Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Been dreamin' about powder days and snow-filled weekends? It won't be long now... ski season is practically upon us. Two more resorts in Colorado are opening this Friday--Copper Mountain and the beautiful Wolf Creek. The remaining Rocky Mountain resorts, along with others in the West, are following suit in the next few weeks (Mammoth on the 9th, Winter Park the 14th, Squaw Valley the 17th) and the rest are just waiting for some snowfall. The only question remaining is: are you ready?

Got your skis tuned and waxed? Got your boots, poles, jacket, pants, gloves, and hat? If you're still in need of gear, or you need a little help shopping for it, check out our Alpine Skiing Guide. Created to give you a heads up on what you need and how to choose it, this guide takes the guesswork out of ski gear buying. It's especially great for beginners or those getting back into the sport after some time away.


Here's an excerpt from the Alpine Skiing Guide...

Determining Your Skiing Ability

In order to find the right ski for you, you first need to determine your skiing ability and terrain preference.

Determining your skill level is one of the most important factors to consider when you buy skis. You want to invest in skis that are designed for a skill level that’s slightly higher than your current ability level. Any less than that and you might be hampering your ability to advance without buying new skis. However, be careful not to buy skis that are too advanced – their design may actually hinder your performance. Here are the three basic skiing ability levels:

Recreational: Beginners and skiers who enjoy slower speeds on easy terrain. Control is an important factor when selecting recreational skis.
Intermediate: Experienced skiers who are comfortable controlling their speed and ski various runs. Responsive yet forgiving skis are best.
Expert: Very confident skiers who are fast and aggressive on steep and challenging terrain. For maximum performance, these skiers need responsive, high-tech skis.

Skis by Category

Ask yourself how you’re going to use your skis. Although all skis will basically work on all snow types, many are designed to either perform perfectly on specific surfaces or to offer all-around performance on many surfaces. For example, if you’re planning to ski only on well-groomed runs at a ski resort, you may want to invest in a pair of carving skis. However, if you want to ski off-piste too, all-mountain skis may be best for you.

Use the following list to help you determine your optimal skis.

General alpine skis are excellent for a hard, groomed piste, and are designed for easy turning.
All-mountain skis are designed for all types of terrain, from groomed slopes to off-piste conditions. Generally, these skis have a wider waist for more flotation.
Freestyle skis are great for moguls and acrobatics.
Carving skis are intended primarily for groomed runs. They range from beginner-level to high-speed slalom models.
Powder skis have broad platforms and broad waists to provide flotation in deep snow.
Twin tip skis feature a curved tip at both ends of the ski and are ideal for terrain parks.
Integrated skis are sold with bindings attached to allow skis to flex evenly, increasing contact with snow.

A Note on Women’s Skis
Skis specific to women are usually lighter in weight and have a softer flex than men’s skis. Also, the bindings on most women’s models are positioned farther forward to increase stability and make turning easier.

Read the rest of the Alpine Skiing Guide