More than five million people skied at American ski resorts in 2007, according to the National Ski Area Association. Millions more skied in the backcountry or went cross-country skiing. Each of these skiers was able to choose from a variety of skis designed to help them enjoy the sport of skiing. Modern skis feature high-tech materials, innovative design and are available in many sizes and styles to suit almost any skier.
History
According to Morten Lund and Seth Masia of the International Skiing History Association, skiing dates back at least 5,000 years, when hunters and trappers used skis to navigate in deep snow. The first cambered skis, which were bowed in the middle to keep the skier from sinking in the snow, appeared about 1850, while thin light skis made of hickory were manufactured in Norway about 1882. New materials for skis, from aluminum to plastic to fiberglass, were developed during the 1900s. Sidecut or shaped skis were introduced in the 1990s. These skis have a narrow waist and wide tips and tails, allowing for greater maneuverability. New shapes such as twin-tip skis and rocker, or reverse camber, skis continue to test new frontiers in ski design.
Construction
Modern skis consist of a shaped platform made of a synthetic material such as plastic, fiberglass or Kevlar, with a sharpened metal edge. The metal allows the ski to bite into the snow, giving the skier traction on turns and making it easier to stop. The sidecut of the ski --- the narrower width of the middle of the ski compared to the width of the toe and tail --- allow skiers to carve turns. Bindings connect the ski with the ski boot. Alpine skis have fixed bindings, which lock the entire foot to the ski, while cross-country and telemark skis connect the boot only at the toe, leaving the heel free to lift and help the skier glide on flat surface and climb uphill.
Types
Skis are designed for the terrain you'll be skiing. Cross-country skis feature long, narrow platforms and free-heel bindings that allow the skier to glide efficiently across flat surfaces. Downhill skies have a larger, shorter platform to allow for more maneuverability on slopes and the rounded curves characteristic of alpine skiier. Powder skis are a version of downhill skies with an even wider platform. These skis float through deep powder snow while still being easy to turn. Telemark skis combine the shorter, wider platform of alpine or downhill skis with the free-heel bindings of cross-country skis. This hybrid helps telemark skiers maneuver in backcountry terrain, allowing them to climb some slopes and ski down others. Twin-tip skis make skiing backwards easier and are designed for free-style and trick skiing.
Selection
Choose the right ski for the terrain -- cross-country skis for cross-country skiing and alpine skis for downhill. Downhill skiers can further choose from all-purpose skis, telemark or powder skis. Skis are also rated for beginners, intermediate and experts. Beginner skis are more lightweight and easier to maneuver, but may not be as stable as a more aggressive skier desires.
Once you've chosen a type and style of ski, select the right length for your height. Beginners and intermediate skiers can more readily carve turns with a shorter ski. Racers and experts may opt for skis that are slightly longer than the skier is tall. It's a good idea to take skis for a test run to see how they feel underfoot before you buy them. Most ski shops at ski areas allow you to "demo" several pairs of skis for a low fee. The ski that's right for your best friend may not work as well for your personal skiing style.
Care
Protect your skis from damage by storing them upright in a stand. Transport them in a ski rack on your vehicle. A case or binding cover can protect your bindings from road crud and dirt. Downhill and telemark skis and some cross-country skis need their bases waxed and edges sharpened to perform their best. You can have a ski shop do this for you or learn to do it yourself. You should clean the skis before waxing them, and repair into scratches in the base with a filler sold for this purpose. Some cross-country skis are waxless and don't need waxing, but should still be cleaned with a soft cloth from time to time.
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