While there's a lot of variation in ski specs between brands and models, you'll find that skis intended for a particular use tend to share a set of similar characteristics. For example, skis meant for use on groomed runs will have a narrow waist to give you better grip on turns, while skis for use in deep powder will have much more surface area than other skis. Wide carvers, or all-mountain wides, make the best all-purpose models, but skilled skiers can adapt other ski styles to multiple uses as well.
Carvers
Also known as all-mountain skis, carvers have a narrow-waisted hourglass shape making them easy to turn on groomed runs. While carvers aren't the most versatile of ski types, beginners will appreciate how easily these skis turn and racers will enjoy high-speed, high-performance slalom carvers. You can purchase wide carvers, with a wider waist, if you want an all-purpose ski that handles adequately on both groomed runs and powder.
Powder
Powder skis have the widest waists and broadest platforms of all downhill ski types. The greater surface area helps you float on the surface of steep, deep powder, although novices and intermediate skiers may have a hard time controlling powder skis in other snow conditions.
Freestyle
Freestyle skis center your weight on the middle of the ski for greater maneuverability. Often referred to as twin tip skis, because many models have upturned tips on both front and back ends, letting you slide both forward and backward with equal ease. Freestyle skis occupy the widest range of waist widths, from 80 to 122 millimeters, according to REI, as many models are designed to perform not just in the park and pipe or on moguls, but on groomed runs and powder, too.
Telemark
Telemark skis are much like other alpine skis, but the telemark binding doesn't fix your heel to the ski. You use this free-heel capability to make telemark turns by bending your inside knee, which raises your inside heel up off the ski. Telemark skis have a sidecut--the difference between waist and tip or tail width--of 12 to 20 millimeters. Telemark skis also tend to be softer and more flexible than other types of alpine skis, although telemark racing skis are relatively stiff.
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