, skiing necessarily grease with special grease. If you’re a professional – use a multi-purpose grease expected for any temperature of snow. Ointments are liquid and solid – wax. After applying ointment to rub her ski cloth or a piece of cork. After riding clean them from possible dirt. Transport your skis in a special cover that will protect them from scratches and dirt. House of skiing is better to put in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Do not bind the skis at the waist. It is best to put them next to each other near the wall.

Before the season and post-season refer to a special workshop. Natochat ski edges, smazhut hot grease. If, during the ski sliding surface corrupted, repair it and grind on special equipment. If you spend a lot of time on the slopes, contact the shop more often, do not spend a lot of money, and will extend the life of skiing, and you will be sure that the passage of the icy areas edges of your skis to not let you down.

When you select may wonder: what skis do I need? I need:

Longer skiing:

• stable at speed (for flat skis);
• easier to go through deep snow on the virgin snow;
• on long skis easier to slow down;
• they have more inertia (which means they will better stabilize the position of the body);
• they are more suitable for «high mountains» and the long, wide runs.

Shorter skiing:

• it is easier to turn on a slope ( more maneuverable);
• better ride on the short slopes (you can make more turns);
• easier to ride on the tough ice slopes (more specific pressure piping allows them to better «fixed» on the ice);
• better ride on uneven, bumpy road;
• lighter.

Soft Skiing:

• start properly «work» (sag) with lower velocities;
• facilitate driving at low speeds;
• better absorbs uneven terrain;
• better to go through the soft snow on the virgin snow;
• easier to forgive mistakes when riding;
• Usually this is an entry-level skiing or ski for skiing on virgin land on soft snow.

Hard skiing:

• a pulse, i.e. to rotate the required more effort, but the payoff ( out of turn) is a more powerful (as the «ski shoots»);
• a better management of the arc of rotation, skis go « on rails « from the beginning to the end of rotation;
• better hold on hard ice tracks.