Choosing the Right Ski Equipment, From Bindings to Boots

A Professional Ski Instructor Tells You How to Make the Right Choices

If you’re one of those skiers who still insists on using gear that’s been in the back of your garage since the 1970’s, you might want to consider trying the new technology this year. I know, I know, you’ve thought about trying new skis “one of these days” but you still can’t quite talk yourself out of just one more year on those beloved, rust-covered Heads. Well, that approach could actually be keeping you from enjoying one of the best ski trips of your life.

Back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, skis were long, heavy tug boats that towered over your head. The bindings were precarious contraptions that bordered on being dangerous; once in a while they’d even release. And your leather boots gave you just a little more support than your Converse basketball shoes. Well, all of that has changed.

Shaped Skis
Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to find a pair of skis that are not “shaped.” Conventional skis are a thing of the past. The term, “shaped”, refers to the hour glass design that all contemporary skis have. Based on the shape of a snowboard, shaped skis are wider in the tip and tail (front and back) and narrower at the waist (the middle). When you tip moving skis onto their edges, the skis turn themselves. But are all shaped skis alike?