Buying Skis for Intermediates

If you have been skiing for a while and want to get skis appropriate for your skill level, this guide can lead you in the right direction. As you are no longer a beginner and ski with confidence, you need more responsive skis to progress further.

There is a wide range of skis at the advanced level, so it is best to focus on where you want to spend most of your time skiing and get skis perfect for the type of terrain or style.
Additional details like width, turning radius, and different ski profiles will give you an even better understanding of how to personalize your choices. Our goal is to guide you to find the perfect skis for your skiing style so you can have the time of your life on your ski vacation.

If you are new to skiing or still at the beginner level, we have created a guide for that as well. Have a read through Ski Buying Guide for Beginners for more details.

ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS - The best all-round skis

All Mountain skis are perfect for those who enjoy a mixture of on and off-piste. They will still be most suitable for on-piste skiing but will have the added ability to handle some softer snow off-piste. You can enjoy the whole day skiing and not worry about the changing quality of the snow on the slope. Although they are great for various snow conditions, they aren't necessarily a master of any one terrain. Another characteristic of All Mountain skis is the rocker tip where the front of the ski rises upwards off the snow. This enables these skis to turn easily and handle bumpy conditions. If you’re only going to own one pair of skis to do it all, this is what you want.

Choosing All Mountain skis:
There is a wide range of All Mountain skis, and their performance on different snow conditions can differ. One of the main characteristics of the ski that can help you narrow down the selection is the waist width of the ski. The waist width for All Mountain skis typically ranges from 80-100 mm. Skis with a narrower width favor on-piste, and the wider width increases the performance off-piste. So if you are mainly skiing on the piste and occasionally try some off-piste skiing, it is a good idea to choose skis with a waist width closer to 80 mm. On the other hand, if you like to explore the soft snow next to the slopes, you might want to choose skis with wider widths closer to 100 mm.

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PISTE SKIS - The best skis for carving on groomed pistes

If you like to spend most of your time on groomed slopes and focus on your technique, then a pair of Piste skis will be right for you. The skis are designed with a narrow waist ranging from 68 - 80 mm and a camber profile. This allows the skis to grip the firm surface of the snow and give you great control.

Choosing Piste skis:
Skiers that spend most of their time on-piste generally develop a skiing style that favors a particular size of turn. Choosing skis that have a turning radius that matches your style will help you get the most out of them. Piste skis turning radius is typically between 13- 17 m where the small numbers produce shorter turns and the larger numbers produce bigger turns. It is also important to note that there is a wide range of Piste Skis so remember to search for skis appropriate to your level. The beginner skis will be softer and more forgiving than stiffer and heavy expert skis.

Within the Piste skis, you can also find high-end Race skis that are typically very stiff and performance-oriented. Slalom Race Skis (SL) will have a very small turning radius around 10-13 m while Giant Slalom Race Skis (GS) has a very large turning radius of 22 m and more creating better stability.

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PARK SKIS/TWIN TIP SKIS - The best skis for performing tricks

Park skis are perfect for those of you who desire to spend time in the snowpark practicing jumps, boxes, and half pipes. The main feature is the twin tip profile where the skis rise up sharply at both ends. This allows skiers to take-off or land in switch (backward) without the tails catching the snow. Bindings are generally mounted closer to the middle of the ski to help weight distribution when spinning and jumping.

Choosing Park skis:
When it comes to choosing the perfect park skis for you, it is a good idea to know what tricks you want to perform. If you like the idea of having lots of fun and mainly focus on performing tricks on boxes and rails, then you should go for Park skis that have a wider waist width, around 85mm to 105mm, to provide you with better stability. These will usually be also quite soft and flexible. If you are leaning towards more speed and bigger jumps, you will need narrower Park skis that are in a range of 80-95 mm in waist width. These will also be much stiffer for better stability when going fast or landing a jump.

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FREERIDE SKIS / Powder SKIS - The best skis for powder snow

Freeride skis are for those who like to spend most of their time off-piste and in powder conditions. The wide width, generally between 90-120 mm, together with the early-rising tip (tip rocker) will help them float on the top of the snow and make turning easier. Although skiing technique in deep snow is very different from skiing on the sloped, it is a good idea to have a lot of experience from skiing on the groomed snow before getting your Freeride skis. In order to enjoy your adventures and stay safe, avalanche safety gear is always strongly recommended.

Choosing Freeride skis:
When it comes to choosing freeride skis, selecting the optimal waist width for your skiing style will help you narrow your options and make the right decision. Freeride skiing with a larger waist width (100 mm and above) will help you stay on top of the snow, keep you floating, and save your energy. Wide skis will therefore be perfect for those who want to do freeride skiing in deep snow. They are not suitable for piste skiing as they are hard to control on hard-packed snow for the lack of grip ability. So if you are leaning towards a bit more versatile skis that are great for softer snow but you still want that maneuverability, skis with waist width around 90-100 mm will be a better choice. You will especially enjoy these skis if you love skiing in the forest next to the slopes.
To put it simply, the wider the skis are, the better they float on powder snow but also the less they are able to carve on firm snow.

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TOURING SKIS / Backcountry SKIS - The best skis for climbing adventures outside of resorts

Touring skis are for the adventurous ones who want to explore off-piste areas outside of the resort. It involves having appropriate equipment such as touring bindings and skins to allow you to ascend up the mountain before descending. The width of the skis can range from medium to wide (80 - 120 mm) and they are lighter in design to make climbing easier. This is a very niche type of ski that requires lots of experience and therefore is suitable mostly for experts. Avalanche safety gear is necessary equipment for your adventures.

