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Shaped Skis for Women and Men
If you haven’t skied for awhile, you might have a pair of old straight skis. If so, you are probably the proud owner of a pair of rear-entry ski boots. Hang on to them! They will soon be considered antiques! That said, for now we’ll bet that the only “white stuff” this ski equipment has seen is the dust in your attic!
So why haven’t you taken it out to play? Perhaps you tried skiing a few times, but just couldn’t get the hang or glide of it. To paraphrase the words of a commitment-phobic male: it wasn’t you, it was your skis.
Back in the days of straight skis, skiing was a male-dominant sport. Then, with the advent of shaped skis, more and more women began to participate. If you’re wondering why your female friends now take ski vacations instead of beach vacations, rest assured it’s not because of the hot ski instructors (although that helps). It’s because skiing is a hot sport. And because of shaped skis, women can now enjoy it! Here’s why.
Shaped skis have an hourglass shape, which makes them easier to turn than straight skis. They are shorter, which makes them easier for women (who also tend to be shorter) to maneuver. Shaped skis respond by finesse as opposed to muscle. As we all know, finesse is a female specialty. They also have a wider platform. Since women tend to have wider hips, this wider platform provides added stability.
There are other benefits of shaped skis that help both men and women. Carving a turn on shaped skis does not require excessive speed. They feature integrated shock absorbers and vibration dampeners that eliminate chatter on hard snow. Furthermore, most ski instructors will tell you that shaped skis have a shorter learning curve than straight skis.
Whether you are in the market for men’s skis or women’s skis, shaped skis are the answer. Welcome to the 21st century!
Women's Skis: Not Just a Pretty Face
If you peruse the selection of women's skis on skis.com, you will notice that many of them have some beautiful, and, okay, I’ll say it, feminine graphics. If you think this means these skis are less athletic than their male counterparts, think again. For example, when K2 first introduced the Burnin’Luv, many politically correct female skiers were offended by the yellow and red floral design. However, once they took a ride on this amazing ski and discovered its aggressive and energetic qualities, they begin to realize that this female-specific ski was more than just a pretty face.
Ironically, many upper level female skiers loved the idea of female-specific skis. One recreational racer explained it:
“When I’m ripping down the slope, and I’m wearing my helmet and goggles, nobody can tell that I’m female. If a little girl were watching me, she might think that only guys can go that fast. But if she looks at my skis, she knows that I’m a chick. I want to inspire young female skiers and let them know that chicks on sticks can rip!”
Ironically, for the past decade snowboarders both male and female have been seen on boards with graphics worthy of an art museum. Nobody would dare call female boarders “girly-girls.” Even worse, don’t even think of calling a male boarder a “girly man.”
But seriously speaking, there are many reasons female skiers should consider a female-specific ski. First off, take a look at your body. Are you built like a man? I don’t think so. The manufacturers of female-specific skis understand this. They know that in general women are lighter than men. Additionally, the female center of gravity is lower than a man’s. As such, a unisex ski might tend to put her in the back seat. These days, Rossignol, Atomic, K2, Salomon and other ski manufacturers all design women’s skis for every level of proficiency. You can find women’s carving skis, women’s race skis, women’s twin tip skis, women’s powder skis and any type of ski you can think of. Now get out there and have some fun!
Women's Twin Tip Skis
First they arrived at the ski slopes. Then you saw them on the steeps. Eventually you found the babes on the bumps. Now, look out dudes, the Betties are invading the park and pipes, and they’ve got the right skis to play in your playground. They’re called twin tips.
On a twin tip ski, both the tips and tails are turned upwards. This allows a daring and adventurous skier to ski with her back to the mountain. However, there’s more to a twin tip skis than double tips. In general, they are considerably wider at the tip, tail and underfoot than traditional alpine skis. They are also made of softer materials than their alpine brothers and sisters. Can you guess why this is so? If you are going to land from a jump, you’re going to want some cushioning underfoot.
