Ski Equipment Demystified

A detailed examination of the often confusing array of ski equipment

By Lisa Marie Mercer

When ski instructors analyze their students' technique, they often speak of "hardware" and "software" problems. Software refers to a skier's anatomy, muscle imbalances and skill set, while hardware refers to their equipment. Fluid, efficient skiing requires choosing the most appropriate equipment for your height, weight, terrain choice and skill set and body type.

Ski Types

Manufacturers design ski equipment for different terrain and different skiing styles. Carving skis have a pronounced sidecut, which features wide tips and tails, and waists smaller than 70 millimeters. Since deep powder skiing does not involve carving movements, the skis are wider, with waists larger than 90 millimeters. Some ski poles have wide powder baskets, which keep the pole tips from getting stuck in the snow. Twin

tips, used in the terrain park and half-pipe are curved upward at the tip and tail, enabling the skier to ski forward and backwards. Racing skis are a stiffer version on carving skis. Racing poles are slightly bent, which reduces wind drag and supports aerodynamic skiing. Racing boots are also stiffer than regular alpine boots. Telemark equipment is similar to Nordic equipment, in that the binding does not attach the boot heel to the ski.

Materials

Ski materials vary according to the manufacturer, and may include Kevlar, titanium, carbon, wood, aluminum or fiberglass. Ski boot material may also vary, but most have a plastic outer shell, metal buckles, an insulating liner, composed of a synthetic material and a Velcro power strap at the cuff. The more sophisticated ski boot brands feature a lateral adjustment, which enables you to change the boot’s sideways inclination to accommodate when the center of your knee mass isn’t perpendicular to the center of your boot. Ski poles have a grip with indentations for your fingers, and an adjustable strap. The pole shaft, composed from aluminum or composite materials is its main component. Ski bindings have a toe and heel attachment.

Your Equipment in Action

Your ski equipment forms a communication network between your body's movements and the snow. Instructors liken ski poles to a cat's whiskers. Tapping the snow with your pole helps you sense the terrain, and make the appropriate movements. All skiing movements, which include edging, pressure and rotary moves, initiate in your feet, making your boots your most important purchase.  As you flex your boot and shift your weight, your bindings communicate the message to your skis, causing them to make terrain-appropriate movements. The skis turn on to their edges for carving movements. Adding pressure places more weight on the edges for tight turns in groomed terrain. Rotary movements shape the turns, turn the skis uphill for speed control and support powder and mogul skiing. Helmets protect your head from injury, and goggles protect your eyes from the sun's ultra violet rays.

Size Does Matter

Instructors advise beginners to select chin height skis, whereas advanced and expert skis are longer. Body weight is also a factor. Heavier people may overpower a short ski. Beginner boots and skis are more flexible than equipment designed for advanced skiers, and carving skis have more sidecut than powder skis. All ski bindings have a DIN setting, which determines the amount of force required for binding release. Beginners and people over 50 have a lower DIN setting than expert skiers. While not considered ski equipment, your ski clothes also affect performance. Most skiers use three clothing layers, which include thermal underwear to wick moisture, an insulating fleece turtleneck and waterproof and windproof ski jackets and ski pants. Ergonomic pole technique requires warm but flexible ski gloves.

Heed the Warning

Always select equipment appropriate for your level of proficiency. Avoid what instructors call "DIN sin," which is setting your bindings to a higher setting than appropriate. A binding that fails to release during a fall can cause serious injuries. Likewise, bindings that pre-release on a very steep slope will continue sliding down the hill, and possibly injure other skiers. If you want sexy, high end equipment, take some lessons, and become a sexy, high-end skier!