Choosing touring skis:
When selecting touring/backcountry skis, it's essential to determine whether you're more inclined towards uphill or downhill skiing.
Touring skis designed for downhill and powder conditions are typically longer (no more than 10 cm of body length). To better float on top of the snow, these skis generally have a wider waist (95 mm and up). Conversely, skiers focused on uphill performance prefer shorter skis to minimize weight, usually around chin height, and narrower skis (width 95 mm and below).

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Choose the right Ski Length

The length of your skis should mainly reflect your height, skill level, and the type of skiing you wish to do.

Most skis come in 4 or 5 sizes, allowing you to choose the size closest to your recommended length from the size chart (3 cm longer or shorter than the number is not an issue).

Weight and skiing style can also be secondary factors in determining the best ski length. If your weight is significantly lighter or heavier than the average person, you can opt for shorter or longer skis. Shorter skis are better for lighter individuals, and longer skis are suitable for heavier individuals. Skiing style is akin to speed; therefore, more aggressive/fast skiers will benefit from longer skis for improved stability, while steadier and more cautious skiers can maximize maneuverability with shorter skis.

The picture illustrates the ski length for an intermediate skier

	All Mountain/ Piste skis	Twintip/ Park skis	Freeride/ Backcountry
First-timer	your height -20 cm	-10 cm	-5 cm
Beginner	your height -15 cm	-10 cm	-5 cm
Intermediate	your height -10 cm	-5 cm	your height
Advanced	your height -5 cm	your height	your height
Expert	your height	your height	+5 cm

Skis with or without Bindings

Bindings are undeniably a crucial part of your skis. They not only secure you to the skis but also ensure your safety. Conveniently, all Piste skis and most All Mountain skis come with bindings, so you don't have to worry about choosing the right bindings as they match the level of experience of the selected skis. Skis with bindings are easily size-adjustable, which can be very convenient if you're renting ski boots or sharing skis within your family.

Skis without bindings require purchasing bindings separately, giving you the option to customize your choice and select their placement on the skis. This is especially beneficial if you're an experienced Freeride or Park skier. Mounting services can be quite pricey; however, if you order skis with bindings from SkatePro, we mount and adjust the bindings at a competitive price. More information on bindings can be found in the Buying alpine ski bindings guide.

Waist Width

Like length, ski width significantly influences performance, with the waist width measurement being the most crucial. The waist of the ski is found at the narrowest part and is the distance from edge to edge given in millimeters.

The width measurement is always shown in the ski specs and written alongside the tip and tail measurements: Tip - Waist - Tail. The waist width is therefore always located in the middle. Example: (i.e. 141/108/124mm)

Skis with narrow waists are generally easier to turn as it takes little time to switch from one edge to another. The pressure and weight from the skier are more concentrated over a narrower/smaller area, which in turn increases the grip on the snow. Wider waisted skis have a larger surface area, enhancing their ability to float on powder snow. They also provide good stability when riding over choppy or rough terrain.

Turning Radius

Simply put, the ski radius determines how easily the skis turn. This information is usually shown in the specifications of the ski model.

There is no universal answer to which turning radius is best, as it depends on the preferred style and type of ski. The turning radius can be divided into three categories: small, medium, and large.

A small turning radius is found on-piste skis with a radius of 14 meters or less. They are great for skiing on groomed snow and for skiers who prefer making short, quick turns.

Medium turning radius is mostly found on All Mountain skis with a radius between 15 - 18 meters and is ideal for those who enjoy a mix of on and off-piste skiing.

Large turning radius found on Freeride skis ranges from 19 meters and above. Skis with a large radius offer great stability when skiing in deep snow or at high speeds, making them suitable for fast, aggressive skiers.

Ski Profiles - Rocker and Camber

CAMBER

Skis with camber have an arcing curve that runs along most of the ski, causing the middle part to rise off the snow. This shape increases pressure at the tip and tail, thereby improving edging ability. Camber is found in nearly all Piste skis as well as many All Mountain and Freeride skis.

ROCKER/REVERSE CAMBER

Skis with rocker are identified by the upward curve at the tip or both the tip and tail of the ski. Rocker enhances the ability to float on deep snow and facilitates easy entry and exit from turns. This feature is present in nearly all types of skis, with some exceptions within Piste Skis.

FULL ROCKER

This profile is designed to excel in powder snow and simplifies turning. It is very forgiving and generally feels shorter than its actual length since both the tip and tail do not contact the snow.

TIP ROCKER

Offers a good balance between maneuverability and effective edging. The camber extends along most of the ski’s length to provide excellent edge grip and control, while the tip rocker adds playfulness and enhances performance in powder snow.

TIP AND TAIL ROCKER

This combination of rocker and camber is a highly popular profile due to its versatility. The tip and tail rocker excels in powder snow and the camber enhances its All Mountain capability. On-piste, it feels slightly shorter due to the rockered tips and tails.

TWINTIP

The raised tip and tail make it easy to ski backward, take off or land a jump backward, and generally make the skis very playful. The bindings are usually mounted near the center of the skis to provide a better sense of balance when performing tricks.