The long and short of skis
You’re going skiing, so, obviously, you need a pair of skis. But which skis do you buy? There is a considerable range on the market.
First, know your skis
Knowing the different parts of the ski and the functions they play in skiing will help you decide which pair of skis are the right ones for you.Material
While some skis today are still made from wood, modern skis are more commonly made from fibre glass or aluminium.Base
This is the bottom side - the part that actually comes in contact with the snow.Top/Deck
This is the top of the board, where the bindings are mounted. Most skis have mounting holes in the deck so you can connect your bindings to your board in an angle or stance that suits you.Camber
The camber affects the responsiveness of the ski. It is the arched space under the centre of a Ski when it lays on a flat surface, resting on the tip/nose and tail.Contact Points
The places where the skis come into contact with the snow. You can find the contact points by placing the ski on a smooth, flat surface. You then slip a sheet of paper under the centre of the ski and slide it toward either end of the ski. Where the paper stops – either end – are the contact points.Tip/Nose
The tip/nose is the front end which should always be pointed upwards so that you don’t grip or dig into the snow.Shovel
Found at the front end of the ski, the shovel is the widest part.Waist
Found around the middle of ski, the waist is the narrowest point.Tail
The back end of the skis.Overall Length
The ski length is measured – most commonly in centimetres - from the tip/nose to the tail.Edge
The metal edge running along the sides of the skis. This is what carves into the snow when you turn.Effective Edge
This is the length of metal edge on your skis that touches the snow. It’s the ‘effective part’ of the ski you use to make – carve - a turn. A ski with a longer effective edge will give you more stability and control, while a shorter effective edge will make turning looser and easier.Sidecut Radius
The side cut radius is the measure of how deep or shallow the ski will ‘cut’ the snow. The measure is taken from the tip/nose of the ski to the middle (waist). A larger sidecut will allow you to make big arching turns; a smaller sidecut radius will allow you to make tighter turns.
