Downhill skiing, also commonly referred to as alpine skiing, takes place on snow-covered mountain slopes. Downhill skiing involves high-speed races as well as leisurely rides across back country trails. The outdoor specialists at REI.com recommend choosing your preferred type of riding terrain before purchasing a pair of downhill skis. Having a pair of correctly sized downhill skis remains a vital part of the learning process.
Function
Downhill skis vary in size depending on the intended use of the skis. The middle of your downhill skis, referred to as the waist, often fluctuates in size. Skis that have a thinner waist width allow you to perform hairpin turns. However, skis with a thin waist remain ideal for groomed mountain slopes. According to REI, skis used on back country trails often have the widest waist width. The wider waist helps to keep you elevated above the powdery snow of the natural skiing terrain.
Types
Downhill skiing encompasses various disciplines of snow skiing. All mountain skis allow you to ski on different kinds of terrain such as manicured slopes and untouched trails. The versatile all mountain skis generally have a medium sized waist. A more extreme form of downhill skiing, known as freestyle, involves performing aerial spins and maneuvers. Freestyle skis generally have a skinnier waist that helps to decrease the overall weight of the skis.
Considerations
The downhill skiing sizing guide has been based around your height and weight. Heavier skiers should utilize the wider models of the downhill skis as they will help to increase your stability. If you have an average weight, refer to the height sizing chart. According to the Alpine Skiing Guide, men that weigh anywhere from 150 to 175 lbs should use a pair of skis that has an approximate length of 167 cm. (See References 2) Women that weigh from 100 to 125 lbs. have a recommended ski length of 145 cm.
Size
Specialized downhill skis vary in size. According to REI, standard all mountain skis have a waist width of up to 85 mm. (See References 1) The wide models of the all mountain skis, designed specifically for the deepest of powdered snow, have a waist width that varies from 84 to 101 mm. The waist width of back country skiing models fluctuates from 78 to 102 mm. Thinner models of the back country skis are recommended for riding on hard packed snow.
Benefits
Having appropriately sized skis enables you to easily change the direction of the skis by shifting your body weight. Choosing a pair of skis that has an appropriate waist size, in regards to the riding terrain, will help to increase your maneuverability. All mountain skis have the added benefit of helping a novice skier to decide his favorite discipline of downhill skiing.
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