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de How to choose the right ski program with Hawaii Surf Skishop
For several seasons now, we have been able to witness beautiful technological revolutions in the ski industry, and that we owe it both to brands, but above all to certain riders (pro skiers) who have gone to explore many slopes to demonstrate that downhill skiing could be done differently than simply downhill on a marked trail in a ski resort. Thus the new names sometimes borrowed from snowboarding such as Freestyle, Freeride, Backcountry or even Freerando have arrived in the catalogs of ski brands as well as in the specialized press.
In order to help you make your choice according to your desires of practitioners as well as your level, at Hawaii Surf Skishop, specialist in Freeskiing, we have taken care to classify our offer of skis into 5 large families, the specificities and content of which we will explain to you. of the ski program below.
Versatile-Piste skis.
It is a ski that incorporates all the skills of traditional piste skis, namely narrow and with a waist width of between 75 and 85 MM. In terms of shape, we find a so-called "unidirectional" shape which involves a raised tip only on the front of your ski and a flat tail. It is possible to find a low rocker in the front tip allowing better triggering of turns. This type of ski offers excellent skiability on piste, namely on groomed snow, giving it maximum grip. This type of construction gives these ski categories perfect precision on the piste to be able to make very precise curves.
This type of skiing with us is more like a "leisure and progressive" practice, offering more comfort, while allowing you to explore a few new sensations on the edges of the slopes, for example, to go skiing less worked snow. For this we will find skis with a little more width at the waist ranging from 85 MM up to 100 MM for the widest and most technical ones, thus allowing you to ski both on the piste and in powder. On this kind of slats we will find rocker on the front tip as well as sometimes a slight rocker depending on the model on the tail. This addition of rocker, which is not found on classic piste skis, will allow efficient driving in powder snow.
Versatile-Powder skis.
The ski that is classified in Versatile-Powder snow at Hawaiisurf will be able to adapt just as well to practice on the piste with worked and hard snow as during more "freeride" sessions by also going for descents in powder snow in edges of the track as in off-piste. We find the good all-round arguments, namely a majority of skis with "unidirectional" handling offering a raised front tip and a flat tail, which can thus maintain excellent driving on the piste, while having rocker front and on the tail, allowing passage easier in deep snow. A few brands have taken the gamble of offering a bidirectional (bi-tip) shape on this type of ski, giving it a more playful side and better driving in off-piste powder, but reducing grip on the piste, thus addressing for more technical skiers and with a good appreciation of the practice regardless of the terrain and the quality of the snow. We find skis with a waist width rather between 90 MM minimum and more than 110 MM depending on the model.
Versatile-Freestyle skis.
The bare skis that we classify in Versatile-Freestyle at HawaiiSurf Ski Shop are pairs of slats for practice on the slopes as well as in more specific sectors such as Snowpark. We find here skis with a waist width between 80 MM minimum up to about 95 MM. In terms of shape, this type of ski offers a "bispatulated/bidirectional" handling (tip which rises both at the front and at the rear). We find rocker both in the front tip and in the tail. With such a design, you will appreciate the playful, easy and playful side of the ski which is perfectly suited to practice on the piste, in the snowpark and on the edges of the piste.
In the classification of our Versatile-Freestyle skis, we have also classified skis known to be appreciated in a 100% snowpark practice see Jib. As all park skiers sometimes have a desire for the piste to express their talents and creativity, we did not want to isolate these skis by calling them "Freestyle-Park", however we can note some differences such as a width at the waist a little shorter than real all-rounders, as well as on some models a total absence of Rocker, with more rigidity and technicality in the grip. Skis therefore more for good Park skiers who need a robust product and for intensive practice in freestyle skiing.
Freestyle-Backcountry skis.
The practice of Bakccountry encompasses the most specific and technical part of Freestyle in alpine skiing. we will find pairs of slats with a fairly imposing waist width ranging from 100 MM (Mid Fat) to more than 135 MM (Fat Ski). We find a bidirectional shape with a tip unrolling both at the front and at the back to be able to ski both in front and in switch. We especially note the presence of two huge rockers on the two spatulas allowing to be able to plan in powder and to float constantly. These are skis that will be longer in size than your usual pairs of slats. They offer excellent handling in powder and heavy off piste but less precision and grip on hard snow like on piste, so this type of ski is rather reserved for excellent skiers. Having this kind of ski in your possession already implies being used to skiing more classic (versatile) slats on the piste or on the edges of the piste. With this kind of slats it is better to have a good technical background and be comfortable in your ski boots .
Freerando skis.
We have (for the moment) voluntarily ignored the real "100% Touring" skis to move towards a more versatile part and the idea of maintaining greater skiability in the descent than too much comfort and sporting practice. on the climb. Freerando skiing is the most modern discipline of alpine skiing, thus offering practitioners the possibility of combining classic alpine skiing and an approach to ski touring while enjoying the descent thanks to wider skis and heavier than 100% touring skis. You can ride on them at your choice of Freerando and touring bindings according to your desires and especially if the choice of a pair of freerando is oriented like your everyday ski or a secondary ski intended only for touring.
In terms of designs, we find a pattern quite similar to general-purpose powder skis, with a waist width of 85 MM going up to 100 MM for those who want to stuff themselves with big powder corridors. An often unidirectional shape (front spatula) with a bit of front rocker and a flat tail. We will be able to mount seals to be able to climb with efficiency and a good grip on the track before being able to descend. These are skis that are often lighter than ordinary skis, with a lot of technology in terms of materials and designs.