Types Of Skis

Much before you begin learning skiing, you first have to familiarize yourself with its primary equipment - the skis. A flat, narrow-bottomed device, a ski has a slightly pointed and upturned tip to smoothly slide through hard and powder snow without digging into it. To prevent the skier from falling off or injuring himself, the ski has bindings to attach the boots of the skier. However, with the increasing types of skiing styles, there has been a constant increase in the different styles of skis as well. As such, every skiing style has a different ski designated to it, as a ski designed for a certain terrain does not work well on any other terrain. Thus, it is better to learn the various types of skis so that you choose the right kind to travel at heights through the white silvery snow smoothly and easily. Let us look at the different ski types by surfing through the lines herein.

 

 

Alpine skis are lightweight, shorter and wider than most other ski types, allowing the skier to take tight turns on hard snow. Also known as downhill skis, alpine skis are best used on hard packed and well-groomed surfaces found on most recreational ski slopes. The ski bindings are attached to the foot at both the toe and heel. The bindings are built with a mechanism that detaches the skis from the foot when a certain amount of force is applied. They are most suited for advanced race levels of skiing.

 

Freeride skis enter after you have mastered the art of skiing. They are best used in tough conditions allowing the skier to float through powder snow, cut through crud snow, and slice through slush snow with ease and convenience. Freeride skis are appropriate for advanced and expert race skiing.

 

A Telemark ski is a kind of downhill or touring ski that was initiated by Sondre Norheim and named after the city where it was designed, Telemark, Norway. It is the first of its kind to include a distinct waist that makes turning much easier. This kind of ski has bindings that are attached only at toes leaving the heels free. Novices are advised to use soft-flex Telemark skis that come with a broad tip, narrow waist, and broad tail.

 

Thin and lighter than Alpine skis, cross country skis are used on different kinds of terrains. Similar to Telemark skis, cross country skis too are attached only at the toes. They are generally coated with wax that reduces the friction during a forward motion. However, some cross country ski models are designed with wax coating that increase friction during backward motions.

 

Freestyle Skis
The increasing popularity of freestyle skiing has given way to various new and specialized kinds of skis. Every kind of freestyle skiing requires its own style of ski. For example, Mogul skiers need to make quick and precise turns through a Mogul field with a tight control, thus, there is a Mogul ski for this purpose. Similarly, aerialists use lightweight skis that allow them to ski in a straight line to take off the ramp and land at the bottom. Further, acro-skiers require “ballet skis” that work like figure skates and help in performing front and back, spin, swirls, and cross-over steps.