So you like to ride the rails. Some women’s twin tips feature a side cut that is especially designed for jibbing. For example, check out the Rossignol Scratch Create It FS Twin Tip Skis on skis.com. They are made with a mini ROSSITOP cap, which is designed to strengthen the top of the ski. This also makes it more resistant to chipping and extends the life of the ski by augmenting its durability.
For a more versatile women’s twin tip ski, consider the Salomon Scarlet Twin Tip Ski. These skis can switch to different parts of the mountain as easily as Scarlet O’Hara can switch her affections from Ashley to Rhett Butler. However, there’s no 18-inch waistline for this gal. When Scarlet gets bored with the park, she wants to float in the powder. For that, she needs a 96mm waist, and boy, is she glad that she has one!
Kids' Skis
Every snow-sliding parent longs for the day when his or her child can go on ski trips. For parents, nothing is more exciting then watching their children glide down the hill with super-sized smiles on their faces. When they make the transition from pizza to french fries, it’s even more exciting. However, in order to do this efficiently, your kids will need the right equipment.
Once your children are old enough to learn to ski, your choice of kids skis will determine their staying power in the sport. Start by enrolling your kids in ski school. In general, kids' ski instructors can give you a better idea of the type of ski that would best suit your child’s needs. However, prior to purchasing kids' skis, make sure that you have bought the appropriate ski boot for your child.
Your decision will be based on your child’s height, weight and skill level. While there are a number of powder, park and racing skis designed for kids, if your child is new to the sport, an all-mountain ski will suffice. Flexibility is a crucial criterion for choosing kids' skis.
Once you have made your decision, step away from the resort ski shop! Even at a supposed discount, you will pay top dollar. Instead, check out the great selection of kids' skis on ski.com.
Salomon and Atomic Women's Skis
If you have been reading women's ski reviews, you have probably heard the buzz about Atomic. In fact, just about every one of Atomic women's skis is receiving raves across the globe. For example, advanced, all-mountain female skiers have been singing the praises of the Atomic Sugar Mama.
This is a ski that will take a gal wherever she wants to go on the mountain. The Sugar Mama is a passport to the backcountry. However, when Ullr the snow God is stingy with the powder, the Sugar Mama will bust through crud and hold an edge on hard pack. Even better, they have an easy turn initiation and an energetic flex in the moguls. What more could a girl ask for?
Salomon women's skis have been also getting some good reviews. Take a look at the Salomon Origins on skis.com. Don’t be fooled by the pretty silk flowers that are placed under the transparent top sheet. This ski provides the responsiveness and control needed to mater the slopes with grace and fluidity. The elastomer pulse pads that are inserted under the full wood core reduce the unwanted chatter and vibration. Get ready for a smooth ride. Women ski reviewers say that the Salomon Origins felt safe and in control on mogul runs. It’s a ski that allows you to nudge your limits without pushing too hard.
Men's Skis
Although we’ve been giving a lot of lip service to the ladies, we have not forgotten about the guys. When choosing men's skis, there are a number of factors that should be considered. First off, size does matter. However, bigger is not better. One of the things that distinguishes shaped skis from straight skis is the fact that shaped skis are considerably shorter. Proper ski length is determined by height, weight, terrain and ability.
In general, when choosing skis, they should reach between your nose and your forehead. In most cases, a carving ski will be somewhat shorter, whereas a ski that likes to play in the powder, crud and moguls need to be a bit longer. Some ski professionals believe in choosing skis according to the skier’s body weight. For example, the average male weighs between 151 and 201 pounds. As such, the average ski lengths for men’s skis range between 160 and 170 centimeters. Guys who want to be able to ski all types of runs in good conditions might add an extra five centimeters. If they prefer to ski off piste or in deep powder, they might add an additional five centimeters. If you are a speed demon, you might prefer a longer ski, which will do a better job at dampening the vibrations that are associated with high speed skiing.
Aside from length considerations, it is important to choose skis that appropriate for your ability level. Over-estimating your ability level can lead to bad habits. That said, there are a number of skis that are appropriate for a few different levels. One prime example is the Volkl AC20. This superb ski is perfect for advanced skiers and for upper intermediates that want to improve their performance.
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