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Skiing & Snowboarding:
Shop Smart for New Gear

By Darrell Karl

If you are thinking about switching to shape skis or buying a new snowboard, hereês some honest advice on the gear you may need. There's a lot of excitement in the ski industry right now, much of it comes from the fact that the shape ski is absolutely the biggest improvement in ski equipment since plastic ski boots. There are a lot of companies jumping on the snowboard bandwagon, however, one thing hasn't changed: quality counts. Here's what you need to know to buy smart.

Skis

Many of today's skiers have common reactions after trying shape skis. They can ski for longer periods and are less fatigued because the ski is doing more of the work and the leg muscles are not. Their knees are not as sore and hips don't bother them as much, whatever muscle functions they used to keep the ski carving are now being done by the increased side cut and shorter length of the ski.

Intermediate skiers who are stuck at that level can turn easier and improve their ability faster with the deeper carving action that shape skis can provide. Many experts initially resisted the shape ski, but are now realizing that these skis can do things that their old skis just couldn't. This is evident in the fact that World Cup ski racers are slalom racing in 170 cm skis. This was unheard of even five years ago.

So what is a "shape" ski? All skis have had some shape but the new breed of skis has more. The shape of a ski is basically the difference between the width of the ski at the tip, the waist, and the tail. Shape skis have similar waists but wider tips and tails thus creating more shape (think of an hourglass). This shape is commonly referred to as side cut. One of the biggest misconceptions is that shape skis are the same. This is definitely not the case, since shape skis come in many different dimensions. The trick to getting the most out of these new skis is to pick a ski that has a shape that will lend itself to improving your technique, considering the terrain and your style of skiing.

You can use a few basic guidelines to narrow down your choices. Then talk with a qualified salesperson at a good ski shop that can ask you the right questions to determine how and where you ski to find two or three models that may work. As far as length, you will want shape skis that are 10 cm shorter than equivalent straight skis. A good rule of thumb is the more radical the side cut of the ski or width throughout, the shorter length you will need to ski it. So you should be on different length skis, depending on the shape and width of the ski.

A beginning skier should stay away from skis that have a wide tail because that will make it difficult to progress. A ski with a "V" shape (wider tip) is best for beginners. The new breed of shape skis makes it easier and faster for people to learn and improve performance. For the intermediate skier that has good technique, these skis will help you progress to the advanced recreational level that you many have been trying to achieve for years. Even the expert skier who doesn't need much help from the skis will benefit because they deliver higher performance, resulting in more fun — and that's the reason why we ski!

Snowboards

The biggest concern when looking for snowboards should be quality, from companies that produce their own boards. There are a lot of companies jumping on the bandwagon that do not have quality construction that is going to last. Even 70 to 80 pound children find ways to stomp and grind and jump and beat up a snowboard. Inferior construction will not hold up to the rigors of the terrain park at your local mountain.

Snowboards are basically broken down into freeride or freestyle boards, but many will cross over to handle both styles.

A freeride board is designed to ride the entire mountain, whether it's carving good turns on groomed snow or ungroomed snow in the glades and woods. A freeride board is longer and has a deeper side cut and must be torsionally stiff to hold on icy snow. Many crossover skiers are more comfortable on freeride boards because they are more similar to their skis.

The freestyle board tends to be shorter and wider so it's easier to maneuver and easier to land tricks. A shorter, stiffer nose and tail also allow better spinning in the air and transitions up steep icy halfpipe walls. Generally, freestyle riders stand on the middle of the board to easily go forward and back, while freeriders stand further back for more carving control.

Similar to buying skis, it's important to talk with good shops and salespeople that can help determine what's right for you. If you like to do it all, there are many good models that are designed to be a combination of both styles. More and more skiers are crossing over to try snowboarding. Everybody says it's easy to learn snowboarding. It is true that after the first couple of days you will improve quickly, but don't be discouraged if the first day is difficult. Once you learn the basics you will improve quickly.

A hot new trend you may want to try is twin tip skis and ski boards. The days of skiers and snowboarders not getting along and wanting to separate on the slopes are going away. Skiing, snowboarding, ski boarding, or twin tipped skiing — it doesn't matter. If the sun is out and the snow conditions are good, who cares what you are sliding down the mountain with as long as you're out there having fun with friends and family.

Darrell Karl and his wife Diana own High Adventure Ski-Board-Patio in Latham. Darrell grew up in Guilderland, resides in Clifton Park, and has been in the ski industry since 1981.

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