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Skis
©K2 Skis
Unless you’re particularly in love with technology and how things work, you don’t need to know that modern skis are a complex construction of space-age composites, with carefully designed features to help you ski easier.
Some skis are better than others – but whether you’ll be able to tell the difference until you are a much more adept skier is doubtful. What you do need is a stable, forgiving ski that has been properly serviced and has nice sharp edges to help you get some grip as you learn to snowplough and turn. What IS important is that you get a ski that will help, rather than hinder, your progress - the ski shop expert should be able to help.
There is a trend to start beginners off on shorter skis, but generally you will be presented with a pair that comes up to your chin. There’s no left and right.
As you will see from our ski on the right, there is a definite 'waist' to the ski - it's fatter at the top and bottom. That will help you turn. It's also thinner at the ends than the middle, so it stays nice and rigid under the boot but is flexible at the ends to be forgiving over bumps and such.
The edges are (or should be) pretty sharp. You can cut your hands if you pick them up without gloves and let them slide through your hands.
The bindings are the things that hold your boot onto the ski. The rubber-ended wires that stick out are the brakes that open automatically when the boot is out; when the boot is in, this flicks up and you're ready to go. See the VIDEO on how to put your skis on.
Some skis are better than others – but whether you’ll be able to tell the difference until you are a much more adept skier is doubtful. What you do need is a stable, forgiving ski that has been properly serviced and has nice sharp edges to help you get some grip as you learn to snowplough and turn. What IS important is that you get a ski that will help, rather than hinder, your progress - the ski shop expert should be able to help.
There is a trend to start beginners off on shorter skis, but generally you will be presented with a pair that comes up to your chin. There’s no left and right.
As you will see from our ski on the right, there is a definite 'waist' to the ski - it's fatter at the top and bottom. That will help you turn. It's also thinner at the ends than the middle, so it stays nice and rigid under the boot but is flexible at the ends to be forgiving over bumps and such.
The edges are (or should be) pretty sharp. You can cut your hands if you pick them up without gloves and let them slide through your hands.
The bindings are the things that hold your boot onto the ski. The rubber-ended wires that stick out are the brakes that open automatically when the boot is out; when the boot is in, this flicks up and you're ready to go. See the VIDEO on how to put your skis on.
