What skis should i buy 2017

The eclectic mix brings together ex ski racers, instructors, recreational skiers and even a Junior World Tour competitor. Each of our testers have brought their own unique skills and experience to the table and worked together to put over pairs of skis through their paces on the slopes of Kuhtai, Austria.

Each ski has been assessed by at least 2 different riders and taken all over the mountain to test how they perform on different terrain types - off-piste, on the slopes, in the park. You name it, we've tested it. Every ski is scored against specific criteria for their category, so you'll have all the need-to-know info. BEST FOR The intermediate who wants a ski that goes all the way, or the lighter weight expert who is looking for a great all mountain ski.

Read on to get the full picture. From the very first turn, our initial indication is that the Navigator 85 are stunningly easy ride. They handle short turns, long turns, moguls and variables so well, you wonder whether the all mountain category was invented just for them.

The extremely lightweight tips just work and they work very well indeed. Slightly rockered tips enter the turns with such ease and then absorb cut up snow, bumps and pretty much anything in their way. They do what you want without asking and somehow turn on a dime.

At the other end of the scale, the Navigator 85 perform at a surprisingly high level for skis that are aimed at the intermediate - advanced skier.

Great fun, great looking and the lovely round flex would make a superb touring or Telemark ski option. They are sold flat so choose your binding options and head off into the hills. Whilst the versatility is there — they make good all mountain skis that love to carve on groomed slopes — they lacked a little spark in the park for our liking. Highly stable and therefore good on hardpack snow, the perform perfectly well on jumps and rails and any confident skier will handle them, but they felt more like all mountain skis than a park and pipe specialist.

Would suit a female skier who mostly skis on-piste but enjoys the odd foray into the park — also good in moguls and variable terrain. Salomon are without doubt a true innovator of ski technology - think the rear entry boot, the capped sidewall and of course the BBR ski, to name but a few. The impact of these innovations on the ski world is impressive, but perhaps the BBR went too far? The XDR 84 Ti looks, on first glance, to be rather less innovative than anything Salomon have produced in years but the reality is, they are an absolute belter of a ski.

The ease of turn initiation means a complete beginner would feel perfectly comfortable using the XDR 84 from the off. A: Buying ski equipment can be a little daunting for people. A: If an on-snow demo is possible, it is definitely a good idea to try before you buy. This will help give them confidence that your purchase will be right for you, your ability, and the terrain you ski.

A: Spending some money on a quality learning program to help elevate you to the next level is the best investment. A: If we all convinced one more person to come to the mountain just one more day, we might introduce millions of new people to the fun and freedom of sliding down a snowy slope that usually ends at a bar with a fireplace. A: Forty years ago there was only one way to fit a client for skis: have them raise their arm over their head and if they could cup the tip of the ski with the palm of their hand, it was a perfect fit.

Thankfully, things have changed and our Ski Size Calculator will help you determine what size skis to purchase. Beginning skiers are given skis that are easy to turn, and should reach from the floor to their chin — about cm depending on their height.

Intermediate skis have a little more stability at faster speeds and reach from the floor to their nose — approximately to cm. More advanced or aggressive skiers who prefer skis that track well at high speeds, get skis that reach from the floor to their eyebrows — about to cm. How to choose the right ski length. Guide to buying boots: Avoid a bad fit. Ski sizing chart and calculator.

How to Choose the Right Ski Length. Q: What is the number one most important consideration when buying skis? Q: What things should you know when walking into a shop or browsing the web to buy skis?

Q: Advice on ski length? With a waist of 63 mm, they have a radius of 12 to 13 m. Slalom models are the only skis that are partly built without rocker, i.

The rule of thumb for the length is body height minus 20 cm. In addition, the binding sits a little further forward in order to keep control of the ski, even with a lower weight and height. The sporty upgrade of the slalom is the giant slalom ski. These long skis are true World Cup skis and with an even larger radius, harder flex and razor-sharp edge grip, they are primarily designed for professionals.

They require not only enormous strength in the legs, but also a lot of space on the piste because the dynamic swings at high speed reach radii of up to 20 meters. The recommended length is approximately the same as your body size. The widest skis are the freeride models. After all, they have to float up well in deep snow and offer stability.

Where do you go in your career from here and what is your focus? But with the title in the bag, everything is easier for me, everything is so much more relaxed now and I have a lot of other cool projects on the go so competing is just one part of my winter. In the future I will focus more on expeditions and filming trips … and less competing. An avalanche course is mandatory. Ask for a avalanche safety course or safety equipment instead of a computer game for your Christmas present, and focus on your goals.

You have to realise that the sport is so much more than just skiing - you have to work hard to one day live from your skiing. If you are hard-working the success will come sooner or later. Our unique Carbon layup brings added weight-saving and durability to the Preacher and combines it with a shape that continues to give large amount of float in the fresh snow.

The positive camber and increased torsional stiffness from the Carbonlite construction brings an increase in edge hold on hard packed snow, decreasing fatigue and allowing you to ski for longer and harder. Maintaining the performance and stability of the traditional R. During longer, technical ascents the R. Our Carbonlite construction remains one of the lightest and most powerful options on the market, when paired with the R. The Carbonlite version offers incredible weight-saving along with a slightly softer flex pattern to make your ascent easier.

Combine this with the in-built pop that Carbon brings yet smoothed out with our addition of Flax. The ski retains the fluidity and edge control of the original R. The Carbonlite edition of our new R. Our Carbon and Flax blend gives a light and reactive ride in all terrain allowing you to ride any face or feature with maximum confidence.

The introduction of the Carbonlite construction to the Director only accentuates its characterful and versatile nature. The weight-saving is largely noticeable under foot which then translates to quick turns through the trees, easier boot packs to remote sidecountry, and a more balanced and even feel in the air. Versatility redefined. The reduced weight will be a welcome characteristic if you intend to explore everything the mountain offers, from backcountry touring to playing on natural features.

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