Also known as freestyle skis, twin-tip skis curve up on the front and back. Your boot attaches to the ski's center, where the ski is slimmest. While skiing in the middle of a ski may seem unfamiliar to a traditional skier, the ski may feel natural to a snowboarder. Twin-tip skis also allow skiers to perform tricks on the skis.
Terrain
The shape of twin-tip skis make them a good fit for park-and-pipe terrain parks, where the twin-tip ski can support the edges of the pipe. Ski enthusiasts can use their twin-tip skis where previously only snowboarders could ride. While they may be best suited for groomed runs, pipe and powder, twin-tip skis are maneuverable enough to ski down terrain that features level changes.
Skiing Backward
Because the back of twin-tip skis lifts up, you can actually ski backward on them. You can also land backward if necessary when performing ski tricks on a pipe. You can even use twin-tips to ski downhill backward -- but only try if you are an experienced skier, recommends GazetteXtra, a Wisconsin-based online newspaper.
Maneuverability
The dual tips on the twin-tip skis mean the skis make less contact with the snow than traditional skis do. It also means you center yourself over the skis. You may find twin-tip skis are as maneuverable as shorter skis. The skis provide both the maneuverability and the stability to handle powder's changing terrain.
Expert Insight
Although twin-tip skis may appeal to the younger set, older skiers are beginning to request them as well, Matt Carroll, general manager of the Double Diamond ski store in Vail, Colorado, told "The New York Times." "We know what the 15-year-old wants them for, and for the people in their 50s or 60s, I think it's a ski that looks a little more youthful and it is a little more forgiving," Carroll said. "If you're not quite as good a skier, you can sit back a bit because it won't shoot you into the next turn. A lot of people really like the feel."
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