Ability level
Approximate skill level the skis are designed for.
— Beginner. Equipment designed for those who have no or little skiing experience and are learning the basics of skiing.
— Progressive. Models for those who have mastered the basic skills of riding, but still need practice to use skis confidently.
— Medium. Models for amateurs who ride regularly and in large quantities, but in relatively uncomplicated conditions.
— Experienced. Skiing for those who have surpassed or intend to surpass the experience of the average skier (go to more difficult tracks, learn new tricks); also suitable for the initial training of athletes.
— Expert. Professional models designed primarily for athletes.
The more professional a ski is, the more features it provides, but the price comes at the cost of difficult handling and the need for specialized skills. Therefore, when choosing according to this indicator of skiing, you need to soberly assess the level of the skier. Also, note that some models may be suitable for several levels at once. For example, skis for progressive skiers can be comfortable enough for initial training, or vice versa, quite advanced and suitable for intermediate levels.
Sidecut radius
The radius of the curved line that forms the sidecut of the skis. Such sidecuts are typical for mountain models — they are necessary for successful cornering at speed. At the same time, the smaller the sidecut radius, the more pronounced its curvature, the greater the difference in width between the tip/tail and the waist, and the higher the steering (smaller turning radius). In turn, for "high-speed" skis (for example, for giant slalom), the radius of curvature is usually small.
Tip width
The greatest width of the skis in the front.
The ratio of the width of the "tip", "waist" and "tail" allows you to estimate the radius of the side cutout (see above) — there is a special formula for this. In general, wider skis (with the same length) are more passable and less “fast” than narrow ones — they fall into the snow less, but they also go forward worse.
Waist width
The smallest width of the skis in the middle part; usually, in the binding area.
The ratio of the width of the "tip", "waist" and "tail" allows you to estimate the radius of the side cutout (see above) — there is a special formula for this. In general, wider skis (with the same length) are more suited for cross skiing and less “fast” than narrow ones — they fall into the snow less, but they also go forward worse.
Tail width
The greatest width of the skis in the tail.
The ratio of the width of the "tip", "waist" and "tail" allows you to estimate the radius of the side sidecut (see above) — there is a special formula for this. In general, wider skis (with the same length) are more designed for cross-country skiing and less “fast” than narrow ones — they fall into the snow less, but they also go worse forward.
In box
Additional items included in the package.
—
Poles. Most skiing styles involve the use of poles. At the same time, such equipment is found mainly among children's skis; it is more convenient for an adult user to choose poles separately, according to their specific skills and preferences.
— Bindings.
Bindings are included, eliminating the need to purchase them separately. At the same time, default bindings are most often optimally suited for skis, while with third-party bindings there may be problems. On the other hand, this option is not always optimal: it is more convenient for some skiers to choose bindings on their own, at their discretion.
Also note that if there are bindings, their model may be indicated in the characteristics — for example, the popular brand Atomic uses a designation of 3 letters and 2 numbers, like “XTE 10”. Knowing the bindings model, you can find detailed information on it and clarify how it fits certain requirements.
Country of origin
As a manufacturing country, usually, they indicate not the country of actual production of skis, but the “homeland” of the brand under which they are presented on the market. Most of these brands come from famous "ski" countries such as
Austria or
Switzerland; in addition, there are quite a few companies from
Germany,
Slovenia, the
USA and
France on the market. At the same time, the factories where skis are produced are often located in other countries. Thus making skis more attractive in the eyes of the buyer. At the same time, this cannot be called an unambiguous deception: large brands, usually, strictly control the quality of products, regardless of the country in which they are produced. Therefore, it is worth evaluating skis primarily by the reputation of a particular brand, and not by the country of origin indicated in the characteristics.
