Skis

Our product range offers the following types of skis:

• Piste skis: perfect for those who stay on the slopes and find comfort during the descent the most important aspect.
• All mountain skis: for true all-rounders who are comfortable both on and off-piste. 
• Freeride skis: these easily carve through powder snow and keep you upright during all your off-piste adventures.

Skis come in different shapes and sizes. They all look pretty much the same at first glance, especially to beginners. But there are big differences. If you want to make a good choice, there are a few factors to consider: 

• Your level: be honest! Always consider your own experience, pace, and feel on the skis. 
• The type of ski: piste, all mountain, freeride, or race.
• Your preferences: do you prefer narrow skis for carving through the powder or wide skis for stability in deep snow? What kind of bindings and stiffness do you want?
• The length: the shorter your skis, the more agile you are. The longer your skis, the nicer the lines you make.

That’s a very good question. There are many different types of skis, even though at first sight they may seem very similar. As for the types, you have three options:

• Piste: short and narrow, fast and agile, super comfortable.
  
• All mountain: fitted with a fairly long nose, perfect for all rounders who go on and off-piste. 
• Freeride: lots of carrying power and manoeuvrability to keep you upright, even off-piste.

Shorter skis are more agile and easier to handle, making them perfect for beginners. Ideally, they should be 10 to 15 cm shorter than your height (they come to between your chin and forehead when held upright). You can make nicer lines on longer skis, but they are harder to manoeuvre. They are about 10 cm shorter than your height and ideal for advanced and expert skiers. 

First, if you are still developing your technique and do not yet feel 100% confident on skis, you are (still) a beginner. If you cannot yet descend the slopes without having to think about how to go about it, choose a pair of skis for beginners. Simply follow these golden rules: 

• Choose piste skis: comfort during descents is most important.
• Go for flexible bindings: these snap open faster in the event of a fall.
• Make sure your skis are flexible: the more flexible, the more forgiving when making mistakes.
• Opt for shorter skis: they’re easier to handle than long skis. 

Hard snow or stones will dull the sharp edges of your skis after a while. But you really need those sharp edges to make smooth turns and glide down the slopes with a stable stance. How often your skis need sharpening depends entirely on how often you use them. Are you on the slopes for a week once every winter? Then it’s best to sharpen them (or have them sharpened) before and after your holiday. If you dive into the snow for longer than a week each season, make sure they are maintained in between as well. 

Sharp steel edges are important for the performance of your skis, but sharpening can also have a negative impact on the lifespan of your favourite pair. Each time they are sharpened, a small part of the steel edge is removed. So you should really only sharpen them when necessary. That way you can enjoy your skis for up to 10 years! 

Don’t fancy doing the sharpening yourself? Then don’t forget that our very own Snow Atelier can take care of the maintenance of your winter sports equipment.