Backwoods skiing, also called backcountry skiing, is a form of skiing that takes place in the wild away from groomed courses and tracks. This form of skiing can take skiers into remote locations and sometimes lead to overnight or multiple-day skiing trips. A different type of ski is used for this rather than the alpine skis often used for downhill skiing.
Length
Skis for backwoods skiing tend to be shorter than what you might use for touring, since you will be faced with obstacles in the wilderness and need improved agility and turning. Length tends to be based on weight, according to REI.com, and the best way to determine the appropriate length of ski for your body is to visit a ski retailer and use a sizing chart. However, once you have ample experience in backwoods skiing, you may have preferences that are shorter or longer than what a sizing chart suggests.
Waist Width
The waist is the narrowest part of your ski. Backcountry skis tend to feature wider waists in order to make for a more stable ride---more width leads to a more consistent touch on the snow, particularly in soft snow, making it less likely that you will fall. REI.com recommends backcountry skis feature at least a 50 mm waist to perform effectively.
Camber
Camber is the central arch featured on a ski. Camber works in association with the flex of a ski to provide a spring in the use of the ski, which is essential for making forward progress with a ski. A wax pocket underneath your ski boots creates a smooth surface that reduces friction when you take a step forward.
Sidecut
The sidecut is a cut-out of the sides of the ski that is calculated as the difference between the waist and the ends of the skis. Sidecut works with the waist of the ski to improve turning and carving by making it easier to keep contact with the snow through a sharp turn. Moderate sidecuts range between 10 and 20 mm and are good for backwoods skiing.
Flex
The flex of a ski is also referred to as its stiffness. Most backcountry skis feature moderate flex in them that allows you to maintain control while providing some degree of give. A moderate flex is also ideal for skiing that will take place over several different types of snow, which is likely in backwoods skiing. Moderate flex also helps make turning easier as opposed to the stiffness of touring skis, which tend to take a much straighter course than backcountry skis.
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