Choosing the size of your pair of skis is not an easy task. We will break down with you the essential steps in this ski tutorial to guide you as best as possible in choosing the most perfect size according to your needs. After defining your skiing level, program, and style of discipline, it will be much easier for you to choose your new pair of skis in the right size.
How to determine my ski size based on my skiing program?
Even before choosing a pair of skis based on their length, it is important to define what type of skier we are in relation to the types of skis available on the market. This choice is important because depending on the discipline that interests you the most, you will need to opt for a ski range that is shorter or longer than your usual height.
We have dedicated an article to you in our ski buying guide with the page "How to choose your ski program," as well as a video with one of our technicians. You can watch the latter and read our article to help you choose your ski program. Defining your skiing style and knowing your skill level is very useful for choosing your ski size.
Below is a quick diagram to help you choose your ski size based on the practices we offer on our Hawaiisurf site.
How to choose the size of piste skis based on my preferences and the program?
When your practice is intended only for skiing on marked trails, you will ski on pairs of skis with a waist width between 70 and 85 MM maximum. In the ski industry, these are called fairly short and narrow skis. They are skis with a "unidirectional" shape, with a front tip designed exclusively for forward skiing, making it impossible to ski "switch" like on twin-tip skis (Freestyle). This type of ski is especially effective on hard snow, such as on groomed trails after a snowcat has passed in the morning.
We could classify and propose several major categories of skiing intended for piste practice, according to your level and desires:
The All-Mountain-Piste skis:
Here we classify skis mainly intended for "all-mountain piste" use for practitioners with a technical background from beginner to intermediate, making their first descents or skiing to relax for 2/3 hours maximum in a day at a gentle pace. Skiing smoothly while progressing calmly is how this program should be viewed. For this type of skiing, we recommend choosing a length between -5 CM and +5 CM maximum relative to your height.
Choosing a ski shorter than your usual height will allow you to turn more easily, offering you much more stability even at high speed, thus gaining control and confidence in your skiing progress. If you want to take them slightly taller than your height, make sure to choose a pair of skis with a sufficiently long Rocker in the front tip, so it will not affect your curves and turns, since the front tip with a greater angle will not come into direct contact with the slope.
The Polyvalent-Freeride (or All mountain) skis:
This type of ski offers conditions suitable both for piste skiing and off-piste areas for freeride practice, allowing you to enjoy better snow conditions and ski away from the crowd while ensuring you are equipped in case of avalanche risk. These are skis also found in Freerando programs. Often with a unidirectional shape, flat tail, rocker in the front tip, and a waist width between 85-95 MM and 90-100 MM for skis balanced 50/50 between piste and freeride, or you can opt for twin-tip shapes and different camber and rocker profiles.
You can choose skis that match your height in this type of program or up to 10 CM shorter if you consider your practice more focused on piste than off-piste, but still want a ski that is more lively and versatile than a classic piste ski.
Freeride skis:
Here we are talking about true wide skis with a waist width of more than 105 MM, designed to go seek the deepest curve in deep snow, to make the first tracks on a steep slope. This type of ski exists both in a unidirectional shape and in a twin-tip shape, with +/- rocker and especially long tips with more significant angles that will allow you to plane and float easily in deep snow.
With this type of ski, it is recommended to choose a length about 5 CM shorter if you still want to keep some versatility and your skill level is not yet that of Candide Thovex, or conversely to take up to +10 CM to practice the discipline with excellence.
The Polyvalent-Freestyle skis:
This is the ideal program for those who want to make every slope a playground with big tricks, jumping over bumps, fir trees, rocks, and all other natural features, or to reserve themselves for snowpark practice demonstrating your creativity in both slope-style and Park. Skis in this classification are considered to have a waist width between 85 and 95 MM. All are twin-tipped (tip at both front and rear) to allow practice both forwards and switch.
Choose skis that are a few centimeters shorter than your height, from -5 CM to -10 CM maximum, to gain playfulness and maneuverability.
Freestyle-Backcountry skis:
The ski program for Freestyle technicians who want to chain tricks off-piste in heavy conditions, using nature as furniture to jump and take off. This type of ski offers rocker at the front and rear tips, and a bidirectional shape, with a waist width easily exceeding 100 MM. In summary, it's the perfect combo between Freestyle and Freeride skis.
Choose skis with a length between +5 and +10 CM maximum above your height depending on your level.
Should I take my weight into account when choosing the size of my skis?
Indeed, the weight of the skier will have an impact on the glide quality and the lift of the skis. The heavier the skier, the more they will need to opt for longer skis to optimize lift, while a lighter skier will tend to choose shorter skis in length to ensure excellent maneuverability and reduce the turning radius.
Thus, larger builds will tend to choose skis in the higher size range, while the opposite will be true for smaller builds, regardless of the ski's intended use and your skill level.
Should women choose their skis in the same way as men?
No difference in the choice of ski equipment whether you are a woman or a man. The only fact is that the sizes offered are smaller, because on average you have smaller builds than men (height and weight), and your ski constructions are sometimes better suited to your level of physical fitness. There are skis identical to the men's versions but with a bit more flexibility, thus more riding comfort.
Don't forget to find all our articles in the ski buying guide to help you choose your ski boots or to purchase your poles, for example.